Extension
It Starts With Us
Educating & Empowering Individuals and Families to Make Responsible Choices and Develop Life Skills
Developing Life Skills
C. Hall, K. Smith, J. Palmer
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Community Engagement
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Developing life skills and making responsible, healthy choices can have a profound impact on family stability, individual well-being and community sustainability. Budgeting, interpersonal relationships, communication, family management and other skills are necessary for success.
The consequences of the Great Recession and the extended period of slow economic growth which followed, encouraged Kentuckians to become more aware of their financial situation. 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. These indicators, especially unemployment numbers became more exaggerated during the period of the Great Recession. However, at present economist are cautiously optimistic regarding future economic forecasts. It is important to acknowledge the impact of current economic conditions on family financial management. The goal of the Securing Financial Stability Initiative is to help Kentuckians understand and respond to changing economic conditions, while promoting healthy financial behaviors across the lifespan.
The development of life skills, like leadership, allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension). Almost 30 percent of youth in the United States (or over 5.7 million) are to be involved in bullying as a bully, a target of bullying or both. A troubling statistic that needs to be addressed.
Youth participating in experiential learning opportunities coupled with setting goals, solving problems, and making wise decisions will help students develop their leadership skills, and in turn will provide them with the necessary skills for leading a successful life (Boyd, 2001).
Healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. Furthermore, 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.
Boyd, B.L. (2011). Bringing leadership experiences to inner-city youth. Journal of Extension [Online]. 39(4). Available: https://www.joe.org/joe/2001august/a6.php
Youth and adults will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity, and multiculturalism in their daily life.
Youth will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
Create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle.
Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in Extension programs.
Youth and adults will be responsible and contributing individuals and family members, gain and maintain employment through life skill development and contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family.
Youth and adults will learn to manage personal finances, make wise financial decisions and understand long-term financial stability.
Youth and adults make more informed consumer decisions that result in increased family economic stability.
Youth and adults will reduce stress levels by building personal strengths, self-control, interpersonal communication, life skills including wise decision-making.
Reported using preventive and positive discipline techniques in response to misbehavior and settling and enforcing logical consequences.
Practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships.
Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress.
Practice healthy lifestyle decision – making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors.
Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding healthy aging.
Commits to using logical consequences for misbehavior.
Youth and adults will identify healthy lifestyle choices, risky behaviors and their consequences and healthy ways to handle stress.
Initial Outcome: Youth and adults will identify healthy lifestyle choices, risky behaviors and their consequences and healthy ways to handle stress.
Indicator: Ability to identify healthy lifestyle choices
Method: Pre – and post – surveys
Timeline: Before and after program
Intermediate Outcome: Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress.
Indicator: Youth and adults adopting and mastering healthy behaviors
Method: Pre – and post – surveys
Timeline: Before and after program and follow up
Long – Term Outcome: Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in Extension programs.
Indicator: Youth will display skills necessary to be competent, capable, contributing adults.
Method: Observation and interviews
Timeline: End of program
Audience: Adults & Youth
Project or Activity: Community Garden implementation; school garden
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: specialists; content curriculum
Date: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
Program Code: 1031
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Community Gardens
Content or Curriculum: CES publications
Inputs: agents, garden space
Date: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
Program Code: 1031
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: In – School Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide, National 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2023 – Apr. 2024
Program Code: 4001
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2023 – Apr. 2024
Program Code: 4031
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Dollars & Sense, Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2023– Apr. 2024
Program Code: 4031
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Teen Summit
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, Steps to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2023 – Apr. 2024
Program Code: 4041
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Jr. MANRRS
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2023 – Apr. 2024
Program Code: 4041
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H SPIN Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide, National 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2023 – Apr. 2024
Program Code: 4001
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4 – H Embryology
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2023 – Apr. 2024
Program Code: 4011
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Babysitting
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2023 – Apr. 2024
Program Code: 4031
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4 – H Camp
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2023 – Apr. 2024
Program Code: 4071
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: TBA
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: October 2023
Program Code: 2056
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: TBA
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: December 2023
Program Code: 2066
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: TBA
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: March 2024
Program Code: 2056
Audience: Senior CitizensProject or Activity: TBA
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Embracing Aging and Stand Up to Falling
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) publications and resources
Date: Spring 2024
Program Code: 2011
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Personal Finance
Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life, Kentucky CES publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents, volunteers.
