Youth and Adults Overcome Life Situations by Acquiring Life Skills
Youth Life Skill Development
Amanda Sublett, Pat Hardesty, Audrey Myers, Kara Back
4-H Youth Development Programming
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum
Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
SITUATION:
Researchers from Northwestern and Columbia Universities have found extensive findings "that substantiate significant associations between poverty and children's health, cognitive development, behavior problems, emotional well being and problems with school achievement."
In Taylor County 33.1% of children ages 0-17 are below poverty (Kentucky By the Numbers). It is important for the youth of our communities to develop life skills in order for them to overcome their life situations such as poverty.
Youth and adults need to develop essential life skills to become productive members of the community and effective as adults in society.
The 4-H Youth Development Program helps build the key characteristics of positive youth development, competence, confidence, character, connection and compassion.
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES:
Youth will acquire life skills needed to prepare them to address all aspects of their adult lives and to develop into adult roles in society enabling them to be productive members in our community.
INTERMEDIATE OUTCOMES:
Youth will implement problem solving and decision making skills in various aspects of their lives. Youth will learn how to effectively interact and cooperate with their peers and adults. Youth will teach other children skills learned.
INITIAL OUTCOMES:
Youth will learn basic public speaking skills to help reduce the fear of speaking in front of a group. Youth will compete in events and will be recognized for their accomplishments. Youth will attend day camps and project meetings and begin to learn new skills. Youth will increase awareness and knowledge of science. Youth and adults will identify and implement sound decision-making in relationships.
Long-Term Outcome: Youth will increase verbal and written communication skills
Indicator: Number of youth participating in communication events
Method: Post survey and score sheets
Timeline: November-July 2018,2019,2020
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will engage in decision making skills in all aspects of their daily lives
Indicator: Number of youth participating in judging events, day camps, and activities
Method: Pre and post surveys and awards
Timeline: July-June 2018,2019,2020
Initial Outcome: Increased Awareness of 4-H Program to Youth in Grades 1-3
Indicator: Number of cloverbud participants and number of participants attending 4-H 4 All
Method: Attendance Rosters, Parent and Agent Observations
Timeline: August-May 2018,2019,2020
Outcome: Youth and adults will gain and utilize new life skills
Indicator: Number of youth who gain and utilize new life skills
Method: Observation, Written Evaluations
Timeline: July-June 2018,2019,2020
Outcome: Increase Knowledge of Science, Engineering and Technology and number of youth who participate
Indicator: Number of youth who gain and utilize Science, Engineering and Technology skills
Method: Observation, Written Evaluations
Timeline: July-June 2018,2019,2020
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Demonstrations and Talk Meet
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Speak Up and Would You Like to Do a 4-H Project Demonstration? Project Books
Inputs: Teachers, School Officials, Parents, Community Members
Date: November-July 2018,2019,2020
Audience: 4-H and FFA youth ages 9-15
Project or Activity: Heifer Chain
Content or Curriculum: KLVCR Program Materials
Inputs: Taylor County Cattlemen, Parents, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Agents
Date: July-June 2018,2019,2020
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Livestock, Dairy, and Equine Educational Meetings and Activities
Content or Curriculum: KLVCR Materials
Inputs: Certified Volunteer Leaders, Cattlemen, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Parents
Date: July-June 2018,2019,2020
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Monthly School Club Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Various topics from the 7 core curriculumn areas
Inputs: Teachers, School Officials
Date: August-May 2018,2019,2020
Audience: Youth ages 5-8
Project or Activity: Cloverbud Monthly Meetings and Day Camp
Content or Curriculum: The Ohio State Cloverbud Curriculum
Inputs: Youth Leaders, Parents, Community Members
Date: July-May 2018,2019,2020
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H After School Programs
Content or Curriculum: Fantastic Food Series, Acres of Adventure, Awesome After School Kits
Inputs: School Officials
Date: September-April 2018,2019,2020
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Project Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Various Project Books and State Fair Requirements
Inputs: Volunteer Adult and Youth Leaders
Date: May 2018,2019,2020 and throughout the year
Audience: Youth ages 9-14
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: State Curriculum
Inputs: Volunteer Adult and Teen Leaders, Parents, Community Members
Date: January-July 2018,2019,2020
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Shooting Sports/Y-HEC
Content or Curriculum: State Shooting Sports Curriculum
Inputs: Volunteer Adult and Youth Leaders, Parents
Date: January-October 2018,2019,2020
Audience: Youth ages 9-15
Project or Activity: Day Camps
Content or Curriculum: Various depending on Day Camp offered using 4-H Core Curriculum
Inputs: Parents, Teen Volunteers
Date: July, Fall Break and Spring Break 2018,2019,2020
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Babysitting Clinic
Content or Curriculum: KY 4-H Babysitting Curriculum
Inputs: Teachers, Community Leaders
Date: Fall 2018,2019,2020
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Sewing Classes, Fashion Revue and Sewing Day Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Sewing Curriculum
Inputs: Certified Master Clothing Volunteers, Homemakers, Parents
Date: July and February-May 2018,2019,2020
Author: Amanda Sublett
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum
Positive youth development researchers theorize that youth who are confident and who have strong communication skills are more likely to make substantial contributions to their family, their community, and society. One way that youth can develop confidence and their communication skills is by completing a speech or demonstration project. In the 2018/2019 program year, approximately Six hundred youth from Taylor County completed a speech and/or demonstration project with seventy advancing to the
Author: Amanda Sublett
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
The 4-H National Youth Science Day Challenge, Code Your World, was taught to every 4th and 5th grader, approximately 550 kids, in the Taylor County and Campbellsville Independent School systems during October. Code Your World integrates CS First, Google’s introductory computer science curriculum, with 4-H’s research-based youth development model, to show kids how they can use code both as a form of personal skill development and as a way to understand the world around them. &nb
Author: Amanda Sublett
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
According to research, middle school is a time where young people find their place in this world, they are exploring where their strengths and interests align (Fagell. P.L., 2019). Therefore, it is imperative to provide positive experiences where young people may explore the world in a safe environment. Due to the decline in enrollment numbers throughout the middle school years in 4-H programming, Kentucky 4-H hosts the Kentucky 4-H Summit Leadership Conference for middle schoolers (grades 6-8)
Author: Amanda Sublett
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Taylor County is a rural county with over 111,756 acres of land utilized as farms and several youth live on farms and operate tractors and/or lawn tractors frequently. 5 4-H’er participated in the Lawn Tractor or Tractor Driving contests or both at the county level. 4-H members performed a safety check, and drove a lawn tractor or tractor through an obstacle course. The goal is to finish the course in a timely manner without running into poles or crossing the outlined course.