Marshall County CES

Title:

Empowering Community Leaders

MAP:

Engaged Communities

Agents Involved:

LDM, NR, VW

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Community Vitality and Leadership – 4-H Youth Development

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Volunteer Development

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Master Gardener

Situation:

Building the capacity of volunteer leaders within counties is critical for the sustainability of a community infrastructure that supports long term commitment to strengthen families. Within Kentucky there are 16,000 KEHA members, 119 Master Clothing Volunteers, 8,575 Master Gardener Volunteers, and over 150 Champion Food Volunteers who share their expertise, and volunteer time with youth and families in their community. Through the efforts of the FCS agents, paraprofessionals, and volunteers local citizens are engaged, educated and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions.

Youth Leadership & 4-H Volunteer Development

Leadership is a needed and important programming emphasis in Kentucky 4-H.  The Cooperative Extension Service provides opportunities for youth and families to help improve their leadership ability and create a positive impact on their future.  Leadership opportunities for youth create a setting that reduces the access of youth to risk factors that can negatively impact their success. 

Basic leadership knowledge & skills are essential for success in almost any field.  The skills associated with leadership are necessary when working in a group or communicating with others.  Employers look for leadership skills in future employees.   Developing leadership in the youth and adults who are involved in the 4-H program is a priority.  By assisting the development of leadership skills in today’s youth, we improve their ability to face the challenges of tomorrow (Unlock Your Leadership Potential, University of Florida, 2017). 

Kentucky 4-H provides opportunities for youth to actively engage locally and globally to promote life skills [such as leadership] that prepare them for the global marketplace. Through 4-H youth exercise critical thinking skills, learn to appreciate diversity, practice tolerance, develop socio-emotionally, and strive to contribute to their environment (United States Department of Education International Affairs Office of International Strategy).  4-H participants rate their leadership life skills above average, have a positive view of their leadership ability, and have a positive attitude toward diversity and acceptance of others (Locke, Boyd, Fraze, and Howard, 2007).   

According to the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS), Kentucky ranks 48^th in Teenage Volunteer Rate and 39^th in Adult Volunteer Rate.  Kentucky’s Teenage Volunteer Rate was 17.9%, as compared to other states which ranged from 14.1% to 42.2%.  Conversely, 28.1% of adults volunteer.  Meanwhile, volunteer rates among teens, nationwide are increasing.  Finally, teens engaged in service activities during their high school years are twice as likely to serve as volunteers during their 20’s and 30’s.   Clearly, in order to develop the next generation of volunteers in Kentucky, Extension must be more proactive in engaging teens in volunteer service.

Marshall Master Gardener Association (MMGA):
The Extension Master Gardener Program was created to meet an increase in requests from home gardeners for horticultural information.  This increase derives primarily from the urban and transient nature of modern American life. Fifty years ago, an Extension agent dealt with the questions of a few hundred farm families. In many regions, however, land that once constituted a single farm now encompasses several subdivisions, increasing the number of families an Extension office must serve. In additions, many of these families are unfamiliar with the grasses, shrubs, trees, and diseases that comprise the microenvironment of their new home.  They often will call their local Extension for advice on what to plant and how to care for it.

Consequently, Master Gardeners have become a vital part of Extension’s ability to provide consumers with up-to-date, reliable knowledge so they can enjoy and protect the plantings around their homes. Master Gardening also has become a fun and useful volunteer activity that has given its participants a sense of community spirit, accomplishment, and intellectual stimulation.

Extension Homemakers

The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) is a volunteer organization that works to improve the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development, volunteer service, and education. The organization was developed in cooperation with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Across the state, County Extension Agents for Family and Consumer Sciences work closely with KEHA members and clubs to provide educational programming and coordinate community activities. Marshall County Extension Homemakers plan of work includes educational programs and service activities for related opportunities throughout the community. Master Clothing Volunteers and Master Food Volunteers are engaged leaders and active volunteers that are an asset to the local community.

Long-Term Outcomes:

--Kentucky communities' health and economy are strengthened through strong local organizational leadership

--Community problems are solved through active engaged local leaders? Youth will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth.

• Communities are equipped with competent, effective leaders 
• Community members engage others to initiate projects 
• Civic engagement is possible and desirable for community members 
• Communities become more prosperous 
• Teens will become more active as volunteers.
• Adults will increase their rate of volunteer involvement in their communities and in Extension.
• Additional volunteer involvement reduces the stress on staff and extends the outreach of the not-profit organization to individuals and audiences which would otherwise be unserved.

