Extension
It Starts With Us
To improve the stability, resiliency, and financial well being of individuals and families.
Strengthening Individuals and Families
B. Cheirs, A. Morgan, B. Rudy
Family Development General
Financial Education - General
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. Co-habitating, same-sex, divorced, widowed and single households are the new majority.
Children who live absent from their biological fathers are two to three times more likely to be poor, to experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems than their peers who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents. In 2009, 26 percent of Kentucky children lived in poverty, ranking Kentucky 48th in the nation.
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.
Teens in the digital age may need more help with establishing healthy relationships because personal relationship skills are not being developed when technology use is high. Births to unwed parents are rising. Stable homes are needed for young children.
Older adults are living longer and independently. Some need assistance with socialization activities and developing skills and attitudes that foster self worth, i.e. embracing life as you age.
Personal Finance issues affect millions of Americans. Major societal problems have been reported in recent years including youth whom are performing poorly in the classroom, low household savings rates, and high household debt.
Youth and adults will have the opportunity to develop life skills that will improve their confidence, family roles, and their financial stability. When individuals are confident and capable they are more likely to accept roles and responsibilities in their communities and enhance their contribution to society.
Occurrences of weather-related and other disaster and emergency situations can have a devastating impact on Kentucky communities. Our communities need educational programming to enhance community readiness and recovery from impending disasters. Preparation, education, and collaboration will ensure that Extension Agents and Administrators are prepared to respond to local, regional, and state emergencies, with state and local partners, under the direction of the local emergency management director and plan. Many of these individuals and family do not have the resources to set aside emergency resources so what are ways to be prepared on a limited budget.
Youth and adults that are a part of the Cooperative Extension Service programs will:
-Care for the physical and mental health well-being of each individual over the long term
-Build personal strengths and self-control, interpersonal communication, life skills including wise decision-making.
-Foster the optimal development of children and youth
-Practice parental leadership skills
-Access community resources when needed
-Be better educated
-Stay in school or achieve high levels of education
-Have higher levels of workforce readiness, financial management, time management, decision making skills, set goals, self actualization
-Achieve higher levels of personal and economic success
Individuals and families establishing emergency resource kits for natural disasters or family emergencies.
Extension working with Local Emergency Management and Long Term Recovery Group in disaster planning and training.
Increase collaborative working relationships between KY Extension and emergency management partner agencies.
Minimize losses to agricultural operations, individuals, families, and communities as a result of natural disaster, pandemic, or other emergencies.
Expedited recovery of agricultural operations, individuals, families, businesses, and communities after a natural disaster, pandemic, or emergency.
As a result of involvement in this program, participants will:
-Practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships including spousal, parent/child and work related
-Access community agencies when needed
-Change spending habits including increasing income and decreasing expenses
-Youth and adults adopt and use new methods and/or improved technology
-Youth and adults demonstrate use of life skills
Extension establishing a working relationship with Local Emergency Management and Long Term Recovery Group to aid in the effectiveness of planning, assessment, and reporting of natural disasters/emergencies.
Increase preparedness of agricultural operations, individuals, families, businesses, and communities for natural disaster, pandemic, or other emergencies.
As a result of involvement in this program, participants will increase knowledge related to:
Increased awareness of the need for financial management and employability skills
Increased knowledge of parenting skills
Youth will gain knowledge of the consequences of substance abuse
Youth will become aware of good character
Youth will gain social skills through interacting with peers and adults
Increased awareness of the value of planning and goal setting
Adults will learn and improve basic life skills through participation
Increase awareness of potential natural disasters or family emergencies in our area.
Increase the knowledge in the needed for disaster planning for emergencies or natural disasters.
Increase knowledge and awareness of Extension Agents of appropriate roles and mandates related to disaster reporting.
Increase awareness of the role of Kentucky Extension by counties/cities and other partner agencies in dealing with natural disasters and emergency preparedness.
Initiate networking between Extension agents, leaders and local emergency management officials.
Outcome:
Program participants will better manage personal and financial resources to achieve a better quality of life.
Indicator:
The number of program participants who make positive lifestyle changes and who indicate changes in knowledge, opinions, and skills related to careers, finances, parenting, etc.
Method:
Observations, evaluations (pre & post tests), follow up questionnaires
Timeline:
All year as programs are completed
Initial Outcome: Number of people attending Disaster Preparedness programs
Indicator: Sign-in sheets
Method:
Timeline:
Intermediate Outcome: Number of people preparing Disaster Kits for homes and businesses and implementing other best practices.
