Extension
It Starts With Us
To improve the stability, resiliency, and financial well being of individuals and families.
Strengthening Individuals and Families
B. Cheirs, A. McCoy, B. Rudy
Nurturing Parenting
Securing Financial Stability (general)
Real Skills for Everyday Life
Nurturing Families (general)
Healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. Co-habitating, same-sex, divorced, widowed and single households are the new majority.
Children who live absent from their biological fathers are two to three times more likely to be poor, to experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems than their peers who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents. In 2009, 26 percent of Kentucky children lived in poverty, ranking Kentucky 48th in the nation.
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.
Teens in the digital age may need more help with establishing healthy relationships because personal relationship skills are not being developed when technology use is high. Births to unwed parents are rising. Stable homes are needed for young children.
Older adults are living longer and independently. Some need assistance with socialization activities and developing skills and attitudes that foster self worth, i.e. embracing life as you age.
Personal Finance issues affect millions of Americans. Major societal problems have been reported in recent years including youth whom are performing poorly in the classroom, low household savings rates, and high household debt.
Youth and adults will have the opportunity to develop life skills that will improve their confidence, family roles, and their financial stability. When individuals are confident and capable they are more likely to accept roles and responsibilities in their communities and enhance their contribution to society.
Youth and adults that are a part of the Cooperative Extension Service programs will:
-Care for the physical and mental health well-being of each individual over the long term
-Build personal strengths and self-control, interpersonal communication, life skills including wise decision-making.
-Foster the optimal development of children and youth
-Practice parental leadership skills
-Access community resources when needed
-Be better educated
-Stay in school or achieve high levels of education
-Have higher levels of workforce readiness, financial management, time management, decision making skills, set goals, self actualization
-Achieve higher levels of personal and economic success
As a result of involvement in this program, participants will:
-Practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships including spousal, parent/child and work related
-Access community agencies when needed
-Change spending habits including increasing income and decreasing expenses
-Youth and adults adopt and use new methods and/or improved technology
-Youth and adults demonstrate use of life skills
As a result of involvement in this program, participants will increase knowledge related to:
Increased awareness of the need for financial management and employability skills
Increased knowledge of parenting skills
Youth will gain knowledge of the consequences of substance abuse
Youth will become aware of good character
Youth will gain social skills through interacting with peers and adults
Increased awareness of the value of planning and goal setting
Adults will learn and improve basic life skills through participation
Outcome:
Program participants will better manage personal and financial resources to achieve a better quality of life.
Indicator:
The number of program participants who make positive lifestyle changes and who indicate changes in knowledge, opinions, and skills related to careers, finances, parenting, etc.
Method:
Observations, evaluations (pre & post tests), follow up questionnaires
Timeline:
All year as programs are completed
Audience: Parents and Families
Activity: Parent Engagement Events- Grow Event and Kindergarten Readiness Event
Content or Curriculum: Various early childhood education curricula targeting kindergarten readiness skills
Inputs: Extension Staff, Four River Counties Early Childhood Council including Grant Monies, FRYSC, Health Department, Early Head Start and Head Start, and Fulton County and Fulton City School Systems
Date: October 2017 and April 2018
Audience: Parents of Preschoolers
Activity: Newsletter for parents of preschoolers
Content or Curriculum: “Preschool Pages”
Inputs: UK Extension resources, eXtension resources, FCS agents of district 7
Date: All year
Audience: Parents and Families
Activity: Parenting Classes
Content or Curriculum: Nurturing Families, Nurturing Fathers, Keys to Great Parenting and other curricula
Date: As requested
Inputs: Early Head Start, Fulton County and City School System, Fulton County Court System and Fulton County Detention Center.
Audience: Adults
Activity: Estate Planning Workshop
Content or Curriculum: UK Estate Planning Publications
Date: Spring 2018
Inputs: Local Lawyers, Banking Professionals, Insurance and Extension Staff
Audience: Adults
Activity: Women in Agriculture Seminar
Content or Curriculum: Issues Affecting Women in Agriculture
Date: Fall 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Inputs: FSA, Four River Counties Extension Staff, Local Banks, Soybean Board, River Valley ACA, Extension Homemakers
Audience: Adults
Activity: Budgeting and Financial Education
Content or Curriculum: Managing in tough Times
Date: Year 17-18
Inputs: Extension Agents, Fulton County Detention Center, Fulton County and Fulton City Head Start, FRYSC
Audience: Fulton County and Fulton City Schools
Activity: Mind Your Manners Program
Content or Curriculum: FCS Publications, eXtension
Inputs: Schools, FRYSC, After-school Program
Date: Year 17-18
