Extension
It Starts With Us
Improve the stability, resiliency and capability of individuals through life skill development.
Strengthening Quality of Life for Individuals, Families and Communities
John David Tucker, Mike Keller, Melissa Goodman
Financial Education - General
Family Development General
FCS Employment Skills
Agriculture & Natural Resources
A key element for many youth development programs, including 4-H, focuses on practical life skills (Perkins & Borden, 2003). Since the introduction of the Targeting Life Skills Model (Hendricks, 1998), 4-H practitioners have used the model as a framework to plan, implement, and evaluate 4-H Youth Development programs. Hickman County 4-H and FCS are no different. The need for developing life skills in our youth has been made a priority by 4-H, FCS and Extension Homemaker Program Councils and the County Extension Council. This program plan focuses on life skill development throughout the life span. The Kentucky Extension Community Assessment for Hickman County identified more youth life skills training, better youth and adult career readiness, and more support for prevention of school violence and bullying as the top three issues concerning youth and families.
Our focus on nurturing families through healthy couples and parenting education will bring family stability which benefits the well-being of adults and children. In 2020, 22 percent of Kentucky children lived in poverty, ranking Kentucky 40th in the nation. Hickman County has 28% of children living in poverty. Children who live in poverty are more likely to have learning disabilities and developmental delays. Furthermore, 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.
Securing financial stability is an issue that has been identified by the County Issues Forum as an ongoing need for education and resources from Cooperative Extension to increase the resiliency and capacity of our families. Kentucky consistently lags behind other areas of the United States in key household economic indicators, including personal income, the population living below the poverty line, unemployment, and revolving debt. These indicators acknowledge the impact of current economic conditions on family financial management. Hickman County has 61% of students eligible for free lunches, 20.1% of the general population is below poverty, and 5.7% unemployment rate.
Finally, People are living longer. Kentucky’s current population of seniors (65+) is 19%, a number that is expected to double in the next 40 years due to the aging Baby Boomers. Whether it is the graying of America or extended life expectancies, aging is a lifespan process. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate the changes that accompany aging, in regard to health, independence, and life quality throughout all stages of life.
•Participants will utilize life skills gained through education and Extension programs to reach their full potential as individuals, family members, and citizens in the community.
•Participants will gain communication and decision-making skills that allow them to be competitive members of the current and future workforce.
•Participants will gain practice of practical living skills that will make them more effective adults with practice of experience such as cooking and child care.
•Participants will become contributing members of society.
•Participants will experience healthy, independent and quality aging
•Participants will enter school ready to learn.
•Participants will foster the optimal development of children and youth.
•Participants will increase household savings and decrease household debt.
•Participants will communicate more effectively with more self-confidence.
•Participants will practice safe cooking skills at home.
•Participants will use self-care skills to become competent members of society.
•Participants will utilize information obtained through Extension Programming to increase quality of life.
•Participants will use babysitting as an outlet for increasing income.
•Participants will employ good decision making techniques in personal relationships
•Participants will practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships including spousal, parent/child, caregiver and work related.
•Participants will demonstrate use of life skills.
•Participants will change behavior to decrease risk of falling.
•Participants will track spending habits.
•Participants will develop their life skills and gain knowledge to help them become better persons.
•Participants will develop personal care skills to take care of their own self.
•Participants will increase knowledge of cooking and childcare.
•Participants will develop knowledge of communication principles and public speaking skills.
•Participants will define key terms and acronyms related to drugs
•Participants will distinguish between facts and myths of drug use
•Participants will list three or more health risks as a consequence of drug use
•Participants will estimate the economic impact of drug use
•Volunteers will predict the long-term future for youth involved with drugs
•Participants will commit to set family rules regarding eating together, limiting screen time, active play and exercise, set routines
•Participants will intend to manage stress; make time for self; listen, talk, bond with family members; read with child daily; teach responsibility in use of money, time, etc.
•Participants will describe child’s developmental levels relative to averages
•Participants will be aware of fall hazards and the risk of falling
•Participants will gain knowledge of healthy life span behaviors
•Participants will show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial and non-financial resources.
•Participants will simulate life situations to recognize importance of education and employability skills.
•Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintaining and improving their financial stability.
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will practice life skills & knowledge gained through extension program
Indicator: change habits and practice new life skills learned
Method: surveys, participation in activities
Timeline: 2023-2024 program year
Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge of Child Development and Positive Personal Relationship
Indicator: Increased knowledge as indicated by survey answers
Method: survey, participation in activities
Timeline: 2023-2024 Program Year
Initial Outcome: Youth will obtain more knowledge of the detrimental effect of drugs and alcohol use
Indicator: Knowledge obtains through classes indicated by pre/post-test answers.
Method: Pre-Post Test of Truth and Consequences
Timeline: Spring 2024
Initial Outcome: Increased level of understanding how to manage/address current econoic events facing my family.
Indicator: Number of individuals reported increased level of understanding in the area: how to manage/address current economic events facing my family, farming operation, or business
Method: Survey of Securing Financial Stability Programming
Timeline: Program Year 2023-2024
Intermediate Outcome: Improved Personal Skills that stimulate children's optimum development
Indicator: Number of individuals (parents or caregivers) reporting improved personal skills that stimulate children’s optimum development (such as communication and literacy skills; healthy eating practices; conflict management techniques)
Method: Survey of Nurturing Families Programming
Timeline: Program Year 2023-2024
Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge about risk factors of Alzheimer's Disease
Indicator: Number of participants whose knowledge about the risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease improved.
