McCreary County CES

Title:

Youth Development

MAP:

Developing Responsible Youth

Agents Involved:

VanMeter, Goodman

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Family and Consumer Science

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Leadership

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Health

Situation:

McCreary County is a rural community with few activities targeting youth. Currently 52.6% of McCreary county youth live in poverty. With tough economic times and limited resources, it is important to provide youth with opportunities to develop essential life skills. In McCreary County. Twenty three percent of teens are high school dropouts. The teen pregnancy rate has increased over the last ten years to 34 compared to a state rate of 31. School lunches are free for everyone child. Programming is designed to engage young people and provide educational opportunities that develop decision-making skills, independence, and personal responsibility.

Long-Term Outcomes:

To develop youth with confidence and strong communication skills.

To develop youth that will possess critical thinking skills, independence, personal responsibility, and life skills that enable them to become productive citizens and competitive members of the future workforce.

To develop youth that has an appreciation for the natural resources and environment.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth will practice communicating clearly and confidently.

Youth will demonstrate basic money management skills.

Youth will practice problem solving skills.

Youth will demonstrate acceptance of personal responsibility.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth will recognize the importance of strong communication skills.

Youth will practice communicating clearly and confidently.

Youth will recognize importance of money management skills.

Youth will become more aware of the importance of the natural resources and environment they live in.

Evaluation:

Outcome: Increased life skills

Indicator: Numbers of youth attending camp and skills gained

Method: Agent and leader observations, camper surveys

Timeline: July -June

Outcome: Increased leadership Skills

Indicator: Numbers of youth participating in the Youth Leadership Program,

Method: Agent and leader observations, participant surveys

Timeline: September – May

Outcome: Increased awareness about the Environment

Indicator: Number of youth participating

Method: Participant Surveys

Timeline: May

Learning Opportunities:

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:

Audience: High School Youth, Gifted and Talented in Leadership 

Project or Activity: Youth Leadership Program 

Content or Curriculum: Leadership Skills You Never Outgrow 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, specialists, Community Volunteers, Community Leaders 

Date: Jan - May 

Audience: McCreary County Youth 

Project or Activity: 4-H Summit 

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Leadership 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, 4-H Specialists, 4-H Volunteers 

Date: March 

Audience: 4-H club youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity: 4-H Projects/Project Week

Content or Curriculum: Project Books

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers. Kentucky CES publications and resources.

Date: July

Audience: 4-H club youth ages 9-18 

Project or Activity: 4-H Clubs- continuing (Agriculture, Natural Resources, Family & Consumer Sciences, Healthy Living, Communications, Leadership, SET), cloverbuds 

Content or Curriculum: 4-H/UK based curriculum 

Inputs: County agents, 4-H Program Assistant, volunteer leaders, school personnel, community partners 

Date: August –June 

Audience: Youth/Adults

Project or Activity: 4-H Camp

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum;  Research-based methods and programming; Local, state, and national partners

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) Agents, 4-H Program Assistant, Counselors in Training (CIT), Teen Leaders, and volunteers.

Date: June 

Success Stories