Extension
It Starts With Us
Financial Fitness for Adults (FCS)
Financial Fitness
Diane Mason
Financial Education - General
The consequences of the worldwide pandemic and racial tensions put a strain on individuals, families, and businesses finances. Kentucky consistently lags behind other areas of the United States in key household economic indicators, including: personal income, population living below the poverty line, unemployment, and revolving debt. It is important to acknowledge the impact of current economic conditions on family financial management. The goal of the Extension financial education programming is to help Kentuckians understand and respond to changing economic conditions, while promoting healthy financial behaviors across the lifespan.
Maximize or extend resources to maintain or increase financial well-being.
Improved family financial stability and economic well-being.
Reduced number of individuals falling prey to scams.
Adopt one or more short, mid and long term financial planning strategies.
Practice one or more resource management behavior(s) resulting in increased savings or investments
Apply practical living skills to advance education or employability
Examine personal and financial stability on a regular basis (at least annually).
Take steps to secure personal information to avoid identity theft, fraud and other common scams
Adults will show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial and non-financial resources.
Participants will increase understanding of consumer rights and privacy protection measures.
Adults will understand the importance of being prepared for retirement.
Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintain and improve their financial stability.
Initial Outcome: Awareness of money habits and need for managing money
Indicator: Post session evaluation
Method: Post session evaluation
Timeline: Immediately following session
Intermediate Outcome: Behavior change
Indicator: Individuals examined money habits and made one change for the better; individuals saving money; individuals creating spending and savings plans; individuals take steps to reduce their risks of falling prey to scams or identity theft
Method: Follow up evaluation
Timeline: 3 to 6 months after the program
Long-term Outcome: Individuals become financially secure and self-sufficient
Indicator: Community and state statistics; fewer home foreclosures
Method: Monitor available statistics
Timeline: 4 years
Audience: Adults of general public
Project or Activity: Money Talk
Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky and other Cooperative Extension materials
Inputs: guest speakers, other Extension agents from other counties
Date: April 2022
Audience: Adults of the general public
Project or Activity: What Every Family (and Spouse) Should Know; Estate Planning Basics including wills and probate; Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate
Content or Curriculum: Estate planning; University of Minnesota curriulum
Inputs: worksheets, guest speakers
Date: March 2022
Audience: Adults of the general public
Project or Activity: Reverse Mortgages
Content or Curriculum: Kansas State and Purdue Curricula along with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Inputs: Curricula and fact sheets
Date: February 2022
Audience: Adults of the general public
Project or Activity: Series: Use, Care and Selection of Small Kitchen Appliances: Air Fryers, Slow Cookers, Electric Multicookers
Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky
Inputs: food, equipment; co-workers to present
Date: September 2021
Audience: General Public adults who prepare food for their families
Project or Activity: Creative Meals with Frozen and Canned Foods
Content or Curriculum: Extension resources
Inputs: fact sheets
Date: September and October 2021 (2 sessions one month apart)
Author: Diane Mason
Major Program: Financial Education - General
According to Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter, increasing the preparation of meals cooked at home can help reduce an individual’s sodium intake. Many of the new kitchen appliances on the market can aid in ease of meal preparation and also provide a nutritional boost. Web MD shares that by most measures, air frying is healthier than frying in oil, as it can cut calories by up to 80% and contain less fat. Penn State Cooperative Extension shares that meals made at home in a slow c
