Increasing life skills education and leadership excellence for youth and familiesPlan of Work

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Washington County CES

Title:
Increasing life skills education and leadership excellence for youth and families
MAP:
Developing Leadership, Volunteers, and Life Skills
Agents Involved:
Cabrina Buckman, Dennis Morgeson, Melissa Richardson, Taylor Graves, Laura Milburn, SNAP-Ed
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Community Leadership Development
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Situation:

Results from the 2019 Kentucky Extension Community Assessment identified the following as top community issues: providing more youth life-skills training, better youth and adult career readiness, and more qualified leaders to prepare community for the future.  Advisory councils contributed to this assessment.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Participants of leadership programs will serve as volunteer leaders and/or mentors to others.

Clientele will gain and maintain employment through life skill development.

Families and individuals will make responsible and productive life choices that will contribute to home and community.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Participants will collaborate with coalitions, councils, programs, and other leaders.

Clientele will set and achieve goals through Extension programming.

Extension participants will apply skills learned through Extension programming at home, work, and in their community.

Initial Outcomes:

Develop adequate perceptions of leadership due to training opportunities for organizational and community leaders

Clientele will develop an understanding of goal setting

Participants will acquire decision making skills and gain an appreciation for civic engagement

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Develop adequate perceptions of leadership due to training opportunities for organizational and community leaders

Indicator: Teen Leadership participants will apply lessons in leadership through completing assignments in the program

Method: verbal presentation

Timeline: spring


Intermediate Outcome: Participants will collaborate with coalitions, councils, programs, and other leaders.

Indicator: Participation on advisory councils and in programs

Method: sign in sheets and leader trainings

Timeline: throughout the year


Long-term Outcome: Participants of leadership programs will serve as volunteer leaders and/or mentors to others.

Indicator: return of program alumni to facilitate program

Method: observation

Timeline: continuous

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: youth and adult Extension clientele

Project or Activity: Talk Meet, 4-H clothing and food projects, money management classes, meal planning and preparation lessons, safety programming, 4-H Teen Programming, horticulture programming

Content or Curriculum: Extension curriculum

Inputs: Extension resources, community partners, volunteers, and participants

Date: continuous throughout FY 2023


Audience: 7th grade students, high school juniors, council and board members, community participants

Project or Activity: Junior Leadership, Teen Leadership, Master Gardeners, Homemakers, 4-H Council, Agriculture Development Board, WC Cattlemen's Association, Washington on Wellness Coalition

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum, Positive Employability Curriculum, other Extension curriculum

Inputs: Extension resources and specialists, community and civic organizations

Date: annual programming that will be offered continuously throughout FY 2023



Success Stories

Continuing the Tradition of Quilting

Author: Melissa Schenck

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

According to a 2018 study by Walden University, “Occupational therapy research indicated that women used quilt making as therapy during everyday stress and also during times of exceptional stress.” In fact, many researchers consider that heritage arts are utilized as a form of therapy in rural areas where access to mental health resources are less available. Our Master Clothing volunteer as well as several community volunteers sought to continue on the tradition of quilting for

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Summer Fun Series addresses Summer Learning Loss

Author: Cabrina Buckman

Major Program: Family Development General

Summer Fun Series addresses Summer Learning Loss

Summer learning loss refers to the decrease in learning that many school-aged children experience while school is not in session.  The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension Specialist for Parenting and Child Development, Dr. David Weisenhorn wrote an article that describes some ways to reduce the learning lost over the summer break.  These strategies include reading each day, practicing math, writing, and being physically active.  To bring these tips to local parents, the W

Full Story

Area Homemaker Kickoff

Author: Cabrina Buckman

Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

In August of 2021, the Lincoln Trail Area Extension Homemakers conducted a SWOT analysis at their area meeting. This meeting consisted of county and club officers, chairmen, and members from each of the 8 counties in the Lincoln Trail Area. While many strengths of the Extension Homemakers organization were listed, weaknesses still arose. Lack of technology, fundraising, structure, size, and more were all listed as minor weaknesses. However, a few kept rising to the top – mentioned again an

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Committed to a Culture of Firearm Safety

Author: Melissa Schenck

Major Program: Natural Resources

Committed to a Culture of Firearm Safety

According to a 2022 analysis by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Center for Violence Prevention, gun injuries are the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens ages 1-19. With that in mind, it is imperative that gun safety is a priority to teach our youth. With that goal in mind the Washington County 4-H Shootings Sports Coaches collectively committed over 250 volunteer hours to the county shooting sports program in 2022. Monthly safety meetings alongside weekly practices

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Wreath Making Workshop Becomes Annual Event

Author: James Morgeson

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

Wreath Making Workshop Becomes Annual Event

The Horticulture How To workshops have become popular and some have been requested to become annual events such as the wreath making program. Participants learn how to and make a holiday wreath with live greenery to take home, they learn about the types or greenery, and how to keep it fresh through the holidays. There were twenty-seven participants this year. Previous attendees volunteered to help the beginners one on one until they got the hang of it. Each participant completed an evaluation fo

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Homemakers learn the Elements and Principles of Art

Author: Cabrina Buckman

Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

The elements and principles of art are the basic visual or tactile components of the art we view or create.  How these interact impact our conscious or subconscious perception of what we are viewing. Understanding these elements (line, shape, form, space, texture, value, and color) and principles (unity, variety, proportion, balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, rhythm, and pattern) can guide an artist during the creative process or help a viewer objectively evaluate the finished product.T

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Super Star Chef Day Camp Teaches Children to Make Healthy Choices

Author: Cabrina Buckman

Major Program: Super Star Chef

Research has indicated that teaching cooking skills to children encourages healthier food choices.  In an effort to teach these life skills, the Washington County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, the Washington County 4-H Youth Development Agent, the Washington County Nutrition Education Program Assistant, and a UK dietetic student worked together to offer Super Star Chef, a three-day camp for students ages 9 through 12 that is designed to teach kitchen safety, food safety, nutrition con

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Success recognized at 4-H Teen Conference

Author: Melissa Schenck

Major Program: Leadership

The 99th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky June 13-16, 2023. The objectives of Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference are: develop leadership and teamwork skills, improve communication skills, foster civic engagement, expand knowledge and skills related to 4-H core content areas, gain club, county and state 4-H program skills, have fun, create a sense of belonging, expand social skills through networking, develop youth-adult partnerships, and become acquainted with

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4-H'ers Grow from Camp!

Author: Melissa Schenck

Major Program: Camping

4-H'ers Grow from Camp!

To the untrained eye, 4-H camp is a fun week in the hills of Kentucky. A closer look reveals that campers learn, grow, and build upon their experiences at camp. This year's camp is no exception. Within this delegation of campers there were seven first-year campers who reported this experience to be their longest stretch of time spent away from their parents. All seven reported being excited but nervous about the experience. Prior to camp, six teens were selected through a county-wide ap

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