Fostering a holistic approach to family and self-care and recovery. Plan of Work

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Christian County CES

Title:
Fostering a holistic approach to family and self-care and recovery.
MAP:
Encouraging Family/Self Care and Recovery
Agents Involved:
Tiffany Bolinger, Matt Futtrell, Jeremiah Johnson, Mary Anne Garnett, Katie Mills
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Family Development General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Family and Consumer Science
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Financial Education - General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Situation:

Family and Self Care are imperative to the health and well-being of adults and children throughout all life stages. This is especially true during times of high stress and uncertainty. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has placed a heightened level of stress on families and individuals mental, physical, and financial health and well-being. While the full of extent of COVID-19’s impact remains unknown, the awareness that it has and will continue to affect our communities is very clear. Education and programming focusing on a holistic approach to family/self-care will help to ensure that the unknown as well as the researched issues are all addressed to the best of our ability.  


“School-readiness” is a broad term that refers to multiple precursor cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills that indicate young children are prepared to learn and thrive in the school environment. A wide body of research shows a strong foundation in school readiness is indicative of school success. Emerging research also indicates that there is a synergistic effect when early learning activities activate physical and cognitive skills simultaneously, as opposed to doing so in isolation. However, in the state of Kentucky only 50% of children are deemed “school-ready” when they enter Kindergarten.  These numbers indicate a need for more activities that support school-readiness by building multiple skill sets simultaneously.


96,000 children in Kentucky live in kinship care.  Kentucky ranks first in the nation for the most children in kinship care settings in the country.  15,000 children are in kinship care due to removal from their home.  Kinship care providers need support.


The recent statewide needs assessment identified substance use prevention and recovery as the most urgent priority for Cooperative Extension.   Moreover, substance use was the focal point of the CES Advisory Council Meeting in early 2019.  Taken together, youth KIP survey data and data from the CES needs assessment demonstrate the need to address substance use prevention, recovery, stigma, and impact on families and communities.


Promote positive personal finance behaviors prepares Kentuckians for any future economic shift. The United States has been in an extremely long period of economic expansion; however, expansions are cyclical, meaning growth is eventually followed by recession. Securing financial stability for Kentuckians will help families thrive no matter the economic outlook. Financial stability is achieved when families are able to secure and manage resources needed to supply food, clothing, and shelter. Through increased financial knowledge, families may be able to make wise financial decisions, increase buying power, avoid overextended credit, develop savings habits, and manage risks.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:

•Commits to set family rules regarding eating together, limiting screen time, active play and exercise, set routines

•Intends to manage stress; make time for self; listen, talk, bond with family members; read with child daily; teach responsibility in use of money, time, etc.

Evaluation:

Intermediate Outcome: Improved Quality of Personal Relationships/Communication

Indicator: Relationship Smarts

Method: post-evaluation

Timeline: Fall-Winter 2022-23


Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge and awareness of the risks and consequences related to drugs and substance abuse in both teens and their families

Indicator:Truth & Consequences

Method:post-evaluation

Timeline: Spring 2024


Intermediate Outcome: Youth will be able to apply budgeting practices in their life outside of a school setting

Indicator: It's Your Reality

Method:post-evaluation

Timeline: Spring 2024


Initial Outcome: Youth will gain increased knowledge on budgeting skills and practices

Indicator: Dollar & Sense

Method: Post-Evaluation

Timeline: Fall 2024


Outcome:  Kentuckians learn fun age appropriate activities to aid in their child’s healthy development.

Indicator:  Number of parents who expressed learning new activities to engage their children at home.

Method:  LEAP Evaluation 

Timeline:  School Year 


Outcome: Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.

Indicator: How many children increased their ability to express emotion after attending the program?

Method:  Stories, Songs, and Stretches Survey

Timeline: Summer Camps, School Breaks 


Outcome: Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Christian county. 

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many parents reported improved gross motor skills, social-emotional skills, and early literacy skills?) 

