Pulaski County CES

Title:

Developing leadership skills- adult NEW

MAP:

Leadership Development & Community Engagement

Agents Involved:

Adkins, Wilson, Spurgeon, Lovett,

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Master Clothing Volunteer

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development

Situation:

KEHA-The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association mission is to improve the quality of life for families and communities through education, leadership development and volunteer service.  With membership totaling more than 13,000 statewide, KEHA members are engaged leaders and active volunteers.

4-H 

According to the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS), Kentucky ranks 48th in Teenage Volunteer Rate and 39th 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. 

Nationally, the Extension Master Gardener Training Program involves 84,700 volunteers and contributed 3.1 million hours educating others and helped people use gardening to grow food, improve their physical and mental health, and address environmental issues. Conservatively, these efforts are estimated to contribute $88 million in value to the general public (2020 National Extension Master Gardener Report).

In Kentucky (2016) there were approximately 1400 active Extension Master Gardeners contributing over 43,000 hours in volunteer service in 50 counties across the Commonwealth.

The Master Gardener Program has been taught in Pulaski County since 2000. Many good leaders have been developed over the years. The group loses members each year as they get older or their life situations change. The Master Gardeners have also been around long enough that they have some great projects going on that need their attention a good part of the year. Therefore, there is an ongoing need to offer and teach the Master Gardener program.

 

Long-Term Outcomes:

KEHA-KEHA members serve as active Extension and community volunteers engaged in addressing community needs.

4-H 

• Adults will increase their rate of volunteer involvement in their communities and in Extension. 

• Adults will make a positive contribution as community volunteers.  This increased level of community involvement will continue throughout their twenties and thirties.  Additionally, communities will experience an increased retention rate as people who are engaged in their communities experience a heightened sense of belonging and are more likely to settle and reside in that community.

Master Gardeners will foster positive change in our community and be active in community service projects. Master Gardeners will be regarded as leaders in their communities.

 

Intermediate Outcomes:

KEHA-KEHA leaders will practice personal leadership skills throgh leadership roles at the club, county, area and state level.

4-H 

• Adults 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.   
• Adults will master skills related to their specific volunteer role. 
• Adults will experience a feeling of generosity as they serve non-profit organizations, their programs and clientele in a volunteer role. 
• The number of youth and adults reported to be serving on 4-H Councils and Leadership Boards will increase by 2024. 

Master Gardeners will be involved in the local organization. They will practice good horticultural practices and promote those practices by teaching or by their actions. When asked, they will give sound advice. When involved in local community projects, they will be promote BMPs and represent UK in a positive way.

Initial Outcomes:

KEHA-KEHA members will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer and chairman training.

4-H 

• Adults will increase their knowledge of the types of volunteer and service opportunities that are available to them in their communities. 

• Adults will increase their knowledge of the non-profit organizations in their communities and the services that they provide. 

Master Gardener volunteer numbers will increase as the MG program is conducted over the next 4 years. Active Master Gardeners will increase their knowledge of emerging issues and other worthy topics for CEUs.

Evaluation:

Initial 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 aea officer and chairman training.

Method: Program evaluation with pre and post assessment questions.

Timeline: July, 2023-June 2024

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

Indicator: Number of individual 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: -July 2023-June 2024

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

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

Method:  Observation, review of officer directories

Timeline:  July 2023-June 2024

4-H

Initial Outcome: Adults will increase their knowledge of the types of volunteer and service opportunities that are available to them in their communities. 

Indicator: More adults will seek out Extension to learn more about volunteer opportunities

Method: recruitment, obersvation

Timeline: year-round

Intermediate Outcome: Increase of volunteers involved with councils, club, etc. 

Indicator: more and new volunteers are involved  

Method: recruitment, observation 

Timeline: year-round 

Long-Term Outcome: Retention of volunteers will rise

Indicator: Volunteers will want to keep their volunteer position for multiple program years.

Method: recruitment, observation, 

Timeline: year-round

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Pulaski County Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity: KEHA Officer and Chairman Training/County, KEHA Kickoff

Content or Curriculum:  KEHA Training Toolkit, KEHA Manual, KEHA Website

Inputs: FCS Agents, State Advisors

Date: Annually each fall

Audience: KEHA County Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity: KEHA Leader Training and or Special Interest Workshop

Content or Curriculum: KELD Curriculum, FCS Extension Lesson Resources, FCS Curriculum

Inputs: FCS Agents, State Advisors

Date:  Monthly

Audience:  Pulaski County Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity: KEHA State Meeting

Content or Curriculum:  Officer Training and Educational Workshops

Inputs: FCS Agents, State Advisors

Date: Annually each spring

4-H 

Audience: Community members, parents, teachers, Master Gardener, Homemakers etc 

Project or Activity: 4-H Council 

Content or Curriculum: 

Inputs: Agents, community members, 4-H members, parents

Date: year round 

Audience: Community members, parents, teachers, Master Gardeners, Homemakers etc 

Project or Activity: Client Protection Committee 

Content or Curriculum: 

Inputs:  Agents

Date: year round 

Audience: Adult Camp Counselors 

Project or Activity: 4-H Camp 

Content or Curriculum: Counselor Training

Inputs:  agents, past volunteers, camp specialist

Date: Summer Camp

Hort

Audience: Community members interested in horticulture and/or community involvement

Project or Activity: Master Gardener program curriculum

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Manual, Botany for Gardeners

Inputs: powerpoints, lab exercises, specialists, other horticulture agents, tours

Date: September 2023-December 2023

 

Audience: Master Gardeners

Project or Activity: various CEUs

Content or Curriculum: depends on topic to be taught, classroom &/or tours

Inputs: UK specialists, KY Hort agents, other professionals

Date: throughout the year

Success Stories