Extension
It Starts With Us
Family Nurturance, Youth Empowerment, Parenting and Care-giving
Increasing Family Nurturance Across the Lifespan
C. Carter, M. Preece, A. Brewer
Family and Consumer Science
Family Development General
Healthy families are critical to a community. It is important for individuals, couples, and families to acquire skills that can help them create healthy relationships at home, school or in the workplace while building strong families. Unfortunately, today's families often experience challenges that can breakdown the family system, e.g., drug and alcohol addiction and domestic violence. These problems can lead to child maltreatment or fatalities. As a result, when a negative event occurs due to the above societal issues more and more grandparents are raising the children or children are placed in foster care.
As we progress in to the 21st century, a number of factors have gained prevalence within Family and Consumer Science driven by the increase of online and mobile shopping, the rise of video based at home tutorials, and the shifting family structures as evident by 17% of stay-at-home parents being fathers. The ever changing landscape of the family and the consumer highlights the need for a responsive and innovative FCS program while also providing the basic needs that all families have as they navigate lives many challenges. Kentucky 4-H Seeks to meet these needs through working with youth and families in a variety of situations to increase their consumer awareness, financial management, nutrition, culinary arts, textiles, housing, and human development.
According to The Child Welfare Information Gateway Brief (2019), positive parenting impacts children's social, emotional, and intellectual development. Cooperative Extension through its parenting classes has that help them learn about their child's development and needs. This will result in improved parental attitudes about parenting and improvements in children's behavior.
Lastly, because of our aging population, adult children are not only raising their own children but may also be caring for their aging parents. In addition, due to the opioid epidemic, aging grandparents may also be raising grandchildren providing care to a spouse.
When life skills are developed, individuals gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the role and responsibility of being a family member, friend, partner, employee and community member.
Improved communication and at home, school and workplace
Improved relationship quality between married and unmarried couples
Decreased in child maltreatment
Decreased bullying and domestic violence
Decreased child placement in the foster care system
Positive parenting styles
Greater family engagement
• Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members
• Gain and maintain employment through life skill development
• Contribute to a safe and healthy home and community.
Ability to communicate one's own needs met
Set personal boundaries
Increased self-esteem
Show empathy for others
Understand basic child development
Understand and provide nurturing behavior: show love, provide basic needs
Use age appropriate discipline without violence
Communicate without violence
Increased family interactions
- Utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations
- Project a positive image and self-confidence
- Practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making
- Practice healthy eating choices
- Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results
- Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future
Identify the characteristics of healthy relationships
Identify behaviors that damage relationships
Learn age-appropriate expectations for children's development
Learn how to respect the needs, feelings and individuality of self and others
- Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects and programs
- Understand the decision-making process
- Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action
- Learn to read and follow instructions
Initial Outcome: Self Awareness
Indicator:
Method: Discussion and homework assignments
Timeline: Before and after program
Intermediate Outcome: Understanding
Indicator:
Method: Discussion and homework assignments
Timeline: Weekly
Long-term Outcome: Youth and adults exhibit behaviors that ensure healthy relationships.
Indicator: Reported understanding of benefits
Method: Post-surveys
Timeline: 3 month, 6 month and 12 month follow ups.
- Outcome to be Evaluated
- Youth who engage in FCS project Work
- Indicator of Success for Outcome
- Youth complete a FCS Project
- Method of Evaluation
- 4-H Common Measures Universal Survey
Audience: Youth and Adults
Project or Activity:
Content or Curriculum: ACT Parenting Curriculum, ,
Inputs: Agents, Fiscal Court, Drug Court, Cabinet for Families, FRC
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Youth and Adults
Project or Activity:
Content or Curriculum: Relationship Smarts, Love Notes, Overcoming Obstacles, Mind Matters, Parenting the Second Time Around
Inputs: Agent, local schools, Family Resource Staff
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Divorcing Families
Project or Activity:
Content or Curriculum: Families in Transition (FIT)
Inputs: Agent and Family Court
Date: Ongoing
Programs/Activities
- Consumer & Financial Ed.
- Curriculum: 4-H Build a Million, Building a Healthy, Wealthy Future, Consumer Savvy, It’s Your reality , APES, Be the E
- Training: Agent In-services
- 4-H Family Life
- Curriculum: Babysitting Basics, Fathers Reading Every Day
- Training: Agent In-services
- 4-H Fashion
- Curriculum: Fashion Magic, Fashion Forward
- Training: Agent In-services
- 4-H Food Preparation & Nutrition
- Curriculum: Super Star Chef, Teen Cuisine, 4-H Cooking, Jump into Food and Fitness, Put it up, International Foods, Exploring MyPlate, Wellness in Kentucky, What’s on Your plate, Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary (LEAP)
- Training: Agent In-services
- 4-H Home Environment
- Curriculum: Manners in the real world, Exploring your home, Living with others, where I live, in my home, Home energy detective
- Training: Agent In-services
- 4-H Needlework
- Curriculum: 4-H Needlework Notebook
- Training: Agent In-services
- 4-H Sewing & Textiles
- Curriculum: Style Engineers, Keeping 4-H in Stitches. Upcycle it, Steam Clothing,
- Training: Agent In-services
Inputs/Resources: volunteers, agents, Extension Office, program support
Time: September-August
Author: Carla Carter
Major Program: Child Development General
In 2023, Kentucky has reported that only 46.2% of children attending kindergarten in Franklin County is prepared and equipped to succeed. In many Kentucky counties, limited resources or the environment may serve as barriers for healthy lifestyle choices related to early childhood development and physical activity. As an innovative strategy to improve early childhood development skills and increase kindergarten readiness with Franklin County residents, the
Author: Carla Carter
Major Program: Child Development General
In 2023, Kentucky has reported that only 46.2% of children attending kindergarten in Franklin County is prepared and equipped to succeed. In many Kentucky counties, limited resources or the environment may serve as barriers for healthy lifestyle choices related to early childhood development and physical activity. As an innovative strategy to improve early childhood development skills and increase kindergarten readiness with Franklin County residents, the
Author: MacKenzie Preece
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Recent statistics reveal that over 145,000 children in Kentucky have experienced having an incarcerated parent, constituting a staggering fifteen percent of the state's child population. This figure is double the national average, marking Kentucky with the highest percentage in the nation. In Franklin County alone, approximately 800 children are impacted by parental incarceration.The Annie E. Casey Foundation describes parental incarceration as a "shared sentence," emphasizing the