Community assessment 2020
community vitality-
***More qualified leaders to prepare community for the future
More citizens helping to solve local issues
More pride in the community and its assets

Intermediate Outcomes:

Number of people who:

--practice personal leadership skills in clubs, schools and community outreach

--improved skills in communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs

--apply skills to assess needs, develop programs and implement solutions for community problems

• Youth put skills into practice by becoming more engaged, taking on leadership roles
• You improve skills in communication or problem solving in addressing community issues and needs
• Youth participants become more engaged in non-formal leadership roles which increases involvement/action
• Youth participants initiate projects that meet the needs of their community 
• Youth are inclusive of all individuals 
• Youth will volunteer and participate in community service 
• Youth will engage in civic involvement 
• Youth will maintain future intentions for civic engagement 
• Youth will develop a sense of belonging in their communities, as they become more strongly affiliated with the community through service to a non-profit organization.  
• Youth will master skills related to their specific volunteer role.
• Youth will experience a feeling of generosity as they serve non-profit organizations, their programs and clientele in a volunteer role.

Initial Outcomes:

--Kentuckians increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership

--KEHA members increase knowledge and skills in organizational leadership

--Kentuckians increase knowledge and skills as community leadership. Youth will learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting.

-- MMGA increase knowledge and skills in organizational leadership

• Youth increase knowledge of effective leadership skills
• Youth develop/enhance leadership skills 
• Youth are informed of community systems, are better connected to communication networks, are more confident and skills in identifying and implementing strategies for change in their community (local/state/national/global).
• Youth and adults will increase their knowledge of the types of volunteer and service opportunities that are available to them in their communities.
• Youth and adults will increase their knowledge of the non-profit organizations in their communities and the services that they provide.
• Youth and adults will identify non-profit organizations in their communities and the specific types of volunteer roles which they aspire to fulfill and serve.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: KEHA members will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership through club lessons and special interest workshops.

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership knowledge and/or number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership skills.

Method: end of program evaluations, surveys

Timeline: ongoing

Intermediate Outcome: KEHA members will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer and chairman training

Indicator: Number of KEHA members who report knowledge gained through county and/or area officer and chairman training.

Method: program evaluation with per and post assessment questions

Timeline: ongoing

Long-term Outcome: KEHA leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level.

Indicator: Number of KEHA members who utilized knowledge gained through office training to fulfill a KEHA leadership role at the club, county, area and/or state level.

Method: Observation, review of office directories and reports

Timeline: ongoing

4-H Youth Development Program Evaluation

• Outcome to be Evaluated
  • Youth become more engaged as a leader in their community (planning a service project, serving as a mentor, increasing participation in local/state/national levels)
• Indicator of Success for Outcome
  • Youth plan a community service project in their community
  • Youth report they serve as a mentor for a younger participant 
  • Youth serve as leaders within their club or county programs
  • Youth serve in a state or national leadership position
• Method of Evaluation
  • 4-H Common Measures Universal Survey
  • Program Indicators
• Number of youth who served as group leaders or officers?(PRACTICE)
• Number of youth who received education related to diversity and inclusivity? (KOSA)
• Number of youth who served as direct mentors to one or more younger youth? (SEEC)
• Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself?” (SEEC)
• Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader?” (SEEC)

Evaluation of 4-H Volunteer Development Programming

• The number of youth and adults who engaged in volunteer service in their communities through the 4-H program? (SEEC)
• The number of youth and adults who participated in volunteer training/orientation (i.e. club officer orientation, volunteer education/certification, etc)? (KOSA)
• The number of 4-H youth and adults who have volunteered in a non-4-H community non-profits two or more times during the year? (SEEC)
• The number of hours of youth or adult volunteer related education provided in the county (i.e. orientations, trainings, education workshop, club management seminars, etc)? (KOSA)

Master Gardener Volunteer Development

Initial Outcome: MMGA members will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership while participating in MMG class.

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting who report that they develop skills they can use in other areas of their lives.

Method: observation and end of program evaluations/surveys

Timeline: continuous 

Intermediate Outcome: MMGA members will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership while participating in monthly meetings and association activities 

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting who report that they develop skills they can use in other areas of their lives or increased confidence in public speaking. 

