Youth Life Skills Plan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Johnson County CES

Title:
Youth Life Skills
MAP:
Life skills
Agents Involved:
Reed
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Science, Engineering, and Technology
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Communications and Expressive Arts
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Family and Consumer Science
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Situation:

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, 2017 STEM Jobs Update, Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workers help drive our nation’s innovation and competitiveness by generating new ideas and new companies. For example, workers who study or are employed in these fields are more likely to apply for, receive, and commercialize patents. STEM knowledge also has other benefits; while often very specialized, it can be transferred to a wide variety of careers, particularly management occupations, while increased technology in the workplace means that, to handle non-repetitive tasks, workers need the critical thinking and technical skills that come with STEM training.  In the United States, there were nearly 8.6 million STEM jobs in 2015, an increase of 10.5% from 2009 while non-STEM occupations grew only 5.2% in that same period. (Fayer, 2017) and STEM occupations are projected to grow by 8.9 percent from 2014 to 2024, compared to 6.4 percent growth for non-STEM occupations (Noonan, 2017).  Keeping these opportunities in mind, the Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program strives to increase STEM literacy among youth in Kentucky to help fill the need for a diverse pool of STEM literate individuals to meet expanding job opportunities. Kentucky 4-H provides SET education opportunities by engaging youth in hands-on, interdisciplinary educational experiences that foster an increased understanding and appreciation Science, Technology, Engineering and Applied Mathematics. Programs and projects are offered in the areas of aerospace, biotechnology, computer science, energy and electricity, robotics, physical sciences and petroleum power.


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. Using age appropriate activities selected from the approved Kentucky 4-H Communication & Expressive Arts Curriculum, educators can maximize the ability of youth to develop their writing, reading and personal communication capacities.  This in turn creates a solid foundation for positive youth development (Jones, K. R. 2006) Research also shows a positive association between arts participation and a number of desirable academic and social outcomes, such as school grades, test scores, enrollment in post-secondary education, attainment of a bachelor’s degree, and higher levels of literacy and civic engagement. (Child Trends, 2012) Kentucky 4-H provides communication and expressive arts by engaging youth in hands-on educational experiences that inspire confidence and foster a love for the arts.  Programs and projects are offered in the areas of public speaking, visual arts, and performing arts.


In the United States, only 1/3 of high school seniors are college-ready,

only 1/3 of high school graduates are work-ready 


Kentucky Student Transitions - (2016-2017)

College                     54.7%

Technical Training      5%

Military                      3%

Working                23.4%

Other                    13.8%


Kentucky 4-H Seeks met the needs of youth and families in a variety of situations to increase their consumer awareness, financial management, nutrition, culinary arts, textiles, housing, and human development.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Long-term Outcomes:

Youth will increase stem literacy

Youth will utilize the skills gained to serve as leaders in 4-H and other organizations;

Youth share the elements of the music, dance, drama and visual arts with their community

Youth will be advocates for the arts

Gainful employment in rewarding careers

Intermediate Outcomes:

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth will and use new methods or improved technology. 

Youth will demonstrate the use of developed life-skills everyday situations

Youth will construct a speech that has a clear introduction, body and closing

Youth will demonstrate an increased level of confidence when presenting in front of groups

Initial Outcomes:

Youth apply elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts in creating 

Entry into careers of choice

Completion of high school, trade/vocational schools, post-secondary education

Evaluation:

Evaluation:

Outcome: Youth plan and implement a Science, Engineering and Technology Project: 

Indicator: Youth Complete a Science, Engineering and Technoloy 

Method: Program Indicators, Program Surveys

Timeline:  August-March of the current school year as scheduled by the teachers 


Outcome: Youth plan and implement a communication and expressive arts project (speech, demonstration, drama, photography, etc)

Indicator: Youth complete a communication and expressive arts project

Method: Number of youth who completed a speech or demonstration. (PRACTICE) Number of youth who completed a state fair arts, photography, or other visual arts project. 

Timeline: annually as requested by community partners and as scheduled by District and State leadership


Outcome: Youth practicing Life Skills 

Indicator: 

Number of 4-H Members and Participants in College and Career Activities

Number of 4-H Members and Participants completing and using Resume and Interview Skills

Number of 4-H Members and Participants entering the workforce Educational Programs

Number of youth participating in It’s Your Reality and Dollars and Sense 

Method: Surveys and in-person conversations

Timeline: Annually as requested by schools and community partners



Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H Youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity: 4-H STEM and SET  

Content or Curriculum: 4-H SET Curriculum

Inputs: Agent In-services 

Date: August-March of school year as scheduled 


Audience: 4-H youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity: 4-H Speeches and Demonstrations, State Fair Projects, Visual Arts   

Content or Curriculum: Public speaking, Communications Curriculum: Module 1, Module 2, Module 3, Portfolio Pathways, Sketchbook Crossroads, KET Toolkit Visual Arts, Photography Level 1: Photography Basics, Photography Level 2: Next Level Photography, Photography Level 3: Mastering Photography, 4-H Filmmaking DVD, Getting Started in Art

Inputs: Extension Personnel, 4-H Council, Teens, Schools, Agent In-services

Date: Annually as scheduled or requested by community partners and schools 


Audience: Youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity: 4-H Reality Store, 4-H Dollars and Sense, 4-H Camp Counselor Interviews

Content or Curriculum: It’s Your Reality and World Of Work, Positive Employability  

Inputs: Extension personnel, school personnel, community partners

Date: September-May and summer as requested by community partners




Success Stories

Students Discover Importance of Soil Care and Conservation

Author: Brian Jeffiers

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

As part of a unit on soil, a chemistry/biology teacher at a private school requested the CEA for ANR to do a presentation on the most important issues affecting soils in Kentucky. The agent presented a lesson on compaction, erosion, soil structure, and nutrient content. The lesson also included content on soil types and parent material. It concluded with a visit to the school's raised plant beds and discussion on root horizons, weed identification, and weed types. None of the 13 students, wh

Full Story

Positive Employability

Author: Brenda Cockerham

Major Program: Positive Employability

Research conducted by Harvard University , the Carnegie Foundation and Stanford Research Center has concluded that 85 percent of job success comes from having well-developed soft and people skills. https://www.nationalsoftskills.org/the-real-skills-gap/Fcs teachers, FCCLA and FBLA leaders in local high schools have begun reaching out to FCS to have their students learn such skills.For this reason two teachers selected the topic of "Professionalism", one of the top 10 soft skills listed

Full Story

4-H Camping

Author: Dianna Reed

Major Program: Camping

The Johnson County CEC and Adult 4-H Council identified Youth Life Skill Development as a program priority in the 4 year Plan of Work. To address this need, the 4-H Agent, Extension personnel, 4-H Council, local School FRC's, local businesses and volunteers worked together to secure funding for 4-H Camp Scholarships, provide volunteer training, and recruit youth to attend 4-H Camp. The Johnson County Adult 4-H Council conducted an annual fundraiser which enabled them to offer each child that

Full Story

SET Fun Days

Author: Dianna Reed

Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology

The Johnson County CEC and Adult 4-H Council identified Youth Life Skill Development as a program priority in the 4-year Plan of Work. To address this need, the 4-H Agent, Extension personnel and 4-H Council expanded School 4-H Club electricity programs to create a Family Summer Series of SET Fun Days to help youth ages 9-18 develop and practice life skills. They learned about power sources, current, conductors, and the jobs of a circuit. As a result, 7 people learned and practiced making circui

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County