Advance Adult & Youth Life Skills PreparationPlan of Work

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Grayson County CES

Title:
Advance Adult & Youth Life Skills Preparation
MAP:
Growing Grayson County through Rural, Youth, and Community Development
Agents Involved:
Ewing Jones, K.; Taul, N.; Carman, W
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Communications and Expressive Arts
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Positive Employability
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Financial Education - General
Situation:

The Kentucky Extension Community Assessment Statewide Report 2019 indicates that money management for families and youth and employee “soft/essential skills” training continue to be important issues statewide. Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Sanford Research Center indicates 85% of job success comes from having well developed soft and people skills, and only 15% of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge (hard skills). Employers are often prepared to teach technical job skills; however, the intangible skills of being a team player, time management, and positive attitude are difficult to teach on-site but critical to success. 

Additionally, creating more financial education opportunities will prepare Kentuckians and the people of Grayson County for the inevitable ebb and flow of the economy, helping them to be financially stable and prepared for the unexpected. 


Long-Term Outcomes:

Improved problem solving and financial capabilities for Kentuckians results in a better quality of life and stronger families.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Improve employability through practical living skills and continued education practices.

Initial Outcomes:

Change KOSA to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education practices.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Goal of youth aspiring to further their education after high school

Indicator: Youth will plan for post-secondary education (college or vocational school)

Method: In classroom prep and evaluation of Reality Store (8th grade participants) and Dollars & Sense (5th grade participants).

Timeline: Spring


Intermediate Outcome: Improved workforce communication

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported the intent to utilize etiquette practices to improve verbal, written, and electronic communication practices.

Method: Pre/Post Evaluation

Timeline: following program implementation and 3 -6 month follow up surveys


Intermediate Outcome: Increase knowledge and skills related to managing financial resources.

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of understanding in the area: confidence in handling money issues or specific financial matters. 

Method: Retroactive pre-post

Timeline: Following financial education workshops


Learning Opportunities:

Audience: All Grayson County Middle School 7th or 8th grade students

Project or Activity: Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: Financial management, education and career goals, value of education

Inputs: Curriculum for youth involved in program, Reality Store will be held at the Grayson County Middle School and will be coordinated by Grayson County 4-H Agent, assisted by GCMS Life Skills teacher; each 9 weeks will be a new session in the classroom to reach all 7th or 8th graders through the year; time frame for each session will be correlated with the Financial lesson for the Life Skills class.

Date: Each 9 Weeks of the school year (4 sessions)


Audience: Grayson County 5th Grade Students

Project or Activity: Dollars and Sense

Content or Curriculum: Financial management, value of education

Inputs: Curriculum for youth involved in program, Dollars and Sense will be held at Grayson County Elementary schools with 5th grade students and will be coordinated by Grayson County 4-H Agent. Agent will work with 5th grade teachers to prepare and present the Dollars and Sense materials to students in a classroom setting allowing for students to work through the purchases on their own and with one-on-one assistance from agent and teachers.

Date: Fall


Audience: Working-age adults and young adults preparing for the workforce

Project or Activity: 10 Soft Skills for Success, Networking for Success, Conveying Your Message

Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability

Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local employers, community leaders, chamber of commerce

Date: Spring and Fall 2021-2023


Audience: Adults, Young Adults, and Teens

Project or Activity: Workshops and educational sessions

Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes, Good Credit Game, Real Skills for Everyday Life

Inputs: FCS Agent, CES curriculum publications and resources, schools, local banks

Date: Ongoing projects yearly





Success Stories

Money Habitudes | Financial Self Discovery

Author: Natalie Taul

Major Program: Financial Education - General

Money Habitudes | Financial Self Discovery

Financial education programs often highlight financial literacy skills such as budgeting and managing credit card debt; however, these skills do not tap into the emotional and practical issues that cause people to react irrationally with money. Financial decisions are most often motivated by emotional need as opposed to logical knowledge. To address this concern, the Grayson County Cooperative Extension Service utilized the Money Habitudes program to emphasize the importance of developing a heal

Full Story

4-H Virtual Cooking

Author: Kindra Jones

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

While cooking classes in person is the most ideal way to work with youth and teach a skill, especially in the kitchen, the consensus from the previous program year indicated to keep cooking classes virtually. The biggest reason for the request was for busy family schedules. Keeping the classes virtual allowed parents the chance to continue to work or farm during the meeting and reduce travel. Participants could come home from school, log on and work together virtually to prepare the meal for the

Full Story
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