Developing Life Skills Among Youth and FamiliesPlan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Laurel County CES

Title:
Developing Life Skills Among Youth and Families
MAP:
Youth and Families
Agents Involved:
Davidson, Easley, Williams
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Family and Consumer Science
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Leadership
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Communications and Expressive Arts
Situation:

How we live life is ever-changing but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Learning to practice healthy habits, select clothing to emphasize one’s best appearance, create and live within a budget, prepare nutritious meals safely, nurture children, create a safe and pleasant home environment, practice common courtesies, and form relationships with others—all of these skills are basic to everyday life.  Reality is that today’s youth and adults are busier than ever. Many of these basic life skills are not consistently taught or are learned at home or school. Extension projects equip adults and youth with these skills. As with any other Cooperative Extension program area, when it comes to the development of life skills, a strong case can be made for the need to go beyond the mere transfer of knowledge to giving people the opportunity for a variety of supportive, related learning experiences to significantly increase the program’s influence. Extension programs often offer basic learning activities on a specific topic of interest but the addition of activities that support that interest (such as fair exhibits, related subject matter workshops, camps, field trips, and decision-making judging contests) significantly increase the development of life skills. In a study by Olson, Croymans, and Ji (2014), participants reported that participating in 1 or 2 educational opportunities influenced the development of critical thinking and decision making skills, and participating in 6 to 8 opportunities significantly increased the program’s influence by adding development of life skills in leadership, planning/organization, the wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills and accepting differences.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Participants will:

Intermediate Outcomes:

Participants will:

Initial Outcomes:

Participants will:

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Participants will gain knowledge of life skills and seek to practice them.

Indicator: Participants will attend and participate in Extension programs and practice life skill activities

Method: observation, judging rubics and surveys

Timeline: July - June


Intermediate Outcome: Participants will be capable of communicating, cooperating, resolving conflict, producing economic activity and making wise economic decisions to support a healthy lifestyle

Indicator: Observation and demonstrated abilities

Method: surveys, observation, pre-post test evaluations

Timeline: July-June


Long-term Outcome: Youth and Families will be strengthened through mastery of life skills gained through Extension programs

Indicator: Participants will exhibit behaviors conducive to those of competent and contributing citizens

Method: observation, surveys and pre-post test evaluations

Timeline: July - June

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults, youth and families

Project or Activity: 4-H Expressive Arts (music, drama, visual and dance)

Content or Curriculum: KET Arts curriculum, variety show competitions

Inputs: extension agents, volunteers, local schools

Date: September -August 


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Communications (Speeches and Demonstrations)

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Speak Up, Building Bridges, UK publications

Inputs: extension agents, volunteers, local schools

Date: August -April 


Audience: 4-H youth

Project or Activity: 4-H School Clubs

Content or Curriculum: 4-H curriculum

Inputs: 4-H agents, 4-H assistant, volunteers, local schools and staff

Date: weekly (August -May)


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Community Clubs

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H agents, volunteers

Date: monthly


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Camp

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: extension agents, Camp Staff, 4-H volunteers (adult & teen)

Date: yearly: summer 


Audience: 4-H cloverbud age

Project or Activity: 4-H cloverbud Camp

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Cloverbud curriculum, camp resources

Inputs: adult & teen volunteers, camp staff, extension agents

Date: Summer 


Audience: Preschool children

Project or Activity: Preschool Garden

Content or Curriculum: Early sprouts, Sowing Seeds of Wonder, Master Gardeners

Inputs: Extension program assistants, local preschools, master gardeners

Date: May-June 


Audience: general public

Project or Activity: C.L.A.S.S. (Continuous Learning Assures a Successful Society)

Content or Curriculum: UK publications

Inputs: Extension Agent, Extension program assistants, volunteers

Date: Fall and Winter semesters


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Photography Clubs and Workshops

Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Project books

Inputs: extension 4-H agent, local schools (teachers and staff), 4-H volunteers, community speakers

Date: July - August


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: SPIN (Special Interest) Clubs

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Materials and workbooks

Inputs: community volunteers, 4-H volunteers, 4-H agents, parents

Date: ongoing


Audience: Community Youth

Project or Activity: SPARK clubs (spark an interest in 4-H)

Content or Curriculum: 4-H materials, online resources, community resources

Inputs: community resource volunteers, extension agents, parents

Date: ongoing 


Audience: adults

Project or Activity: Jabez Quilt Seminar (Statewide)

Content or Curriculum: FCS materials

Inputs: Extension Agents, Master Clothing Volunteers, volunteers, state specialists, and quilting experts

Date: Winter 2021


Audience:  General Public

Project or Activity:  Positive Employability

Content or Curriculum:  Positive Employability

Inputs:  FCS Agent and State FCS specialists

Date:  Fall


Audience: Adults

Activity: Gardeners Toolbox Workshop Series

Content or curriculum: UK publications and specialists

Inputs: Extension Agents, staff, Extension Office, community garden, Extension specialists,

Date: monthly


Audience: Farmers

Activity: Farm Record book Workshop

Content or curriculum: UK publications

Inputs: Extension Agent and staff, farm record books and CD's, Volunteers, CPA,

Extension Office

Date: Winter





Success Stories

JQS Seminar

Author: Lora Davidson

Major Program: Family Development General

The body’s physical and mental decline associated with aging varies from person to person, but common issues can be a decline in memory, difficulty learning new things and trouble focusing from one task to another.  Research shows that people who stay intellectually engaged are more likely to maintain their mental acuity.  Quilting has been done for years to provide warm blankets for families, but in the last few decades retirees have turned to quilting to help fill the time gap

Full Story

Laurel County 4-H Are SET Excited

Author: Elizabeth Easley

Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology

Laurel County 4-H Are SET Excited

The Problem:According to the Kentucky Department of Education, in 2021 on average, 51% of elementary students tested at below proficient in science in most Laurel County elementary schools. As youth move to middle school, only 63% of students tested below proficient, and in high school 88% of students tested below proficient in science. Today's youth need Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) exposure and experiences to help them build critical thinking skills and build foundational kno

Full Story

Growing Future Leaders

Author: Elizabeth Easley

Major Program: Leadership

Growing Future Leaders

Voting is an indicator of community and civic engagement. According to the US Census Bureau, 67% of Kentuckians 18 to 24 did not vote during the 2022 presidential election. Low turnout amongst the youngest voter demographic suggests the need for 4-H to provide experiences to increase youth leadership skills, social responsibility, and community awareness to develop active future community leaders.A robust leadership program, targeting fifth-grade and middle school-aged youth, was implemented and

Full Story

Life-long Skills Developed in 4-H Camps

Author: Elizabeth Easley

Major Program: Camping

The Laurel County 4-H Advisory Council has identified 4-H summer camp as a priority issue. 4-H summer camp helps youth develop life-long skills. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a skill is a learned ability. A life skill is an ability that is useful throughout daily life and enhances the quality of life. The Targeting Life Skills Model (Hendricks, 1998) highlights 35 life skills developed in 4-H programs to help youth succeed. At our 4-day summer camp, we focused on honing three life

Full Story

Cook Together, Eat Together

Author: Lora Davidson

Major Program: Cook Together, Eat Together

Eating more fruits and vegetables is a critical behavior for health promotion and disease prevention.  Despite the importance of eating more produce, it is also one of the most difficult eating behaviors to change.  It has been reported that cooking more meals at home is related to increased fruit and vegetable consumption.A social marketing program to promote healthier, home-cooked family meals, Cook Together, Eat Together, was offered at the Laurel County Cooperative Extension Office

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County