Method: observation and evaluations/surveys 

Timeline: continuous 

Long-term Outcome: MMGA leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles (officer roles, program leaders, committee leaders, etc.)

Indicator: Number of MMGA volunteers who report that they develop skills they can use in other areas of their lives or increased public speaking skills. 

Method: Observation and priority indicators 

Timeline: continuous 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: volunteer leaders, KEHA members

Project or Activity: KEHA leader training, Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD)

Content or Curriculum: KEHA resources, KELD curriculum

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers, Kentucky CES publications and resources, community partners, KEHA, Master Clothing Volunteers

Date: ongoing

Audience: Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYSCs), Libraries, Schools, Faith-based groups, non-profit organizations

Project or Activity: Master Clothing Volunteers

Content or Curriculum: MCV curriculum

Date: ongoing

Audience: Volunteer leaders, KGA members

Project or Activity: KY Master Gardener

Content or Curriculum: KMG Lessons, and other local learning opportunities 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers, Kentucky CES publications and resources, community partners, KMG, Master Gardener Volunteers

Date: ongoing

Will provide programming in a hybrid model of in-person, virtual, "grab-n-go" kits, etc to reach multiple audiences.

Audience: Marshall County, Community 4-H Clubs & CFS/NCCA Club Members/Students 

Project or Activity: Leadership 4-H Club Lessons / Officer Elections & Role Experience / Specialized Lessons when requested from club leaders or teachers.

Content or Curriculum: 4-HCCS "Step Up to Leadership" and "Unlock Your Leadership Potential"

Inputs: Marshall County Extension for 4-H Youth Development Agent, Extension Assistant, 4-H Club Leaders, and 4-H Teen Volunteers.

Date: 2022-23

Audience: Marshall County, Community 4-H Clubs & CFS/NCCA Club Members

Project or Activity: Volunteer Service/Civic Engagement

Content or Curriculum: Marshall 4-H Volunteer Service Scholarship Program

Inputs: Marshall County Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent, Extension Assistant, Marshall County 4-H Members and Teen & Adult Volunteer, Marshall County 4-H Council, and local community organizations.

Date: 2022-23

Audience: Marshall County 4-H Teens

Project or Activity: Teen led 4-H School Enrichment, SPIN Club Programs, Day Camps, etc Lessons

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Curriculum for topic(s) to be taught.

Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, 4-H Teen Volunteers

Date: 2022-23

Audience:  Marshall County 4-H Sharp Shooters

Project or Activity:  Teen Discipline Coaches

Content or Curriculum:  Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports Certification

Inputs:  Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors, Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Marshall County 4-H Sharp Shooters Coordinator & Adult Coaches

Date:  Spring/Summer 2023

Audience:  Marshall County 4-H Clubs / Day Camp & School Enrichment Program Participants

Project or Activity: 4-H Global Education

Content or Curriculum:  4-H Backpack to Adventure / WeConnect / A Global Youth Citizenship / Youth Leaders in a Global World

Inputs:  Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, 4-H Teen Volunteers

Date:  2022-23 Club Year

Audience:  Marshall County Teens & Adults

Project or Activity:  Kentucky 4-H Camp Counselors

Content or Curriculum:  Kentucky 4-H Camp Counselor Training

Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development and Past 4-H Camp Adult Counselors

Date:  Spring/Summer 2023

Master Gardener Volunteer Development

Audience: Aspiring Master Gardener Volunteers

Project or Activity: Marshall Master Gardener Class

Content or Curriculum: EMG Core Curriculum  

Inputs: Sessions taught by Agents, Specialists or local experts utilizing Extension publications, research and resources. 

Date: Fall 2022

Audience: Master Gardener Volunteers

Project or Activity: MMGA Continuing Education Efforts

Content or Curriculum: EMG Curriculum, UK/KSU and other University's resources, etc.

Inputs: UK/KSU specialists, agents, and resources, local experts, Extension volunteers, KY Horticulture Newsletter articles, KY Pest News, UK Agriculture Communications articles, etc. 

Date: Continuous

Audience: Master Gardener Volunteers and Gardening/Landscape Enthusiasts

Project or Activity: Home Horticulture Classes and Workshops

Content or Curriculum:  UK/KSU Resources

Inputs: UK/KSU Specialists, agents, and resources, local experts, and Extension volunteers

Date: Continuous

Success Stories