Improve Individual and Family Development Plan of Work

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Johnson County CES

Title:
Improve Individual and Family Development
MAP:
Life skills
Agents Involved:
Cockerham
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Financial Education - General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Positive Employability
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Stories, Songs, and Stretches
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Artistic Skill Development
Situation:

“School-readiness” is a broad term that refers to multiple precursor cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills that indicate young children are prepared to learn and thrive in the school environment. A wide body of research shows a strong foundation in school readiness is indicative of school success. Emerging research also indicates that there is a synergistic effect when early learning activities activate physical and cognitive skills simultaneously, as opposed to doing so in isolation. However, in the state of Kentucky only 50% of children are deemed “school-ready” when they enter Kindergarten.  These numbers indicate a need for more activities that support school-readiness by building multiple skillsets simultaneously.

96,000 children in Kentucky live in kinship care.  Kentucky ranks first in the nation for the most children in kinship care settings in the country.  15,000 children are in kinship care due to removal from their home.   Kinship care providers need support.

Promote positive personal finance behaviors prepares Kentuckians for any future economic shift. The United States has been in an extremely long period of economic expansion; however, expansions are cyclical, meaning growth is eventually followed by recession. Securing financial stability for Kentuckians will help families thrive no matter the economic outlook. Financial stability is achieved when families are able to secure and manage resources needed to supply food, clothing, and shelter. Through increased financial knowledge, families may be able to make wise financial decisions, increase buying power, avoid overextended credit, develop savings habits, and manage risks.

Having soft skills in order to secure jobs is also a challenge to those seeking employment in an already economically challenged area. 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 Stanford 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-sight but critical to success. 

Homemaking skills cover a vast array of skill sets, from sewing, to budgeting, teaching children or grandchildren, crafting, quilting, painting…these life skills are important in achieving quality of life for individuals ranging from 0 to 110. Sharing these skills with others is often how they are passed from generation to generation. Leadership skills are often the conduit to which knowledge is exchanged. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

Increase the number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in the state of Kentucky.

Improve academic success for children in Kentucky 

Better family money management skills, such as reducing debt, increasing savings, and financial planning.

More effective employees and community leaders.

Improved financial capability for Kentuckians, results in a better quality of life and stronger families.

Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:

Kentuckians understand the importance of developmentally appropriate play to their child’s academic success

Evaluation:

Outcome:  Kentuckians learn fun age-appropriate activities to aid in their child’s healthy development.

Indicator:  Number of parents who expressed learning new activities to engage their children at home.

Method:  Parent Survey

Timeline:  January - December


Outcome: Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.

Indicator: How many children increased their ability to express emotion after attending the program?

Method:  childcare programs surveys

Timeline: July - June


Outcome: Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Johnson county. 

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many parents reported improved gross motor skills, social-emotional skills, and early literacy skills?) 

Method:  Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Kindergarten Readiness Results

Timeline:  July- June


Outcome: Increase skills and resources of caregivers to provide effective care for young relatives

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many caregivers improve skills/knowledge in child development, discipline and guidance, legal issues, and advocacy)

Method: Parenting a Second Time Around (PASTA) Evaluation 

Timeline:  Post program evaluation


Outcome:  Increased awareness of sound financial behaviors

Indicator(s):  Number of individuals who implemented at least one 

strategy to reduce expenses or manage money

Number of individuals who made a sound financial decision 

(regarding credit, budgeting, savings, and/or debt)

Method:  Retroactive pre-post

Timeline: Following financial education workshops


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


Outcome:  Increase knowledge and skills related to 

estate planning

Indicator: Number of individuals who took action toward 

implementing at least one estate planning strategy in regard to the subject matter presented

Method:  Retroactive pre-post 

Timeline:  Following financial education workshops

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Preschool aged children and their parent(s)

Project or Activity:  Various

Content or Curriculum: Parent Expo

Inputs: FCS Agent, FCS council, early childcare council 

Date: Available February 2021


Audience: Adults, Young Adults

Project or Activity: Positive Employability

Inputs: FCS Council

Date: as requested


Project or Activity:  Various (ie FCS classroom outreach, daycares)

Content or Curriculum: Stories, Songs, and Stretches

Inputs: FCS Agent, Local Preschool, FCS Council, Early childcare council, FCS teachers

Date: On-Going


Audience: Kinship Caregivers

Project or Activity:  Various

Content or Curriculum: Parenting a Second Time Around, Life Story/Memory Banking, Traditions, AARP Prepare to Care, arts

Inputs: FCS Agent, 

Date: Available Fall 2022


Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens

Project or Activity: Financial Life Skills

Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes, Recovering Your Finances

Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, 

Money Habitudes cards, Family Resource Center Directors, Drug Court

Date: as requested



Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Estate Planning Workshop

Content or Curriculum: Estate Planning

Inputs: FCS Specialist (family finance and resource 

management), curriculum publications and resources, and local 

partners such as an attorney, CPA and/or financial planner

 Date: virtual presentations as available


Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens

Project or Activity: Credit Education 

Content or Curriculum: Good Credit Game, Recovering your finances

Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, 

Good Credit Game set

Date: TBA


Project or Activity: Financial Education

Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life

Inputs: FCS Agents, FRC, Drug Court

Date: TBA



Audience: Recovery Centers

Project or Activity: Financial Education

Content or Curriculum: Recovering Your Finances

Inputs: Coordination with community stakeholders, Drug Court

Date: TBA




Success Stories

Parent Expo

Author: Brenda Cockerham

Major Program: Family Development General

Parent Expo

Parent Expo is an event held annually by the Early Childcare Council on which the FCS agent serves. The objective of the group is to insure that preschoolers are as prepared as they can be in the 5 topics they are tested on before entering school: 1. Health and Physical Well Being 2. Social and Emotional Development 3. Language and Communication Development 4. Approaches to Learning 5. General Knowledge and Mathematics. The past two years we were unable to have the event due to covid. This year

Full Story

Health Fest 2021

Author: Brenda Cockerham

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Health Fest 2021

Hosting programming during the Pandemic for large gatherings has been difficult, but due to the vaccine and low numbers of people contracting covid, we were able to host a Health Fest event outside. We partnered with UK College of Dentistry (who were screening for throat cancers, as Johnson County and Kentucky rank as some of the highest rates in the nation), along with several local agencies, to present information beneficial holistically to the health of the whole family.Viewing health holisti

Full Story

Bingocise

Author: Brenda Cockerham

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

The health and physical fitness of those 55 and older can sometimes be a challenge as we age. Bingocise is a program from Western Kentucky University working in partnership with Extension state specialist to train agents to extend these opportunities throughout the state. The Johnson County FCS agent, received the training and then delivered it to local clientele of this age range. The curricula meticulously advances participants through a progression of movements designed to increase mobility,

Full Story

Fit Blue

Author: Brenda Cockerham

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Fit Blue is a program originally designed for people desiring to increase and maintain their physical fitness as it relates to flexibility and strength. It has a complimentary app that can help record fitness levels and improvements. The recommended fitness schedule offered in the program, was followed routinely twice a week for a month where 10-16 people attended each session. Farmer's market tokens were given to those who attended to encourage healthy eating selections at the market. 

Full Story
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