Basic Life Skill EducationPlan of Work

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Nicholas County CES

Title:
Basic Life Skill Education
MAP:
Strengthening Youth & Adult Life Skills
Agents Involved:
Ashley Vice & Shelby Cleaver
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Financial Education - General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Food Preparation and Preservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Communications
Situation:

Nicholas County has a population of 7,135 according to the census. Of that number 19.4% of the population lives at or below the poverty rate, with an additional 12% of youth (ages 18 and under) who receive SNAP and/or WIC benefits. In addition to that, Nicholas County has over 100 students, grades K-6, in the backpack program and 90+ seniors receiving monthly commodity boxes.

The Nicholas County Extension Service wants to combat these numbers through extension programming focusing on budgeting, parenting skills, gardening/food preservation and youth communication and leadership opportunities. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

Nicholas County families will be better equipped to reach financial stability and more to be more self sufficient. This will decrease the number of those in need of local food and clothing banks as well as assistance programs. This increase in financial stability and reliance on assistance programs will be reflected in the next Census. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

Families will practice healthy meal planning and experiment with new fruits and vegetables.


Initial Outcomes:

Youth will participate in communications and leadership programming. Adults and families will practice healthy meal planning and experiment with new fruits and vegetables. 

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Families will develop a monthly budget

Indicator: number of families participating in annual holiday assistance program

Method: attendance sheets

Timeline: ongoing


Intermediate Outcome: Families will have a better understanding of basic gardening

Indicator: Number of families growing their own produce and increased sale of fruits and vegtables at local grocery store and farmers markets

Method: survey of producers and grocery

Timeline: ongoing


Long-term Outcome: Youth will possess basic communication and leadership skills leading them to become contributing members of society

Indicator: Number of youth in leadership roles and participation in communications contest

Method: Enrollment forms

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: NC Families

Project or Activity: Holiday Assistance Program

Content or Curriculum: budgeting 101, bean game, meal planning resources

Inputs: FRYSC coordinator, families, handouts/publications, worksheets

Date: 2021-2025


Project or Activity: Parenting Classes

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Parenting Piece by Piece

Inputs: FRYSC coordinator, families, handouts

Date: 2021-2025


Audience: NC Families

Project or Activity: Food Preservation 

Content or Curriculum: UK Food Preservation guidelines, Ball Blue Book

Inputs: Curriculum, UK specialists, produce and plants

Date: 2021-2025


Project or Activity: Home and Horticulture

Content or Curriculum: Horticulture ID

Inputs: Curriculum, UK specialists, produce and plants

Date: 2021-2025


Audience: NC Youth

Project or Activity: Middle School Leadership Academy

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Citizenship, Civic Engagement

Inputs: Teen Conference, Teen Summit, monthly meetings

Date: 2021-2025


Project or Activity: County Communications Contest

Content or Curriculum: Picking up the Pieces, 4-H Speeches and Demonstrations

Inputs: Classroom instruction, handouts and silly speeches

Date: 2021-2025



Success Stories

4-H Camp Benefits Youth and Adults

Author: Ashley Vice

Major Program: Camping

  4-H Camp Benefits Youth and Adults A typical 5-day 4-H Camp session offers upwards of 96 hours of direct, uninterrupted contact between youth and their cabin leaders/counselors. That’s the equivalent of a family sitting down at the dinner table for 30-minutes, 192 days of the year. The interactions offered in a residential camp/group living setting is so important to youth. The time we spend with youth in the camp setting offers opportunities for those youth to feel a sens

Full Story

4-H Camp Benefits Our Youth and Adults

Author: Shelby Cleaver

Major Program: Camping

A typical 5-day 4-H Camp session offers upwards of 96 hours of direct, uninterrupted contact between youth and their cabin leaders/counselors. That’s the equivalent of a family sitting down at the dinner table for 30-minutes, 192 days of the year. The interactions offered in a residential camp/group living setting is so important to youth. The time we spend with youth in the camp setting offers opportunities for those youth to feel a sense of belonging, to have meaningful conversations wit

Full Story

Fraud Prevention 101

Author: Ashley Vice

Major Program: Financial Education - General

Fraud can happen to anyone. According to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging 2019 Fraud Book, it is estimated that older Americans lose at least $2.9 billion per year to financial exploitation schemes and scams. Other groups pose estimates that are even higher, and many agree that fraud is underreported. The best way to protect yourself from financial fraud and scams is to be aware of the tactics con artists use and learn to recognize red flags so you can avoid being tricked. To incr

Full Story

Cloverbud Camp

Author: Shelby Cleaver

Major Program: Camping

2024 Cloverbud Camp was another success for our Nicholas County kiddos. These kids learned life skills, teamwork and how to communicate. They learned to clean up after theirselves in the cabins and during meals, learned to make their beds and keep up with their belongings. They also learned the value of new friendships from other counties and getting to know people and be friends with those who they aren’t around all the time. These kids got the chance to experience staying away from home

Full Story
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