Bell County CES

County Emphasis:

Strengthening Relationships Across the Lifespan

Concentration 1:

Family and Youth Development

Concentration 2:

Small Farm Development

Situation:

Family and Youth Development programming are essential for fostering healthy, supportive environments where both children and adults can thrive. By offering structured activities and educational workshops, UK Extension aims to build strong family bonds equipping young people and older adults with critical life skills. Guided by the Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-being, our programming also addresses social and emotional needs throughout the lifespan, promoting resilience and positive relationships which are two of the key concerns identified in the top 15 needs of Kentucky’s statewide needs assessment. These programs often integrate agricultural education—such as gardening, 4-H livestock projects, and farm-to-table initiatives—to teach responsibility, nutrition, and environmental stewardship while strengthening connections to Kentucky’s rural heritage. Investing in such programs can prevent future challenges by supporting early intervention and personal growth. Ultimately, these initiatives contribute to the well-being of individuals and the stability of communities, making them a vital component of both social and agricultural development.

County Situation:

Families, farmers and youth are faced with barriers and stresses in everyday life. All are looking for positive influences in their lives to strengthen positive relationships and meaningful community connections. According to the 2023 Bell County Needs Assessment, our community felt programs should be offered to build stronger parenting and relationship skills as well as social, emotional and behavior education for adults working with youth.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Increased meaningful social connections
• Improved quality of family life
• Enhance the role of small farms in maintaining rural populations and contributing to cultural heritage, ensuring that these communities remain vibrant and connected. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Increased healthy relationships across generations that support healthy community, nurturing behaviors, and quality time together.
• Provide robust support for estate planning and farm transitions to ensure the longevity of small farms across generations. 

Initial Outcomes:

• Increased knowledge about nurturing parenting and caregiving across the life span.
• Increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors (e.g., reading to your child, spending time together, self-care, caregiver preparation, active living).
• Organize community events and workshops that foster networking among small farm owners and promote the sharing of best practices and innovations.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge about nurturing parenting and caregiver support across the lifespan (e.g., how often you read to your child, benefits of spending time together, identifying selfcare behaviors, enhance communication) 

Indicator: Number of participants who reported increased knowledge of nurturing parenting and/or caregiver support practices.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Intermediate Outcome: Increased healthy relationships across generations that support healthy communication, nurturing behaviors, and quality time together. 

Indicator: 

• Number of participants who reported they enhanced healthy relationships.
• Number of participants who reported that they extended any type of support to another parent, grandparent, older adult, or relative raising a child.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Ongoing/as changes are made and projects progress.

Long-Term Outcome: Increased healthy relationships across generations that support healthy communication, nurturing behaviors, and quality time together. 

Indicator: 

• Number of participants who reported they enhanced healthy relationships.
• Number of participants who reported that they extended any type of support to another parent, grandparent, older adult, or relative raising a child.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Ongoing/as changes are made and projects progress.

Outcome: Increased application of recommended horticultural practices for non-commercial production 

Indicators: 

• Number of self-reported volunteer hours at community sites. 

Method: Interactions with clients, attendance at Extension educational events, direct observation and feedback 

Timeline: ongoing 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth Ages 9 and Under, Families

Project or Activity: 4-H Cloverbuds Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Other Extension Curriculum 

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Volunteers

Date: Fall 2025-Spring 2026

Audience: Youth Ages 9 and Under, Families 

Project or Activity: Cloverbuds Day Camp

Content or Curriculum: Extension Publications

Inputs: Agents, Staff, Community Members

Date: Summer 2025

Audience: Youth and Adults

Project or Activity: Organic Gardening 

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: Agents, Specialists 

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Primary School Age Children

Project or Activity: FRED

Content or Curriculum: FRED Curriculum and Books

Inputs: Agents, Schools, Resource Centers, Librarians

Date: Winter 2026

Audience: Youth and Adults

Project or Activity: Bee Club

Content or Curriculum: UK Pubs/Other Extension Pubs

Inputs: Agents, Specialist, Community Members

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Adults, Land owners, farmers

Project or Activity: Estate Planning

Content or Curriculum: Information on dealing with Heirs Properties, and creating wills

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Other agencies, Attorneys, Universities (KSU)

Date: Spring and Fall 2026

Audience: Families, Homemakers, Farmers

Project or Activity: Parent meetings

Content or Curriculum: Other Extension Curriculum, PASTA 

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Volunteers, schools, community members

Date: Fall 2025-Spring 2026

Audience: Youth Ages 5 and Under, Families

Project or Activity: Laugh and Learn

Content or Curriculum: Laugh and Learn

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Volunteers, daycare centers

Date: Fall 2025-Spring 2026

Audience: Youth Ages 9 and Under, Families

Project or Activity: Outdoor Adventures Day

Content or Curriculum: Other Extension Curriculum, Project Wild, Project Wet

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Volunteers, Community partners

Date: Fall 2025-Spring 2026

Audience: Families, community members

Project or Activity: Family Fun Day

Content or Curriculum: Other Extension Curriculum, Other UK Pubs

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Volunteers, Community partners

Date: Fall 2025-Spring 2026

Audience: Families, community members, farmers

Project or Activity: Family Farm Day

Content or Curriculum: Other Extension Curriculum, Other UK Pubs

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Volunteers, Community partners

Date: Fall 2025-Spring 2026

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge about nurturing parenting and caregiver support across the lifespan (e.g., how often you read to your child, benefits of spending time together, identifying selfcare behaviors, enhance communication) 

Indicator: Number of participants who reported increased knowledge of nurturing parenting and/or caregiver support practices.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Intermediate Outcome: Increased healthy relationships across generations that support healthy communication, nurturing behaviors, and quality time together. 

Indicator: 

• Number of participants who reported they enhanced healthy relationships.
• Number of participants who reported that they extended any type of support to another parent, grandparent, older adult, or relative raising a child.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Ongoing/as changes are made and projects progress.

Long-Term Outcome: Increased healthy relationships across generations that support healthy communication, nurturing behaviors, and quality time together. 

Indicator: 

• Number of participants who reported they enhanced healthy relationships.
• Number of participants who reported that they extended any type of support to another parent, grandparent, older adult, or relative raising a child.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Ongoing/as changes are made and projects progress.

Outcome: Increased application of recommended horticultural practices for non-commercial production 

Indicators: 

• Number of self-reported volunteer hours at community sites. 

Method: Interactions with clients, attendance at Extension educational events, direct observation and feedback 

Timeline: ongoing