Extension
It Starts With Us
Financial Management, Soft Skill Development, Sustainable Environment
Life Skills Development
Bridge, Mills, Reed
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Securing Financial Stability (general)
4-H Youth Development Programming
Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
Life skills education is one of the dominate needs of citizens as they work to improve their lives. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics almost 15% of Meade County residents live below the poverty level. Contributing factors could include lack of a high school education (15%), unemployment (10%), severe disabilities (7%), major depression (7%) and recent drug use (10.5%). The need for financial and resource management was identified by multiple councils as an area extension could provide expertise as we continue to reach out the residents with educational information.
4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global society. 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults. Research also shows us developing a strong sense of personal identity, responsibility, caring, compassion, and tolerance are essential first steps toward being engaged at the community level (National 4-H Council, 2014).
Maximize or extend resources to maintain or increase financial.
Number of individuals reporting improved family financial stability and economic well-being.
Number of individuals who avoided breaches in personal or financial security.
Improved the quality of their life resulting in a stronger family.
Youth will contribute to self, family, community and to the institutions of our society.
Youth will have reduced risky behavior now and in the future.
4-H alumni will be successful in a global society.
4-H youth will successfully enter the workplace and/or institution of higher learning.
Youth will utilize the scientific method in decision-making and to solve problems in their daily life.
Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.
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).
Youth will use scientific decision making techniques to make decisions on a daily basis.
Youth will express themselves to others in group settings and on an individual bases.
Youth have a positive bond with a caring adult who believe in their success.
Youth apply the skills learned in 4-H in other activities at home, school and in the community.
Youth set and achieve goals through a 4-H program.
Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment and make decisions in their daily lives that positively impact natural resources.
Teenagers and adults will show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial and non-financial resources. (Social marketing and Program participants)
Participants will increase understanding of consumer rights and privacy protection measures.
Teens and young adults will simulate life situations to recognize importance of education and employability skills.
Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintaining and improving their financial stability.
Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the decision making process.
Youth learn skills need to communicate with others.
Adult mentors/volunteers will understand elements of positive youth development.
Youth learn and develop life skills though 4-H.
Youth learn steps in goal setting and developing a plan of action.
Youth will gain knowledge of the interrelationship and interdependencies with an ecosystem.
Youth will identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community.
Long-Term Outcome: Families will reduce debt, increase savings and better utilize resources.
Indicator: Number of adults who demonstrate informed and effective decision making strategies
Method: evaluation
Timeline: Throughout the program year
Long-Term Outcome: Youth will contribute to self, family, community and to the institutions of our society.
Indicator: Number of youth who report personal contributions to self, family and community.
Method: evaluation
Timeline: Throughout program year
Intermediate Outcome: Youth apply the skills learned in 4-H in other activities at home, school and in the community.
Indicator: Number of youth who report applying skills learned in 4-H in other venues such as home, school and the community.
Method: evaluation
Timeline: Throughout the program year
Initial Outcome: Youth learn and develop life skills though 4-H.
Indicator: Number of youth who report learning and developing life skills through 4-H activities/events/project work.
Method: evaluation
Timeline: Throughout the program year
Initial Outcome: Youth identify the natural resources in their community.
Indicator: Number of youth who can identify the natural resources in their community.
Method: evaluation
Timeline: Throughout the program year
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Financial Management Series
Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes, Estate Planning
Inputs: local councils, resource agencies, extension resources
Date: October/November
Audience: Adults and Youth
Project or Activity: Recycling
Content or Curriculum: Why Recycle?
Inputs: local councils, resource agencies, extension resources
Date: Spring 2017
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Basic Life Skills
Content or Curriculum: Basic Life Skills: Real Skills for Everyday Life Series
Inputs: Extension resources, local councils, resource agencies
Date: Year Long - Target by Seasons
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Sewing Series
Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H Sewing Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Council, Master Clothing Volunteers, community volunteers
Date: October – May
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Teen Leadership Academy (TLA)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Leadership Core Curriculum, Youth Engagement Leadership Program (YELP)
Inputs: TLA 4-H Agents, TLA Participants, extension specialists, volunteers
Date: Monthly, September – May
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Day Camp Series
Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H curriculum for science, engineering & technology; foods; food preservation; natural resources; arts; home environment; needlework; photography; woodworking and 4-H trends projects.
Inputs: extension staff, 4-H Intern, local volunteers
Date: Summer 2016
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Cooking School
Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H curriculum for food & nutrition lessons/projects
Inputs: extension staff, extension specialists, local volunteers
Date: Monthly, September – May
Project or Activity: 4-H Babysitting Basics Course
Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H curriculum for babysitting programs
Inputs: extension staff, extension specialists, local volunteers, Youth Service Center Coordinator, school personnel
Date: November 2016 & March 2017
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communication Contest
Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H curriculum for communication projects/events
Inputs: extension staff, extension specialists, local volunteers
Date: Spring 2017
Audience: Middle School Youth
Project or Activity: It’s Your Reality
Content or Curriculum: It’s Your Reality program curriculum &materials
Inputs: extension staff, Youth Service Center Coordinator, school personnel, local businesses, local volunteers
Date: Spring 2017
Audience: General Public
Project: Gardening classes
Content: University publications
Inputs: UK specialists, ANR agent, MC Library
Date: Spring 2017
Author: Jennifer Bridge
Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)
One of the needs identified by the Meade County Extension Homemakers Council related to scams targeting the elderly. Unfortunately, a couple of members had experiences which resulted in a loss of valuable funds. To address the issue, the council management and safety chairman worked with the extension family and consumer sciences agent to address to topic. After discussing various avenues it was determined one of the most accurate ways to educate consumers was to secure a speak
Author: Jennifer Bridge
Major Program: Environmental Sustainability & Responsibility
In 1989, the county landfill had reached capacity and local waste was being transported to Louisville for disposal at a significant cost to the county. In an effort to reduce cost and volume, a local extension homemaker club worked with the County Solid Waste Department to pilot a curbside recycling pickup in their community. Their efforts were successful and quickly expanded into the first permanent county recycling facility in Kentucky. Since then the program has expanded wi
Author: Jennifer Bridge
Major Program: Estate Planning
After receiving several requests for an estate planning series the FCS and ANR agent worked together to organize a variety of sessions using extension materials and knowledgable professionals. The series consisted of a combination of programs which were agent led and field professionals which included a financial planner, lawyer, funeral director and a specialized lawyer who focused in ag related succession planning. An average of 26 individuals learned about record keeping, ky law related
Author: Deana Reed
Major Program: Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
Recent years of tough economic times have increased awareness of the need for financial literacy; however, Americans still have a long way to go toward making improvements. In 2014, the Jump$tart Coalition compiled a series of statistics that state that even though youth intend to work and save dollars, more students have increased 36% from the previous years of student and credit card debt. Youth are not getting the financial education which they will need for adulthood. According to