Date: July 2023 – June 2024
Program Code: 2056
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Holiday Finances
Content or Curriculum: Stretching Your Holiday Spending, Kentucky CES publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents
Date: October 2023– December 2024
Program Code: 2056
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Studies indicate that sewing is not only a productive hobby and life skill, but it can also reduce stress and increase an individual’s feeling of self-worth. The Jefferson County 4-H Agents, 4-H assistants, and a County Master Clothing Volunteers planned a sewing Day Camp for 18 youth. This program was a free 2-day camp. Students learned beginning sewing skills, sewing machine functions and use, textile construction, recycling of material, and nutrition. Guiding the youth
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Studies indicate that sewing is not only a productive hobby and life skill, but it can also reduce stress and increase an individual’s feeling of self-worth. The Jefferson County 4-H Agents, 4-H assistants, and a County Master Clothing Volunteer planned a sewing Day Camp for 18 youth. This program was a free 2-day camp. Students learned beginning sewing skills, sewing machine functions and use, textile construction, recycling of material, and nutrition.Guiding the youth through
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: Agriculture & Natural Resources
For the first time ever, Jefferson County 4-H hosted 13 families from both Eisenhower and Elementary Schools at Jefferson Memorial Forest! A partnership with JCPS Family Resource Centers, Accelerating Hills, Eisenhower PTA, and 4-H volunteers made this dream a reality. 13 families and 5 volunteers totaling 56 people in attendance. Through hands-on experience, reflection, and transferable skill development, the Jefferson County 4-H program fostered transformative educatio
Author: Von Barnes
Major Program: Local Food Systems
The problem students aren't familiar with eating locally.The educational program response a majority of the class.The participants/target audience were Newburg Middle School students. Other partners (if applicable) were the teachers in Newburg Middle.Program impact or participant response were students with excited about eating locally. Roughly 80% - 85% were more excited while 15% - 20% of the student were not impressed with change.Newburg Middle School recently held a career explorati
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Jefferson County 4-H Youth had taken an off day at school and learned how to make some southern delicacies from scratch. Cooking is a life skill and supports math, science, language, social-emotional development, physical development (fine motor skills), and cognitive development. At 4-H Jam, Butter and Biscuits Day Camp, 18 youth had the opportunity to explore the art of homemade jams, creamy butter, and fluffy biscuits. Our team of 4-H staff guided youth through the process
Author: Von Barnes
Major Program: Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
Kentucky State University (KYSU) emerged as a star at the 2024 National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) Conference in Nashville. A powerhouse team from KYSU's 4-H Youth Development, CRD, Horticulture, FCS and Urban AG departments presented groundbreaking work in urban programs, showcasing their unwavering commitment to fostering community development and sustainable urban living. KYSU's diverse presentations covered a wide range of topics, all reflecting their dedication to addr
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
Family Engagement is "a full, equal, and equitable partnership among families, educators, and community partners to promote children’s learning and development from birth through college and career.ESEA Network. Eisenhower and Kerrick Elementary, strive to provide family engagement opportunities that fit this definition! Over a 3 day weekend in April, Jefferson County 4-H partnered with the Jefferson County Public School Trauma Care Team, 4-H volunteers, Councilman Kh
Author: Carolina Robles
Major Program: Family Development General
The problem: Adults with disabilities lack knowledge and resources needed to live an independent life. The educational program response: Program seeks to encourage independent living skills. This months program focused on how to garden safely and starting a gardening club at the Jefferson County Extension Office. The participants/target audience: Young and older Adults with disabilities Other partners (if applicable): Dare to CareProgram impact or participant response: The p
