Pulaski County CES

Title:

Developing leadership skills- youth NEW

MAP:

Leadership Development & Community Engagement

Agents Involved:

Spurgeon, Roy

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Leadership

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development

Situation:

Leadership is a needed and important programming emphasis in Kentucky 4-H.  The Cooperative Extension Service provides opportunities for youth and families to help improve their leadership ability and create a positive impact on their future.  Leadership opportunities for youth create a setting that reduces the access of youth to risk factors that can negatively impact their success. 

Basic leadership knowledge & skills are essential for success in almost any field.  The skills associated with leadership are necessary when working in a group or communicating with others.  Employers look for leadership skills in future employees.  Developing leadership in the youth and adults who are involved in the 4-H program is a priority.  By assisting the development of leadership skills in today’s youth, we improve their ability to face the challenges of tomorrow (Unlock Your Leadership Potential, University of Florida, 2017). 

Kentucky 4-H provides opportunities for youth to actively engage locally and globally to promote life skills [such as leadership] that prepare them for the global marketplace. Through 4-H youth exercise critical thinking skills, learn to appreciate diversity, practice tolerance, develop socio-emotionally, and strive to contribute to their environment (United States Department of Education International Affairs Office of International Strategy).  4-H participants rate their leadership life skills above average, have a positive view of their leadership ability, and have a positive attitude toward diversity and acceptance of others (Locke, Boyd, Fraze, and Howard, 2007).   

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Communities are equipped with competent, effective leaders
• Community members engage others to initiate projects 
• Civic engagement is possible and desirable for community members 
• Communities become more prosperous 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Youth put skills into practice by becoming more engaged, taking on leadership roles
• You improve skills in communication or problem solving in addressing community issues and needs
• Youth participants become more engaged in non-formal leadership roles which increases involvement/action
• Youth participants initiate projects that meet the needs of their community 
• Youth are inclusive of all individuals 
• Youth will volunteer and participate in community service 
• Youth will engage in civic involvement
• Youth will maintain future intentions for civic engagement 

Initial Outcomes:

• Youth increase knowledge of effective leadership skills
• Youth develop/enhance leadership skills 
• Youth are informed of community systems, are better connected to communication networks, are more confident and skills in identifying and implementing strategies for change in their community (local/state/national/global) 

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: 

Youth become more engaged as a leader in their community (planning a service project, serving as a mentor, increasing participation in local/state/national levels)

Indicator:

• Youth plan a community service project in their community
• Youth report they serve as a mentor for a younger participant 
• Youth serve as leaders within their club or county programs
• Youth serve in a state or national leadership position

Method:

• 4-H Common Measures Universal Survey
• Program Indicators
• Number of youth who served as group leaders or officers?(PRACTICE)
• Number of youth who received education related to diversity and inclusivity? (KOSA)
• Number of youth who served as direct mentors to one or more younger youth? (SEEC)
• Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself?” (SEEC)
• Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader?” (SEEC)

Timeline: Year-Round

Intermediate Outcome:

• Youth put skills into practice by becoming more engaged, taking on leadership roles
• You improve skills in communication or problem solving in addressing community issues and needs
• Youth participants become more engaged in non-formal leadership roles which increases involvement/action

Indicator: # Youth serving in leadership roles

Method:

• 4-H Common Measures Universal Survey
• Program Indicators
• Number of youth who served as group leaders or officers?(PRACTICE)
• Number of youth who received education related to diversity and inclusivity? (KOSA)
• Number of youth who served as direct mentors to one or more younger youth? (SEEC)
• Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself?” (SEEC)
• Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader?” (SEEC)

Timeline: Year-Round

Long-term Outcome:

• Communities are equipped with competent, effective leaders 

Indicator:

• Youth come back to Pulaski County to take on leadership roles within their community

Method:

• Observation

Timeline:

• Yearly

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth ages 9-18 

Project or Activity: Speech and Demonstration 

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communications Curriculum 

Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Adult Volunteers, Teachers 

Date: school year 

 

Audience: Youth ages 9-18 

Project or Activity: School Clubs; school enrichment 

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum 

Inputs: 4-H Agent, Teachers 

Date: school year 

 

Audience: Middle School Students 

Project or Activity: Afterschool, Teen Summit 

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Art curriculum, Teen Leadership, 4-H Photography curriculum 

Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Adult Volunteers 

Date: September-May 

 

Audience: High School Juniors/Seniors 

Project or Activity: APES, KY Youth Seminar 

Content or Curriculum: 4-H APES Curriculum 

Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Adult Volunteers, counselors 

Date: school year 

 

Audience: High School Students (freshmen-Senior) 

Project or Activity: Capitol Experience, Teen Council, Teen Conference 

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum 

Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Adult Volunteers, teachers 

Date: school year 

Audience: High School Students (freshmen-Senior) 

Project or Activity: Teen Leadership Program

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum 

Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Adult Volunteers, teachers 

Date: school year (September - April) Monthly

Success Stories