Fostering Life Skills Education in Youth and Families
Youth and Families Life Skills
Alexander, Potts, Heisdorffer, Clingenpeel
Financial Education - General
Family and Consumer Science
Leadership
The start of 4-H came about in the early 1900’s as a way to provide hands-on learning to youth so that they may share the learned skills with their families. Today, 4-H is known as one of the largest youth development organizations in the country. As many families in Daviess County live within broken homes, with 436 of every 1000 youth in foster care, 21% of children living in poverty, and a 45 of every 1000 juvenile incarceration rate, the need for both youth and families to gain valuable life skills has never been greater. As guardians strive to meet family needs in single-parent households, 36% of homes with children in Daviess County, there is little time to teach these skills at home. As many schools no longer include family and consumer science classes in their curriculum, youth must learn these skills elsewhere. 4-H is able to utilize in-school, after-school, club, and camp settings to engage and educate youth in these areas. Additionally, the Family and Consumer Sciences program provides parents, guardians, caregivers, and young adults with parenting skills, financial education, and estate planning, as city and county schools respectively show the following statistics for age-appropriate youth; 42.8% and 56.7% are kindergarten ready, 48.1% and 59.5% display 4th grade reading level preparedness, 47.2% and 48.4% are 8th grade math proficient, and 84.1% and 92.3% graduate high school on time.
*Source: Kentucky Kids Count Survey
Youth and families will improve financial stability
Extension youth will seek post-secondary and career development
Youth and families will make decisions to improve independence and resiliency
Participants create a budget
Participants prioritize activities and needs
Individuals implement one or more activities to secure financial future
Families use appropriate learning activities and positive discipline
Participants apply one or more life skills in daily life
Individuals evaluate home or workplace for safety
Participants can distinguish between wants and needs/fixed expenses
Individuals discuss time management
Individuals define financial terms/literacy
Participants can match ages and stages
Identify/observe life skill practices
Individuals can name two or more safety practices
Participants can list two requirements for plants to grow successfully
Long-term Outcome: Development in life skills in youth and families
Indicator: Youth and families will make decision to improve independence and resiliency
Method: Observation, written pre/post surveys, personal testimonies
Timeline: School year, duration of the program
Initial Outcome: Developing gardening knowledge and skill for personal success
Indicator: Participants can list two requirements for plants to grow successfully
Method: Observation, written surveys, personal testimonies
Timeline: Duration of the program
Audience: Youth Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Cooking, Food Safety, Nutrition
Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef, Fantastic Foods, Luv-an-Egg, Put it Up! Food Preservation, Cooking 101-401, What's on Your Plate?
Inputs: 4-H Agents, Program Assistant
Date: School Year 2024-2025
Audience: Youth Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: West KY 4-H Camping Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agents, West KY 4-H Camping Faculty
Date: June July 2024/2025
Audience: Elementary School Youth Ages 9-12
Project or Activity: Progressive Agriculture Youth Safety Day
Content or Curriculum: Progressive Ag Safety Materials, Approved Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agents, Program Assistant, Extension Volunteers
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: Youth Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Project Day Camps
Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agents, Program Assistant, Extension Volunteers
Date: Summer 2024
Audience: Youth Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Shooting Sports
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports Approved Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent, Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Coaches
Date: October 2024-September 2025
Audience: Youth Ages 16-19
Project or Activity: Adulting 101
Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Daviess County Extension Agents, volunteers
Date: Fall 2024
Audience: Recovery Center participants, youth Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Financial lessons, credit score, budgeting
Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes, CreditWise, Needs v. Wants
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: Fall 2024
Audience: Individuals and Families
Project or Activity: Horticultural topics including youth gardening projects
Content or Curriculum: Extension Publications
Inputs: Agent, Horticulture Program Assistant, and Extension Master Gardeners
Date: July 2024 - June 2025
Audience: College Students
Project or Activity: It's Your Reality
Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality
Inputs: Extension Agents, Volunteers
Date: 2024
Author: Katherine Alexander
Major Program: Super Star Chef
According to 2017 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, the obesity rate for children ages 9-12 in Kentucky is 20.2%. The Daviess County Extension Council has identified childhood obesity as an important health issue facing their community. Recent research has indicated that teaching cooking skills to children encourages healthier food choices, which can lower obesity rates. In an effort to address this problem, this summer the Daviess County 4-H and Family Consumer S