Educating & Empowering Individuals and Families to Make Responsible Choices and Develop Life SkillsPlan of Work

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Jefferson County CES

Title:
Educating & Empowering Individuals and Families to Make Responsible Choices and Develop Life Skills
MAP:
Developing Life Skills
Agents Involved:
C. Hall, l. Milligan, B. Pratt, K. Smith, and P. Thompson
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Community Engagement
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Situation:

Developing life skills and making responsible, healthy choices can have a profound impact on family stability, individual well-being and community sustainability. Budgeting, interpersonal relationships, communication, family management and other skills are necessary for success. 
 
The consequences of the Great Recession and the extended period of slow economic growth which followed, encouraged Kentuckians to become more aware of their financial situation. Kentucky consistently lags behind other areas of the United States in key household economic indicators, including: personal income, population living below the poverty line, unemployment, and revolving debt. These indicators, especially unemployment numbers became more exaggerated during the period of the Great Recession. However, at present economist are cautiously optimistic regarding future economic forecasts. It is important to acknowledge the impact of current economic conditions on family financial management. The goal of the Securing Financial Stability Initiative is to help Kentuckians understand and respond to changing economic conditions, while promoting healthy financial behaviors across the lifespan. 
 

The development of life skills, like leadership, allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension). Almost 30 percent of youth in the United States (or over 5.7 million) are to be involved in bullying as a bully, a target of bullying or both. A troubling statistic that needs to be addressed. 

Youth participating in experiential learning opportunities coupled with setting goals, solving problems, and making wise decisions will help students develop their leadership skills, and in turn will provide them with the necessary skills for leading a successful life (Boyd, 2001).  

Healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. Furthermore, children who start kindergarten with delayed development and fewer assets are by far more likely to repeat grades, get tracked into lower-tier classes and drop out of high school than more advantaged children. 


Boyd, B.L. (2011). Bringing leadership experiences to inner-city youth. Journal of Extension [Online]. 39(4). Available:  https://www.joe.org/joe/2001august/a6.php  

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

 

 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults & Youth 

Project or Activity: Community Garden implementation; school garden 

Content or Curriculum: Extension publications 

Inputs: specialists; content curriculum 

Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Program Code: 1031 

 

Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: Community Gardens 

Content or Curriculum: CES publications 

Inputs: agents, garden space 

Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Program Code: 1031 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: In – School Clubs 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide, National 4-H Curriculum 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4001 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Reality Store 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr2023

Program Code: 4031 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Dollars & Sense, Reality Store 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022– Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4031 

 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: Teen Summit 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, Steps to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4041 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Jr. MANRRS 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4041 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: 4-H SPIN Clubs 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide, National 4-H Curriculum 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4001 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: 4 – H Embryology 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4011 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Babysitting 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4031 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: 4 – H Camp 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4071 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project Activity: Boyz to Men 4-H Program 

Curriculum: Health Rocks, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity-Go To High School, Go to College Manual, and National 4-H Sparks Curriculum, and Build Your Future. 

Inputs: KSU Staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors. 

Date: TBA

Program Code: 4041 

 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project/Activity: Girls Rock 4-H Club 

Curriculum: Health Rocks, National 4-H Sparks Curriculum, Healthy Teens, Problem Solving, Build Your Future. 

Inputs: KSU staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors. 

Date: TBA

Program Code: 4001 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project Activity: Robotics 

Curriculum: Ozobot Educator-Tools and Curriculum, Hour of Code, Robot Proof, Edison Educational Kits 

Inputs: KSU Staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors 

Date: TBA

Program Code: 4071 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project: Youth Futures: College within Reach Youth Mentoring Program for Middle and High Schoolers 

Curriculum: Build Your Future, College within Reach Curriculum, Be the “E” in Entrepreneurship 

Inputs: KSU Staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors. 

Date: TBA

Program Code: 4041 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project: CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) 

Curriculum: Carolina Biological: DNA Necklace Kit, KEMETIC Crime Scene Investigation Packet 

Inputs: KSU Staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors. 

Date: TBA

Program Code: 4071 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project: Tech Wizards STEM Youth Mentoring Program 

Curriculum: National 4-H Tech Wizards Grant Program Curriculum, Build Your Future 

Inputs: KSU Staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors. 

Date: TBA

 

Audience: Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date: October 2022

Program Code: 2056 

 

Audience: Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date: December 2022

Program Code: 2066 

 

Audience: Extension Homemakers  

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date: March 2023

Program Code: 2056 

 
Audience: Senior Citizens 

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Embracing Aging and Stand Up to Falling 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) publications and resources 

Date: Spring 2023

Program Code: 2011 

 

Audience: General Public 

Project or Activity: Personal Finance 

Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life, Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents, volunteers. 

Date: July 2022 – June 2023

Program Code: 2056 

 

Audience: General Public 

Project or Activity: Holiday Finances 

Content or Curriculum: Stretching Your Holiday Spending, Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents 

Date: October 2022– December 2023

Program Code: 2056 



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Closing the “Adventure” Gap: Sowing Seeds with Faith at 4-H Camp

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Major Program: Camping

Sowing Seeds with Faith (SSWF) is a youth program in Louisville whose goal is to engage youth academically and socially in the Louisville community by mastering developmental challenges via educational expectations, structure, faith, and accountability.  Sowing Seeds with Faith is a Louisville-based private tutoring service with tutors ranging from JCPS teachers to JCPS retirees to current college students. Sowing Seeds uses a Village approach to provide the highest caliber of educational s

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Becoming comfortable with financial planning.

Author: Jessica Marquez

Major Program: Economic Development

Becoming comfortable with financial planning.

The monthly Grupo de Mujeres is a collaborative program between Eastern Area Community Ministries and Kentucky State University's Cooperative Extension program. The group welcomes all Spanish-speaking women who want to participate in financial education, life-skill development, and female empowerment for themselves and their families. As of September 2022, we have educated the participants on financial skills such as opening savings and checking accounts, understanding the difference between

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Reaching financial goals and making new ones.

Author: Jessica Marquez

Major Program: Economic Development

I have partnered with the director of multicultural services at Eastern Area Community Ministries to collaborate on programing for the Grupo de Mujeres. This program is welcomes all participants who want to learn about financial education, life-skill development, and female empowerment for themselves and their families. The program started in January 2022 with a focus on teaching participants about personal financial education, life-skill development, and female empowerment for themselves and th

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Pawpaw Tasting at Greenwood Elementary

Author: Von Barnes

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

The fourth grade students at Greenwood Elementary did a discovery walk through the Parklands of Floyds Fork this year. During that walk, they learned about nature and identified plants in the Kentucky ecosystem. One of the plants that was brought to their focus for this classroom program was the pawpaw tree.  For this program, 84 students were able to taste pawpaw ice cream for the first time. The students were very excited about the opportunity to try a fruit that they had not be able

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