Method:  Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Kindergarten Readiness Results

Timeline:  July- June


Outcome: Increase skills and resources of caregivers to provide effective care for young relatives

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many caregivers improve skills/knowledge in child development, discipline and guidance, legal issues, and advocacy)

Method: Parenting a Second Time Around (PASTA) Evaluation 

Timeline:  Post program evaluation 


Outcome:  Increased knowledge of substance use

Indicator:  Number of individuals attending programs

Method:  Retroactive pre-post

Timeline: Following every addiction 101 training



Outcome:  Increased ability to use destigmatized language

Indicator:  Number of individuals intend to change behavior

Method:  Retroactive pre-post

Timeline: Following any program that includes language training


Outcome:  Increased awareness of sound financial behaviors

Indicator(s):  Number of individuals who implemented at least one 

strategy to reduce expenses or manage money

Number of individuals who made a sound financial decision 

(regarding credit, budgeting, savings, and/or debt)

Method:  Retroactive pre-post

Timeline: Following financial education workshops


Outcome:  Increase knowledge and skills related to 

managing financial resources

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of

understanding in the area: confidence in handling money issues

or specific financial matters

Method:  Retroactive pre-post 

Timeline:  Following financial education workshops

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults, Teens

Project or Activity: Healthy Relationships Classes

Content or Curriculum: Relationship Smarts

Inputs: Extension Agent; curriculum materials

Date: Winter/Spring 2023/2024


Audience: Parents, Grandparents, Guardians

Project or Activity: Relatives As Parents 

Content or Curriculum: PASTA

Inputs: Extension Agent; Curriculum Training/materials

Date: Spring/Summer 2024


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Money Sense for Women

Content or Curriculum: Day-long seminar, guest speakers, panels

Inputs: local resources, Community Agencies that serve on committee, Extension Agent, facilities

Date: August 2024


Audience: High School Seniors

Project or Activity: Money Sense for Graduates

Content or Curriculum: Day-long financial education seminar

Inputs: local resources, Community Agencies that serve on committee, Extension Agent, guest speakers, facilities

Date: March 2024


Audience: Middle School 8th Graders 

Project or Activity: Truth & Consequences

Content or Curriculum: Experiential Activity on Consequences of Drug Use

Inputs: Extension Agents, curriculum materials, Community Partners, School facilities/staff

Date: Spring 2024


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Keys to Aging

Content or Curriculum: Aging classes

Inputs: Extension Agent, curriculum materials, facilities

Date: Summer-Fall 2024


Audience: Youth in Christian County and Ft. Campbell

Project or Activity: Its Your Reality-Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality/ Dollar & Sense

Inputs: Extension Agents, Community Volunteers, Chamber of Commerce, Christian County and Ft. Campbell public high school, Hopkinsville Community College

Date: Spring 2024


Audience: Parents of Preschoolers

Project or Activity: Preschool Pages

Content or Curriculum: newsletter

Inputs: UK extension resources, FCS agents of district 7

Date: All year


Audience: Middle School Students

Project or Activity: Dollars and Sense

Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality/Dollar & Sense

Inputs: Extension Agents, Christian County Public Schools, 4-H Teen Leaders and Volunteers, Military Volunteers

Date: Fall 2023/Spring 2024


Audience: Homemaker Members, General Public

Project or Activity: Leader Trainings, Workshops, Seminars

Content or Curriculum: Emergency Preparedness; Stress Eating Entertaining Little Ones, Elements & Principles of Art 

Inputs: Specialist Support, Extension Homemaker resources, other university extension resources, eXtension resources

Date: August - May


Audience: Preschool Students and Families

Project or Activity: LEAP   

Content or Curriculum: Kindergarten readiness and physical activity 

Inputs: FCS Agent; supplies 

Date: School Year 


Audience: Recovery Centers

Project or Activity: Financial Education

Content or Curriculum: Recovering Your Finances

 Inputs: Coordination with community stakeholders

 Date: Fall 2023- Fall 2024


Audience: Families

Project or Activity: Family Grab Bags 

Content or Curriculum: various publications and curriculum

 Inputs: agents, publications, printing, community partnerships 

 Date: Year round/ special events 




Success Stories

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Author: Tiffany Bolinger

Major Program: Financial Education - General

Estate planning allows people to control what happens to their possessions after their passing. Without a legally recognized plan in place, the government may dictate how someone’s assets are distributed. While there are numerous informal approaches to estate planning, not all are legally recognized. This may create confusion and spark conflict among families during an already challenging time.  To increase consumer knowledge on estate planning and asset distribution, the Christi

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Life Simplified Podcast

Author: Tiffany Bolinger

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) programs are designed to reach audiences across the lifespan. Many individuals in the 20-50 age range need the skills taught by Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) agents, but do not attend traditional programming due to other commitments, life phases, or real or perceived stigma. To reach these individuals, FCS agents in Caldwell, Christian, Hopkins, and Livingston knew they must pivot and offer research-based in

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