Building financial security through wise consumer decision-making and money management practices.Plan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Livingston County CES

Title:
Building financial security through wise consumer decision-making and money management practices.
MAP:
Family and Individual Financial Security
Agents Involved:
FCS, 4-H, ANR, and EFNEP/Program Assistant
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Securing Financial Stability (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Estate Planning
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:
Families must work hard to secure and manage their money to be able to provide for themselves and their families the basic human needs of food, clothing, and shelter. Increasing buying power, avoiding pitfalls of overextended credit, and wise consumer decision-making lead to better buying, budgeting, saving, and investment decisions.

Kentucky consistently lags behind other areas of the United States in household income indicators, including personal income, population living below the poverty line, unemployment and revolving debt loads. Although Livingston County's medium income is above many parts of the state, there are still many pockets of poverty. Livingston County's schools are all eligible for free and reduced lunches due to poverty and parents' inability to cover the cost for multiple children in many households. Our local food pantry services 350+ families as a result of consistent, low household income averages. Extension Advisory Councils have recognized a need to help educate residents about smart money handling, budgeting, and estate planning basics.
Long-Term Outcomes:
(A) Individuals and families will demonstrate financial literacy and sound basic financial practices to create budgets, pay off debt, and increase savings.
(B) Teens and young adults will improve financial literacy and appraise workforce preparedness.
(C) Increase in the number of clientele reporting improved privacy/security measures and reduction in reports of financial fraudulent matters across the state.
(D) Number of clientele reporting improved family financial stability and economic well-being; decrease in use of local food pantry and Christmas for Kids eligibility.
(E) Median household income will increase on census data.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Adopt privacy protection measures; annual, semi-annual, or quarterly credit-checking practices; and better recognition of fraudulent attempts from outside sources.

Improve employability through practical living skills and continued education practices.

Demonstrate practical living skills related to economic or enterprise development, as well as seeking to ascertain advanced education credentials.

Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings or investments. Be able to assess debts, assets, and execute a monthly budget.
Initial Outcomes:
Teenagers and adults will show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial and non-financial resources. Participants will increase understanding of their consumer rights and privacy protection measures. Clientele will show initial change in knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes about money; pertaining to savings, paying down debt, and working on a monthly budget. Increase financial literacy related to spending, savings and investments.
Evaluation:
Long-Term Outcome: Increased number of clientele reporting improved family financial stability, household income, and economic well-being, resulting in improved quality of life and stronger families.
Indicator: County Economic Statistics
Method: County Data Profiles, Census data, program evaluations/follow-ups from agents,and Kids Count reporting
Timeline: four year period

Intermediate Outcome: Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings and/or investments.
Indicator: reporting by residents and youth participating in Extension Programs
Method: focus groups, evaluations, and surveys to clientele
Timeline: 2 year period

Initial Outcome: Individuals and families will increase their knowledge of money handling, savings, budgeting, and estate planning
Indicator: numbers of people participating in Extension Financial Management Programs
Method: Meeting statistics/evaluations
Timeline: Before and after classes/programs.
Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 7th grade at Livingston County Middle School

Project or Activity: Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Dollars & Sense and It's Youth Reality Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H, FCS, EFNEP, ANR

Date: Spring


Audience: General Audience and Audubon Day Care Parents

Project or Activity: Stretching Your Holiday Dollar program

Content or Curriculum: Stretching Your Holiday Dollar curriculum from KSU

Inputs: FCS, EFNEP, Homemaker Leaders

Date: November or December 2017, 2018, 2019


Audience: Students and Adults interested in beginning to save money

Project or Activity: Kentucky Saves/Kentucky Saves Piggy Bank Contest

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Saves

Inputs: FCS, 4-H, EFNEP

Date: February


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Moneywi$e bulletins through social marketing via Facebook and Web Page

Content or Curriculum: Moneywi$e

Inputs: FCS, 4-H, ANR

Date: Quarterly


Audience: Homemakers, general public, high schoolers

Project or Activity: 'Where Does Your Money Go' curriculum

Content or Curriculum: FCS

Inputs: FCS, Program Asst

Date: 2017


Audience: Youth 4th-7th grade

Project: Needs Vs. Wants, How Much Do I Cost?, Budgeting, Goal setting

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

Inputs: 4-H

Dates: April each year


Audience: Low Income Families with Young Children

Project: Gardening on a Budget

Content: Extension Publications, and SNAP-ED materials

Inputs: ANR,FCS,and EFNEP

Dates: Spring of each year 2016-2020


Audience: Families and adult general audiences

Project: Estate Planning

Content or Curriculum: Estate Planning Series/Extension publications developed by Jennfier Hunter

Inputs: FCS

Dates: 2016, 2018, 2019



Success Stories

Ensure Personal and Financial Goals Are Secure

Author: Morgan Rousseau

Major Program: Estate Planning

Estate Planning – Livingston CountyRegardless of net worth, estate planning is important to protect, and help ensure, your personal and financial goals are realized after death. Unfortunately many people fail to properly plan for transfer of their possessions and property at the time of death.  A properly executed estate plan can reduce family stress, reduce federal and state tax obligations, and allow the estate to be settled in an expedient fashion saving both time and money. Many i

Full Story

Job Fair Increases Employment in Livingston County

Author: Morgan Rousseau

Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)

Livingston County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension partnered with the Grand Rivers Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Career Center to host a Spring Job Fair. Thirteen local employers were on sight recruiting new employees to fill 200 job vacancies. These thirteen employers represent 10 career pathway sectors and had jobs  available for persons 16 years of age and older. There were 57 job seekers in attendance, with 48 of those applying for one or more jobs on-site. Through an informal

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County