Developing Human Capital and Opportunity Plan of Work

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Whitley County CES

Title:
Developing Human Capital and Opportunity
MAP:
Income and Workforce Development
Agents Involved:
FCS, Fine Arts, ANR, 4H
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
First Impressions
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Economic Development
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Financial Education - General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Advancing the Creative Economy
Situation:

In a recent Needs Assessment survey conducted by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, Whitley County expressed that our county needed more jobs with good paying wages. Citizens stated that their "Vision for a More Vibrant Community" included a "resource rich community to support jobs, money, public transportation and roads." There are currently 15,949 jobs in Whitley County and the average weekly wage is $717. Between 2012 ands 2016, 4.3% of workers were below the poverty line.

According to University of Kentucky’s CEDIK County profiles for Small Business, Whitley County’s top small business industries are in retail trade and healthcare and social assistance. With providing opportunities that provide local support for entrepreneurship, growing “soft skills” and interviewing strategies, and helping producers become successful, Cooperative Extension can be involved with promoting wide opportunities for local crafters, artisans, producers, and families. 

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Outcome:  Improved 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:  After program 

  

Outcome:  Improved workplace listening skills 

Indicator:  Number of individuals reporting increased levels of understanding in the area: how to utilize listening cues (nonverbal, quaisverbal, and verbal) in conversation (Listening and Inquiry) 

Method:  Pre/Post Evaluation 

Timeline:  After program 

    

Outcome:  Networking Skills 

Indicator:  Number of individuals reporting increased levels of confidence in the area: participate in a productive business conversation (Networking for Success) 

Method:  Pre/Post Evaluation 

Timeline:  After program 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: adults and young adults preparing for the workforce 

Project or Activity: 10 Soft Skills for Success 

Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability, various publications, KELD 

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

Date: Fall 2023 

  

Audience: Adults and young adults 

Project or Activity: Networking for Success 

Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability 

Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local 

employers and community leaders 

Date: Fall 2023

 
Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens 

Project or Activity: Money Habitudes Workshop 

Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes 

Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, 

Money Habitudes cards 

Date: Spring 2023

 
Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: Estate Planning Workshop 

Content or Curriculum: Estate Planning, Social Media posts, program bags

Inputs: FCS Agent, FCS Specialist (family finance and resource management), curriculum publications and resources, and local 

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

Date: Winter 2022 and 2023 

 
Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: Financial Education 

Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life, MoneyWi$e newsletter and social media, program bags

Inputs: FCS Agent, UK Specialist

Date: January 2022

  

Audience: Recovery Centers 

Project or Activity: Financial Education 

Content or Curriculum: Recovering Your Finances 

Inputs: Coordination with community stakeholders 

Date: Summer 2022

 
Audience: Farmer's Market vendors 

Project or Activity: Homebased Microprocessing 

Content or Curriculum: Homebased Microprocessing and renewal courses provided by UK 

Inputs: Horticulture and FCS agents. Online videos, UK specialist

Date: Spring 2023

 

Audience:  Commercial Horticulture producers  

Project or Activity:  regular farm visits 

Content or Curriculum:  UK pubs 

Inputs:  specialists and agents. 

Date:  Ongoing. 

 

Audience:  FFA students. 

Project or Activity:  Forestry and wildlife trainings. 

Content or Curriculum:  UK pubs and Ky. Fish and Wildlife pubs. 

Inputs: ANR, Hort and 4-H. 

Date:  during school year 

 

Audience: Artists 

Project or Activity: Developing online presence  

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Highlands, CEDIK, Berea College Partners for Education 

Inputs: Fine Arts, FCS, 4-H 

Date: Ongoing 

 
Audience: Artists 

Project or Activity: Developing teaching artists 

Content or Curriculum: Berea College Partners for Education, Fine arts programs 

Inputs: Fine Arts, FCS, 4-H, Volunteers  

Date: July

 

Audience: Whitley County School Teachers 

Project or Activity: Professional Development for Art Teachers 

Content or Curriculum: Fine Arts Classes 

Inputs: Fine Arts 

Date: ongoing- summer

 

Audience: Residents, Artists, Farmers 

Project or Activity: Appalachian Market 

Content or Curriculum: Event Coordinators 

Inputs: Fine Arts 

Date: Ongoing- Holiday season 

 

Audience: General Public 

Project or Activity: Enhancing Business and Marketing Skills of Eastern Kentucky Artist 

Content or Curriculum: Artisan Education Curriculum, STLW, Kentucky Highlands, CEDIK, Berea College Partners for Education 

Inputs: Fine Arts, Local Artist 

Date: Winter 

 

Audience: General Public/Artists 

Project or Activity: Artist of the Month 

Content or Curriculum: Local Artist 

Inputs: Community Members, Artists, Fine Arts  

Date: Ongoing- monthly starting back fall 2022

 



Success Stories

Forestry student success.

Author: Stacy White

Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization

Forests are very important to Kentucky both environmentally and economically.  Nearly half of the commonwealth is forested.  The economic impact of the forest products industry in Kentucky is nearly 14 billion dollars annually.  The Whitley County ANR agent regularly conducts forestry trainings.  These trainings span a gambit from elementary school classrooms to professional logger workshops.  Often programs are presented at 4H Camp.  One particular 4H camper took a

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