Extension
It Starts With Us
Educating & Empowering Individuals and Families to Make Responsible Choices and Develop Life Skills
Developing Life Skills
C. Hall, K. Smith, J. Palmer
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Community Engagement
Health & Wellbeing
Leadership
Developing life skills and making responsible, healthy choices can have a profound impact on family stability, individual well-being and community sustainability. Budgeting, interpersonal relationships, communication, family management and other skills are necessary for success.
The consequences of the Great Recession and the extended period of slow economic growth which followed, encouraged Kentuckians to become more aware of their financial situation. Kentucky consistently lags behind other areas of the United States in key household economic indicators, including: personal income, population living below the poverty line, unemployment, and revolving debt. These indicators, especially unemployment numbers became more exaggerated during the period of the Great Recession. However, at present economist are cautiously optimistic regarding future economic forecasts. It is important to acknowledge the impact of current economic conditions on family financial management. The goal of the Securing Financial Stability Initiative is to help Kentuckians understand and respond to changing economic conditions, while promoting healthy financial behaviors across the lifespan.
The development of life skills, like leadership, allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension). Almost 30 percent of youth in the United States (or over 5.7 million) are to be involved in bullying as a bully, a target of bullying or both. A troubling statistic that needs to be addressed.
Youth participating in experiential learning opportunities coupled with setting goals, solving problems, and making wise decisions will help students develop their leadership skills, and in turn will provide them with the necessary skills for leading a successful life (Boyd, 2001).
Healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. 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.
Boyd, B.L. (2011). Bringing leadership experiences to inner-city youth. Journal of Extension [Online]. 39(4). Available: https://www.joe.org/joe/2001august/a6.php
Youth and adults will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity, and multiculturalism in their daily life.
Youth will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
Create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle.
Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in Extension programs.
Youth and adults will be responsible and contributing individuals and family members, gain and maintain employment through life skill development and contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family.
Youth and adults will learn to manage personal finances, make wise financial decisions and understand long-term financial stability.
Youth and adults make more informed consumer decisions that result in increased family economic stability.
Youth and adults will reduce stress levels by building personal strengths, self-control, interpersonal communication, life skills including wise decision-making.
Reported using preventive and positive discipline techniques in response to misbehavior and settling and enforcing logical consequences.
Practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships.
Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress.
Practice healthy lifestyle decision – making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors.
Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding healthy aging.
Commits to using logical consequences for misbehavior.
Youth and adults will identify healthy lifestyle choices, risky behaviors and their consequences and healthy ways to handle stress.
Initial Outcome: Youth and adults will identify healthy lifestyle choices, risky behaviors and their consequences and healthy ways to handle stress.
Indicator: Ability to identify healthy lifestyle choices
Method: Pre – and post – surveys
Timeline: Before and after program
Intermediate Outcome: Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress.
Indicator: Youth and adults adopting and mastering healthy behaviors
Method: Pre – and post – surveys
Timeline: Before and after program and follow up
Long – Term Outcome: Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in Extension programs.
Indicator: Youth will display skills necessary to be competent, capable, contributing adults.
Method: Observation and interviews
Timeline: End of program
Audience: Adults & Youth
Project or Activity: Community Garden implementation; school garden
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: specialists; content curriculum
Date: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Community Gardens
Content or Curriculum: CES publications
Inputs: agents, garden space
Date: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: In – School Clubs & Before/After School Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide, National 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Dollars & Sense, Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2023– Apr. 2024
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Teen Summit
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, Steps to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Jr. MANRRS
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H SPIN Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide, National 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4 – H Embryology
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Babysitting
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4 – H Camp
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding
Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: TBA
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: October 2023
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: TBA
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: December 2023
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: TBA
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: March 2024
Audience: Senior CitizensProject or Activity: TBA
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Embracing Aging and Stand Up to Falling
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) publications and resources
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Personal Finance
Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life, Kentucky CES publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents, volunteers.
Date: July 2023 – June 2024
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Holiday Finances
Content or Curriculum: Stretching Your Holiday Spending, Kentucky CES publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents
Date: October 2023– December 2024
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Studies indicate that sewing is not only a productive hobby and life skill, but it can also reduce stress and increase an individual’s feeling of self-worth. The Jefferson County 4-H Agents, 4-H assistants, County Master Clothing Volunteer, and County volunteers planned and delivered a sewing Day Camp. This program was offered to those that may have attended 4-H sewing programs in the past and were intermediate sewers. The youth refreshed their sewing skills, sewing machine fun
Author: Carolina Robles
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Describe the Issue or Situation.The Homemaker Leader Lesson Day addressed several key topics relevant to family and consumer sciences, focusing on practical life skills. There was a need to educate homemakers on modern tools and practices like air fryer usage, online grocery shopping strategies, avoiding scams, and maintaining bone health to combat osteoporosis. The program also recognized the benefit of fostering inter-county collaboration, which was previously limited as past lessons were held
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Studies indicate that sewing is not only a productive hobby and life skill, but it can also reduce stress and increase an individual’s self-worth. The Jefferson County 4-H Agents, 4-H assistants, County Master Clothing Volunteers, and County volunteers planned and delivered a sewing Day Camp. This program was offered to those who may have attended 4-H sewing programs in the past and were intermediate sewers. The youth refreshed their sewing skills, sewing machine functions and
