Family Resource Management & Workforce PreparationPlan of Work

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Owsley County CES

Title:
Family Resource Management & Workforce Preparation
MAP:
Youth and Families
Agents Involved:
Crystal Osborne, Paul Sizemore, Carissa Miske
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Family Development General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Financial Education - General
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Communications and Expressive Arts
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Positive Employability
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 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).  

“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.  In 2019-2020 according to Kids County data, 46.8% of Owsley County children are deemed “school-ready” when they enter Kindergarten.  These numbers indicate a need for more activities that support school-readiness by building multiple skill sets simultaneously.  The Owsley County Headstart Program has 101 children enrolled for 2020-2021. The Owsley County Early Headstart has an enrollment of 48 for 2020-2021. The Owsley County Home Based Head Start has an enrollment of 24 as well for 2020-2021.  

Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance in Kentucky.  The development of communications skills is one of the preeminent skills necessary to grow as an individual, a community member and a leader.  The public elementary school consists of Kindergarten-fifth grade with enrollment for 2020-2021 totaling 303 students. The public high/middle school consists of grades 6-12 with enrollment for 2020-2021 totaling 352 students. One hundred percent of the public elementary school and middle/high school students receive free lunch. The county has one private Christian school which consists of 20 students K-12.  By using age appropriate activities, educators can maximize the ability of youth to develop their writing, reading and personal communication capacities.  

Healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. Co-habiting, divorced, widowed and single households are the new majority with many children living in kinship care. Children who live absent from their biological fathers are two to three times more likely to be poor, to experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems than their peers who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents. According to 2019 Kentucky By The Numbers, 39.2 percent of Owsley County families live in poverty. Children who live in poverty are more likely to have learning disabilities and developmental delays. Through increased school-readiness, life skills education and increased financial knowledge among Owsley County youth and adults we can improve the quality of life and stronger family systems. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

*More effective employees and community leaders.

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

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


Intermediate Outcomes:

*Practice better employee “soft/essential skills” such as communication, networking, teamwork, time management, problem-solving, etc.

*Improve employability through practical living skills and continued education practices.

*Increase opportunities and access to more preschool learning activities outside of the home.

*Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Owsley County.

*Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings or investments.

Initial Outcomes:

*Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations, to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education practices. 

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

*Increased knowledge and skills related to managing financial resources, including savings, credit, and financial planning. 

*Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations, to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education practices. 

*Youth will gain knowledge in researching, preparing and presenting a speech or demonstration.

Evaluation:

Outcome:  Improved workforce communication 

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

Indicator:  Number of individuals reporting increased levels of understanding in the area: demonstrate strong verbal and nonverbal communications (Conveying Your Message)

Method:  Pre/Post Evaluation 

Timeline:  Following Positive Employability 


Outcome: Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Owsley County. 

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many parents report 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:  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: Preschool aged children and their parent(s)

Project or Activity:  Laugh & Learn Program

Content or Curriculum: Laugh and Learn Playdate Program

Inputs: FCS Agent

Date: Monthly throughout 2022-2023


Audience: Kinship Caregivers

Project or Activity:  Various

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

Inputs: FCS Agent 

Date: 2022-2023


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

Project or Activity: Workforce Preparation & Adulting Program

Content or Curriculum: FCS Extension Resources & Curriculum, Money Habitudes, Financial Education

Inputs: FCS Agent

Date: 2022 – 2023


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

Project or Activity:  10 Soft Skills for Success

Content or Curriculum:  Positive Employability

Inputs:  FCS agent, curriculum publications and resources, community leaders

Timeline:  2022-2023


Audience: 8th, 10th & 11th Grade Students

Project or Activity: 4-H Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: CES Curriculum & Publications

Inputs:  FCS Agent, Ag Agent, 4-H Agent, community volunteers

Timeline: Spring 2023


Audience:  Owsley County Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity:  KEHA Monthly Lunch-N-Learns

Content or Curriculum: FCS Extension Lesson Resources, FCS Curriculum

Inputs: Area FCS Agents

Date: Monthly


Audience:  New or Expectant parents

Project or Activity:  Parent Academy

Content or Curriculum:  Keys to Great Parenting/CES resources

Inputs: FCS Agent, Community Partners,EFNEP Assistant

Date:  Spring 2023


Audience:  Youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity:  Communications Events (Talk Meet & Demonstrations)

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communication resources

Inputs:  School District, FCS Agent, Ag Agent, 4-H Agent

Date:  2022-2023


Audience:  Youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity:  4-H Camp

Content or Curriculum:  J.M. Feltner 4-H Camp

Inputs:  Camp Staff, 4-H Agent, Volunteers

Date:  Summer 2023



Success Stories

Sparking an Interest in SET

Author: Carissa Miske

Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology

“In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.” Introducing youth to Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) in the classroom, as well as opport

Full Story
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