Method: Evaluation for Basics of Alzheimer
Timeline: Fall 2023
Intermediate Outcome: Practice of Healthy Behaviors
Indicator: Number of participants who practice healthy behavior (such as physical activity, healthy diet, stress management, sleep, mental exercise, meaningful social engagement).
Method: Evaluation for Keys to Great Aging
Timeline: Spring 2024
Audience: Youth rising from 5th-9th grade
Project or Activity: MADD Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Arts Curricula
Inputs: Extension Staff, Arts Council, Community Education, Hickman County School Staff including Librarian
Date: Summer 2023
Audience: Youth 6th-8th grade
Project or Activity: Babysitting Clinic
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Babysitting Curriculum
Inputs: Middle School, 4-H Agent, Family Resource Center, Ambulance Service, School nurse, Early Head Start
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Code Name Home Alone
Content or Curriculum: Code name: Home Alone, Keeping Fit & Healthy - First Aid in Action
Inputs: 4-H Agent, Youth, FRYSC
Date: 2023-2024 School Year
Audience: 8th and 10th grade
Project or Activity: Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Reality Store
Inputs: Extension Staff, KAPS Family Resource and Education Center, School System, Program Councils, community volunteers
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Primary and Middle School Students
Project or Activity: Family Science Night
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum and outside resources
Inputs: 4-H Agent, School Teachers and facilities, students
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Elementary and Middle school students
Project or Activity: Marvelous Manners
Content or Curriculum: KICKS and Various Manners Curriculum
Inputs: Community Leaders, Extension Homemakers, County School System and Facilities, Extension Staff, Program Council, UK educational materials
Date: 2023-2024 School Year
Audience: 4th- 6th, 8th, & 10th Grade Students
Project or Activity: Career Fair
Content or Curriculum: Extension Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, School facility, Local Businesses, Community Education Director, KAPS Family Resource Coordinator, and students
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: 9th Grade
Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences
Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences
Inputs: Extension Staff, Community Leaders, Extension Homemakers, County school system and facilities, Program Councils, UK educational materials, students' parents, County and City Law Enforcement, DJJ, CDW, District Judge, Hospital, Coroner, Ambulance Service, and Health Department
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Speeches and Demonstrations
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communications Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent, School teachers, volunteers, support from 4-H Council
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Youth and Teens
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Camp Curriculum
Inputs: Business and community donations for camp scholarships, adult and teen volunteers
Date: Summer 2024
Audience: FLIGHT Afterschool Participants
Project or Activity: GLAM Girls
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curricula, DOVE Body Image Curriculum, FCS Healthy Choices Curricula, Weight the Reality Series Body Image
Inputs: FLIGHT Afterschool Program, FRYSC, Community Education, Extension Agents, Fitness Instructors, Health and Beauty Experts
Date: School Year 2023-2024
Audience: Families with Children Ages 0-5
Project or Activity: Grow, Learn, Succeed Play Fest
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: Fall 2023
Audience: Families with Children 0-5
Project or Activity: School Readiness Night, Laugh and Learn Playdates
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: Working-age adults and young adults preparing for the workforce
Project or Activity: Workforce Preparation
Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability
Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local employers and community leaders
Date: Fall 2023
Audience: Adults and Families
Project or Activity: Estate Planning
Content or Curriculum: UK Estate Planning Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Agents, Banking and Financial Professionals, Lawyers, Small Business
Date: Winter 2023/24
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Specialty Skill Clubs and Classes i.e. Crochet and Craft
Content or Curriculum: Needlework, Master Clothing Volunteers Knowledge
Inputs: Master Clothing Volunteers, Craft and Heritage Skill Leaders
Date: Program Year 2023-2024
Audience: Senior Citizens and Baby Boomers
Project or Activity: Keys to Great Aging
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Aging
Inputs: Hickman County Senior Citizens, PADD Office Senior Program, Extension Homemakers
Date: Program Year 2023-2024
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Financial Education
Content or Curriculum: Moneywise, Good Credit Game, Real Skills for Everyday Life, Money Habitudes
Inputs: Drug Court, FRYSC, Mission House
Date: Program Year 2023-2024
Audience: Families with Children Ages 0-5
Project or Activity: Born Learning Academy
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Born Learning Curriculum, 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: Program Year 2023-2024
Author: Melissa Goodman
Major Program: Camping
4-H Camp Benefits Youth and AdultsA typical 5-day 4-H Camp session offers upwards of 96 hours of direct, uninterrupted contact between youth and their cabin leaders/counselors. That is 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 are so important to youth. The time we spend with youth in&
Author: Melissa Goodman
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership – 4-H Youth Development
According to the Program Leader’s Working Group Task Force on Positive Youth Development, everyone has something they are passionate about, whether it's a skill, talent, interest, or unique quality. In fact, youth thriving research refers to these things as "sparks” (2024 4-H PLWG Standing Committee on Positive Youth Development). These sparks not only bring joy but also provide purpose and direction, especially for adolescents. These sparks are often self-discovered and sel
Author: Melissa Goodman
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Many young people will enter adulthood without the essential financial knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices about their money. According to a July 2022 FINRA Foundation national financial capability study, a persistent financial literacy gap exists in the U.S. Locally, the Kentucky Extension Community Needs Assessment highlighted the community's need for life skills training and career readiness among youth in Hickman County. These essential skills included money managemen
Author: Melissa Goodman
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership – 4-H Youth Development
According to the National Home Education Research Institute, about 3.1 million homeschooled students in grades K-12 in the United States in 2021- 2022. According to the John Hopkins School of Education, 5% of Kentucky’s K-12 students were homeschooled. In Kentucky's far Mississippi River counties, the number of homeschooled students seems to have significantly increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. As this number continues to rise, homeschool families are looking to take advantage of E
