Extension
It Starts With Us
Educating, & empowering individuals & families to make responsible choices & develop lifeskills
Developing life skills
C. Durr, C. Hall, V. Holland, A. Holt, S. Lewis, W. Long, B. Pratt, M. Pearce and K. Smith
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Conflict Resolution
Nurturing Families (general)
4-H Youth Development Programming
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.
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.
• 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 setting 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 & interviews
Timeline: End of program
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Community Garden implementation; school garden
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: specialists; content curriculum
Date: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Community Gardens
Content or Curriculum: CES publications
Inputs: agents, garden space
Date: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: In-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
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 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: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Dollars & Sense
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: September 2017 – April 2018
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: September 2017 – April 2018
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: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 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
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
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: September 2017 – April 2018
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: September 2017 – April 2018
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: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Red Cross Pillowcase Project
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: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Savvy Sellers and Bargain Hunters
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association
(KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: September 2017 – May 2018
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Creating and Maintaining Family Traditions
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association
(KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: September 2017 – May 2018
Audience: Extension Homemakers and General Public
Project or Activity: Tackling Your Laundry
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association
(KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: September 2017 – May 2018
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: It’s Sew Fine Sewing Expo
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky CES publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
agents, program assistants, specialists and
volunteers.
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
Audience: General Public and Seniors
Project or Activity: Stand Up to Falling
Content or Curriculum: Stand Up to Falling
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
agents, program assistants, specialists and
volunteers.
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Accepting and Loving Your Body
Content or Curriculum: Universe of Possibilities, Kentucky CES
publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
agents, program assistants, specialists and
volunteers.
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
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 (CES)
agents, program assistants, specialists and
volunteers.
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
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 (CES)
agents, program assistants, specialists and
volunteers.
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: Health 4-H Core Curriculum
In Jefferson County, there are limited occasions for inner-city youth to participate in hands-on cooking programs. Improving cooking skills and knowledge of foods helps to promote healthy eating habits.According to Thomas & Irwin, food and cooking skills/food preparation are important for several reasons related to health, knowledge, empowerment, engagement, culture, food security, and fun. An engaging cooking skills program targeting youth builds self-efficacy, food knowledge an
Author: Patrice Thompson
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Success Story 3/28/2018 Patrice Thompson “Robotics Team Work” In the past, Maupin Elementary prided themselves onimplementing technology in their curriculum and specializing as a technologycentered school. Upon a change of administrators, Maupin moved away fromintegrating technology in their curriculum and as a result their students fellbehind academically. After visiting the school and offering 4-H STEM programming, the FRYSC (Family Resource & Youth Services
Author: Patrice Thompson
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Success Story 6/29/2018 Patrice Thompson“From Classroom Robotics to Technology Conference” During the school year at Maupin Elementary, I had the privilege of leading 60 students into EV3 Lego Curriculum and it was awesome! To see the students grow in curiosity, effort, and team work was the motivation I needed as a brand new agent to plan strategically for the future.On May 19, 2018 I was able to successfully transport 3 of my Maupin 4-Her’s to an
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
Sewing is a learned life skill that can provide self-worth, sustainability within the home with textiles and more, enjoyment with hobbies and it can also reduce stress. Kelly Smith, Jefferson County 4-H Agent served as the Cooperative Extension Service’s Jefferson County Master Clothing Volunteer (MCV) contact agent. The 4-H Agent provided program updates, helped to promote sewing programs taught by the Louisville MCVs, helped to ensure funds to pay for statewide trainings, provided feedba
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
As our society becomes more globalized it is imperative that as non-formal educators we provide opportunities for youth to engage in activities that will expand their worldview. In 2017, Kentucky 4-H hosted fourteen youth and one adult from the Japanese LABO Program through the States’ 4-H International Program. One of those 14 was here in Jefferson County. A Japanese youth was paired with an American youth family to spend four-weeks immersed in American culture. The participant in Jeffers
Author: Valerie Holland
Major Program: Stand Up to Falling
Jefferson County presented Stand Up to Falling to 35 participants. After the program, 30 increased their knowledge to reduce the risk of falling; and 25 increased their knowledge regarding how to safely get up from a fall. 35 expressed aspirations to reduce fall risk and make a positive behavioral change toward healthy, independent, and quality aging. Fall prevention programs demonstrate positive change in both knowledge and behavior. Fall prevention programs have the potential to save an estima
Author: Valerie Holland
Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
About 1.7 million toaster ovens are sold in the United States each year. Twenty-seven percent of households us it only for toasting foods (Energy Star Market Industry Scoping Report: Toaster Ovens, November 2011). Toady’s toaster ovens have capability beyond toasting and use one-half to one-third less energy than conventional ovens. Additionally, smaller yield recipes may be more efficiently prepared in a toaster oven. Individuals who understand the advantages of toaster ovens may find the
Author: Valerie Holland
Major Program: Keys to Embracing Aging
Jefferson County presented Keys to Embracing Aging to 98 participants. On average, participants were 72 years old. As a result of the program, 80 participants reported a better understanding of how current lifestyle behaviors affect future health and well-being. Specifically, 85 participants reported aspirations to better embrace a positive attitude. 80 participants reported the need to be healthier eaters and79 declared the need stay on top of their health numbers. 72 participants plan to
