Extension
It Starts With Us
Life Skills Development
Life Skills Development
Kelly Woods, Traci Missun, Family Consumer Science Agent
Family and Consumer Science
Master Clothing Volunteer
The ever-changing landscape of the family unit requires an innovative approach to providing the basic needs families have as they navigate many new challenges. The recent COVID Stay at Home Order left many families struggling to meet these needs. Extension provides the opportunity for youth and families to develop vital life skills such as consumer awareness, monetary management, culinary arts, textiles, housing, and human development. Families working together to meet these needs builds a stronger bond within every family unit.
Data gathered in the 2019 Oldham County Assessment shows the top three concerns from county residents regarding life skills are a desire for youth to have life training skills such as money management, life decision making, etc.; for youth to be better prepared for future careers; and for increased support for prevention of bullying and school violence.
Additionally, Oldham County is home to several prisons. One challenge of the system is the number of inmates who end up back in prison after release. One way to address this is to help inmates attain marketable job skills, thereby increasing the chances of them becoming gainfully employed once they re-enter society.
Oldham County population has increased slightly over the last few years and as of 2017 was at 66,415. Unemployment in Oldham County rose from 4.8% in 2007 to 7.5% in 2010 and was at 3.5% in 2017. The poverty rate went from 6.4% in 2011 to 6.2% in 2016, and the child poverty rate decreased from 8.5% to 6.0% from 2010 to 2016. (UK CEDIK data)
Participants will teach others acquired skills, helping build community stability.
Participants (Inmates) earning Commercial Pesticide Applicator licenses will have a marketable license/in-demand skill that will help them secure a job upon re-entry into society.
Participants will apply skills learned to reach individual goals and strengthen family stability.
Participants (Inmates) will use knowledge gained through Private Pesticide Applicator testing and certification to prepare for and successfully test to receive Commercial Pesticide Applicator licenses.
Participants learn new skills that support personal and family growth.
Participants (Inmates) will learn skills and successfully complete Private Pesticide Applicator testing and certification.
Initial Outcome: Participants learn new skills that support personal and family growth.
Indicator: Participant learn a new skill and understand how to follow instructions.
Method: Youth complete a project or workshop to develop a new skill.
Timeline: Fall 2021 and Spring 2022
Initial Outcome: Participants (Inmates) will learn skills and successfully complete Private Pesticide Applicator testing and certification.
Indicator: Inmates will earn Private Pesticide Applicator certification
Method: Inmates complete training and testing
Timeline: Winter 2022
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will apply skills learned to reach individual goals and strengthen family stability.Indicator: Participants will expand knowledge relating to new skill and exhibit completed project.
Method: Project entered in the County Fair
Timeline: Fall 2021 and Spring 2022Intermediate Outcome: Participants (Inmates) will use knowledge gained through Private Pesticide Applicator testing and certification to prepare for and successfully test to receive Commercial Pesticide Applicator licenses.
Indicator: Inmates who are getting ready to re-enter society who successfully earn Commercial Pesticide Applicator licenses.
Method: KY Department of Agriculture Commercial testing
Timeline: Winter/Spring 2022
Long-term Outcome: Participants will teach others acquired skills, helping build community stability.
Indicator: Participant will teach a workshop or shared skills learned.
Method: 4-H Common Measures Universal Survey
Timeline: Spring 2022
Long-term Outcome: Participants (Inmates) earning Commercial Pesticide Applicator licenses will have a marketable license/in-demand skill that will help them secure a job upon re-entry into society.
Indicator: Inmates who self-report to RCC Hort Instructor that they have found commercial pesticide applicator jobs
Timeline: 2022
Activity: Reality Store
Audience: Juniors (North Oldham High School)
Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality
Inputs: Rotary Clubs Participation, Funding from Oldham County Schools and Metro United Way, Extension Staff and Volunteers, Oldham County Health Department, Oldham County Library
Date: NOHS – Fall 2021 (IF COVID Guidelines Permit)
Activity: Life Skills 101
Audience: Middle School Youth
Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, Community Volunteers
Date: Fall 2021 and Winter 2022
Activity: Private Pesticide Applicator Training at Prison
Audience: Roederer Correctional Complex Inmates
Content or Curriculum: UK and other Extension training materials and videos
Inputs: Agriculture Agent, Roederer Horticulture Instructor
Date: Winter 2022
Activity: Come Sew with Us Sewing classes
Audience: Adults interested in improving sewing skills
Content or Curriculum: Economical sewing projects
Inputs: Master Clothing Volunteer
Date: 2021-2022 Program Year, Depending on commitments of Master Clothing volunteer
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Reducing Risk of Identity Theft
Content or Curriculum: UK approved materials and materials
Inputs: Louisville Area FCS Agents
Date: September 2021
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Savings Savvy
Content or Curriculum: UK approved materials and materials
Inputs: Louisville Area FCS Agents
Date: March 2022
Author: Kelly Woods
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership – 4-H Youth Development
At the close of the 2020-2021 school year, which was a blend of virtual and face to face learning, COVID restrictions continued to challenge yet another aspects of our children’s lives, Summer Care. Oldham County Public Schools wanted to open up the Summer Care Programs but how could that happen safely when so much of the programming was field trips and taking the students out into the community. Protecting the students through the implementation of COVID guidelines was the first pri
Author: Kelly Woods
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
"Opportunities to develop cooking skills by adolescents may result in long-term benefits for nutritional well-being," “Families, health and nutrition professionals, educators, community agencies, and funders can continue to invest in home economics and cooking education knowing that the benefits may not be fully realized until young adults develop more autonomy and live independently."Oldham County 4-H Chef School is back after a two year pause due to COVID regulations. Shar
Author: Heather Toombs
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership -FCS
Oldham County has not had an FCS council in the past three years. A functional council contributes to the planning and marketing of FCS programming. The FCS Agent invited a diverse group of individuals from different areas and professions in Oldham County to participate; eight people accepted and met on July 1. The council went through council training and accepted a set of bylaws. Seven of the eight council members are new to extension, and 3 of the eight have volunteere
