Extension
It Starts With Us
Life Skill Development 2023
Youth and Families
Julie Brown and Janet Turley
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Communications and Expressive Arts
Family and Consumer Science
Extension’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens through non-formal education for the entire family. Extension agents and volunteers take the results of university research and explain it in such a way that different age groups can learn and apply the information to their own lives. 4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global society. 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.
- Gain and maintain employment through life skill development.
- 4-H youth will successfully enter the workplace and/or institution of higher learning.
- Youth use their communication skills to assume a leadership role in 4-H or other organizations.
- Youth construct and give a speech that has a clear introduction, body and closing.
- Youth will demonstrate an increased level of confidence when presenting in front of groups
- Utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations
- Practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making
- Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future
- Youth will enroll in 4-H Clubs
- Youth and adults will understand the decision-making process
- Youth and adults gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action
- Youth will gain knowledge in researching, preparing and presenting a speech or demonstration
- Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects and programs
- Increase knowledge and skills to build upon soft skills
Outcome:
- Youth plan and implement a communication and expressive arts project (speech, demonstration, drama, photography, etc)
- Youth who engage in FCS project Work
Indicator:
- Youth complete a communication and expressive arts project
- Youth complete a FCS Project
Method:
- 4-H Common Measures Experience Survey
- 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? (PRACTICE)
- 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)
Audience: Warren County 4-H Members
Project or Activity: 4-H Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Warren County 4-H Club Leader Notebook, project books
Inputs: Volunteers, facilities, 4-H Handbook, promotion items, project books
Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
Audience: Warren County Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Career Shadowing Program
Content or Curriculum: Career project book
Inputs: Agent’s Time, business hosts, orientation
Date: October 2022 – March 2023
Audience: Warren County 7th-12th Grade Students
Project or Activity: 4-H Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: Reality Store Curriculum
Inputs: Agent’s Time, volunteer time, facilities, evaluations, information letters, orientation, signs
Date: Fall 2021 – Spring 2022
Audience: Warren County 4th-6th Grade Students
Project or Activity: 4-H Dollars & Sense
Content or Curriculum: Dollars & Sense Curriculum
Inputs: Agent’s Time, volunteer time, facilities, evaluations, information letters, orientation, signs
Date: September 2022 – May 2023
Audience: 4-H Members (5-18 year olds)
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications Program
Content or Curriculum Communication Curriculum
Inputs: Agent’s Time, judges, room leaders, facilities, evaluations, information letters, score sheets, food
Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
Audience: High School Students and Parents
Project: College/Career Readiness
Content or Curriculum: College & Technical School Resources
Inputs: Agent’s time, College & Technical School Personal, Mass Media
Date: Fall 2022
Audience: 4th -12th grade students
Projects: Sewing Program
Content or Curriculum: Sewing Project Books
Inputs: Volunteer Time, Sewing Curriculum
Dates: Fall 2022-Spring 2023
Audience: 4th-12th grade students
Projects: Cooking Program
Content or Curriculum: Teen Cruise, KY Proud Recipes, 4-H Cooking Curriculum, Super Star Chef
Inputs: Volunteer Time, Cooking Supplies
Dates: July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023
Audience: 6th-12th grade students
Project: Expressive/Fine Arts
Content or Curriculum: Expressive/Fine Arts Curriculum
Inputs: Volunteer Time, supplies
Dates: July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023
Author: Kristi Shive
Major Program: Positive Employability
In the 2018 University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension needs assessment study, all 120 counties identified “more qualified employees for existing jobs” as a critical community issue. In response to this critical need, Kristi Shive, Warren County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, began delivering a Career Readiness Program to the high school students at Warren East High School. The program included information on the Top 10 Soft Skills for Success, Communication, How to Build
Author: Janet Turley
Major Program: 21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
The top five skills that employers look for in prospective employees is communication, leadership, teamwork, interpersonal and learning/adaptability. Unfortunately, iGens (young adults born during the years of 1995-2012) are so heavily immersed in social media that they spend less time practicing these valuable face to face skills. And therefore, are less equipped with the skills needed in the workplace.Fortunately, iGens 4-H members get many opportunities to experience, practice, and hone their
Author: Julie Brown
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership – 4-H Youth Development
.Ten years ago a socially awkward 9 year old with Asperger’s Syndrome joined 4-H. Prior to joining 4-H, this child felt like an outcast wherever he went, felt that he wasn’t given opportunities other kids got, and wasn’t expected to be a success. This all changed when he joined 4-H. He finally had a place where he had the support to succeed and grow. Fast forward 10 years, this smart, funny and intellectual teenager overcame social barriers and went places he never thought poss
Author: Julie Brown
Major Program: Camping
A typical 5-day 4-H Camp session offers upwards of 96 hours of direct, uninterrupted contact between youth and their cabin leaders/counselors. That’s the equivalent of a family sitting down at the dinner table for 30-minutes, 192 days of the year. The interactions offered in a residential camp/group living setting is so important to youth. The time we spend with youth in the camp setting offers opport
