Morgan County CES

Title:

Building Local Leadership Capacity

MAP:

Empowering Community Leaders

Agents Involved:

Nellie Buchanan

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD): Developing Core Leadership Skills

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Empowering Community Leaders (general)

Situation:

Building the capacity of volunteer leaders within Morgan County is critical for the sustainability of a community infrastructure that supports long term commitment to strengthen families. There are more than 124 Morgan County Extension Homemaker members, 32 County Extension Council members, 12 Family and Consumer Sciences Advisory Council members, 22 Extension Homemaker Council members who share their expertise and volunteer time with youth and families in the county. Through the efforts of the FCS agent, para-professionals and volunteer local citizens are engaged, educated and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions.

Research show that effective leadership is one factor necessary for success within today's communities and organizations. Knowing one's own leadership skills and characteristics is a critical starting point; without intrapersonal leadership knowledge, it is difficult to understand ha effective leadership looks like within interpersonal, organizational and community context. While there are many leadership development programs in Kentucky, few, if any, are based on theoretically-grounded models of leadership development. These is a need to provide both resources and research -- based on leadership curriculum regarding personal leadership knowledge and skills for today's local and community members and their groups. The KELD curriculum provides Extension educators with research based leadership development resources focused on the individual, and to utilize with stakeholder groups within local communities and organizations.

Long-Term Outcomes:

The base of potential community and organizational leaders will be broader and more diverse. Program participants serve as leadership trainers and/or mentors for others. Extension agents are equipped to empower clientele by conducting leadership development programs

Intermediate Outcomes:

Participants are more active as informal community leaders. Participants take on formal organizational and community leadership roles. Increased implementation of leadership development practices by Extension agents within county programming.

Initial Outcomes:

Basic understanding of the foundations of leadership development and its application in intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational and community contexts. Skills and knowledge on becoming more effective leaders. Develop adequate perceptions of leadership due to training opportunities for organizational and community leaders. Extension agents develop greater understanding of how to implement leadership development into county programming.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Basic knowledge of the foundation of leadership development

Indicator: Number of leaders training

Method: Survey and evaluation

Timeline: Fall 2018

Intermediate Outcome: Participants more active in community and organizational leadership roles.

Indicator: Number of volunteers filling leader roles

Method: Vacancies filled

Timeline: Spring 2018

Long-term Outcome: Broader base of potential community and organizational leaders

Indicator: Number of volunteers trained

Method: Evaluation

Timeline: End of 4 year plan

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Members of FCS Extension Homemaker Clubs, FCS Advisory Council, Ext Homemaker Council members, County Extension Council members,

Project or Activity: Extension based leadership development programs for youth, adults and council members

Content or Curriculum: KELD materials

Inputs: Extension agents, extension specialists, local civic leaders, technology

Date: Fall 2018

Audience:  Extension Homemaker leaders

Project or Activity:  leader training sessions

Content or Curriculum:  train the trainer sessions

Inputs: extension agents, extension specialist, technology

Date: 2018-2019

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Success Stories