Indicator: Survey
Method:
Timeline:
Audience: Families with Children Ages 0-5
Project or Activity: Grow, Learn, Succeed Event
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Resources from Governors Office of Early Childhood
Inputs: Community Early Childhood Council, Governors Office of Early Childhood, UK FCS Agent, Area Childcare Providers, Area Early Childhood Partners, FRYSC, Fulton County and City School Districts
Date: Fall 2023
Audience: Families with Children Ages 0-5
Project or Activity: Best Start: Family Event
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Resources from Governors Office of Early Childhood
Inputs: Community Early Childhood Council, Governors Office of Early Childhood, UK FCS Agent, Area Childcare Providers, Area Early Childhood Partners, FRYSC, Fulton County and City School Districts
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Families with Children 0-5
Project or Activity: Future Pilot Night/K Event
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Resources from Governors Office of Early Childhood
Inputs: Community Early Childhood Council, Governors Office of Early Childhood, UK FCS Agent, Area Childcare Providers, Area Early Childhood Partners, FRYSC, Hickman County Schools
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Parents and Families
Activity: Parenting Classes
Content or Curriculum: Nurturing Families, Nurturing Fathers, Keys to Great Parenting and other curricula
Date: As Needed
Inputs: Early Head Start, Fulton County and City School System, Fulton County Court System and Fulton County Detention Center.
Audience: Adults
Activity: Estate Planning Workshop
Content or Curriculum: UK Estate Planning Publications
Date: Fall 2023
Inputs: Local Lawyers, Banking Professionals, Insurance and Extension Staff
Audience: Adults
Activity: Women in Agriculture Seminar
Content or Curriculum: Issues Affecting Women in Agriculture
Date: Fall 2023
Inputs: FSA, Four River Counties Extension Staff, Local Banks, Soybean Board, River Valley ACA, Extension Homemakers
Audience: Adults
Activity: Budgeting and Financial Education
Content or Curriculum: Managing in tough Times
Date: Fall 2023
Inputs: Extension Agents, Fulton County Detention Center, Fulton County and Fulton City Head Start, FRYSC
Audience: Fulton County and Fulton City Schools
Activity: Manners Program
Content or Curriculum: FCS Publications,
Inputs: Schools, FRYSC, After-school Program
Date: Fall 2023
Audience: Families with children 0-5
Project or Activity: Laugh and Learn Playdates
Content or Curriculum: LEAP, Extension resources; developmental stages
Inputs: Community Early Childhood Council, Governors Office of Early Childhood, UK FCS Agent, Area Childcare Providers, Area Early Childhood Partners, FRYSC, Fulton County and City School Districts
Date: 2023-2024 School Year
Audience: Families with Children 0-5
Project or Activity: Community Early Childhood Council (write grant and coordinate implementation of grant activities)
Content or Curriculum: LEAP, FCS Extension curricula, NAEYC, , etc.
Inputs: Governor's Office of Early Childhood and grant funds, FRYSC, Council Members, Community Partners, Schools, etc.
Date: 2023-24
Audience: Families with Children 0-5
Project or Activity: Family Reading Together Program and Bright by Text
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Resources from Governors Office of Early Childhood
Inputs: Governor's Office of Early Childhood and grant funds, FRYSC, Council Members, Community Partners, Schools, etc.
Date: 2023-2024
Audience: HS Seniors
Project or Activity: Adulting 101
Content or Curriculum: FCS publications, local resources, etc.
Inputs: Extension Homemakers, volunteers, churches, Extension Staff, schools
Date: Spring program year
Audience: Fulton County and Fulton City Schools
Activity: Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Reality Store, Keys to Wealth
Inputs: Schools, FRYSC, After-school Program
Date: Spring program year
Audience: Agents and staff, Extension Volunteers, Extension District Board Members, Local Emergency Management Officials, and General Public
Project or Activity: Discuss and Pre-plan how local Extension Facilities can be utilized during a Disaster / Emergency.
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension or Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) resources.
Inputs: Local Extension Facilities
Educational materials developed and provided by specialist/faculty and others
Extension Disaster and Emergency Response webpage (in development)
Date: TBD
Audience: Agents and Staff
Project or Activity: Ensure office and agents personal computer data are safeguarded by utilizing cloud servers (eg. OneDrive)
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: Local Extension Facilities
Educational materials developed and provided by specialist/faculty and others
Extension Disaster and Emergency Response webpage (in development)
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Agents and Staff
Project or Activity: Understand Local Emergency Management Plan and Extension’s expected response during an emergency situation. Utilize public service announcements, and news releases throughout the year to emphasize preparation for Severe Storms, Winter Weather, Floods, Fire, Drought, Extreme Temperatures and other pertinent subjects.
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension or Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) resources.
Inputs: Local Extension Facilities
Educational materials developed and provided by specialist/faculty and others
Extension Disaster and Emergency Response webpage (in development)
Date: TBD
Audience: Individuals and Families
Project or Activity: Emergency Preparedness Meeting(s)
Content or Curriculum: Local Emergency Management, local resources, etc
Input: Extension, Local Emergency Management, Long Term Recovery Group, and Local Organizations
Date: Program Year
Author: Benjamin Rudy
Major Program: Emergency Disaster Preparedness
Amateur Radio, also known as Ham Radio, is a hobby that is enjoyed by millions of people worldwide from the ages of young children to the elderly and across all cultures. The hobby unfortunately consists of elderly operators, until the recent years of Covid-19 where there has been an explosion of newly licensed operators looking for something to do and communicate with others. The Fulton County Agricultural and Natural Resources Agent held an introductory class in January 2023 to the
