Building life skills through youth programmingPlan of Work

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Breckinridge County CES

Title:
Building life skills through youth programming
MAP:
Building Life Skills
Agents Involved:
Allen, Bryant, Tucker
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Nurturing Families (general)
Situation:

How we live life is ever-changing but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Results from a local needs assessment with Extension and non-Extension clientele identified the need for youth to learn life skills to be responsible, problem solving, leaders who are college and career ready. In particular, life skills related to family and consumer sciences, communications, and SET (Science, Engineering, and Technology)were identified to prepare youth for a competitive job market in the future. Learning to practice healthy habits, create and live within a budget, prepare nutritious meals safely, nurture children, create a safe and pleasant home environment, practice common courtesies, form relationships with others, communicate effectively, and develop SET skills are basic to everyday life in our global society.


4-H programs significantly increase these life skills in youth through a variety of activities and delivery modes (e.g. camp, project clubs, independent projects, school programs, etc.). In a study by Olson, Croymans and Ji (2014), 4-Hers reported that participating in 1 or 2 educational opportunities influenced the development of critical thinking and decision making skills, and participating in 6 to 8 opportunities significantly increased the program’s influence by adding development of life skills in leadership, planning/organization, wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills and accepting differences.


The Kentucky Board of Education has identified a growing trend of high school graduates who lack basic life skills and are not college and career ready. There is also a decrease over the years in Arts programs and a growing need for SET related professionals. Kentucky 4-H Youth Development has an opportunity to fill these voids, prepare future consumers, and inspire future artists, scientists, and other successful professionals across the Commonwealth through programs developing life skills.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Youth will be responsible and contributing individuals and family members. Youth will gain and maintain employment through life skill development. Youth will contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family. Youth become more comfortable sharing their thoughts with others. Youth develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H Programs.

Youth will utilize the scientific method to solve problems in their daily life and make decisions. Youth will choose a career path in science, engineering or technology subject matter.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth will utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations.

Youth will project a positive image and self-confidence. Youth will practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making. Youth will adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future. Youth present before their family, a group of their peers (such as at a 4-H club meeting), a school or county qualifying event. Youth demonstrate an increased level of confidence when presenting in front of groups. Youth use their communication skills to assume a leadership role in 4-H or other organizations. Youth will use and apply the skills gained from 4-H science, engineering and technology.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth will gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects and programs. Youth will understand the decision-making process.

Youth will gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action.

Youth will research a presentation topic prior to developing a speech or demonstration and complete an outline. Youth will increase interest and engagement in 4-H science, engineering and technology. Youth will learn new skills in 4-H science, engineering and technology programs. Youth will be introduced to careers in science, engineering, and technology.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Youth will gain confidence, knowledge, and skills in the areas of Family & Consumer Sciences, Communications and Expressive Arts, and Science, Engineering, & Technology.

Indicator: 1) Youth reporting that they followed instructions step by step to do or make things themselves. 2) Number of youth that have improved communication skills through participation in 4-H Talk Meet. 3) Number of youth who participated in SET related programs and applied the scientific method.

Method: Kentucky 4-H Core Curriculum evaluations, post surveys, youth and leader testimonials

Timeline: Throughout program implementation


Intermediate Outcome: Youth will adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future.

Indicator: 1)Youth report practicing life skills at home and school. 2)Youth report greater confidence when public speaking. 3) Youth report greater confidence in SET and plan to take advanced SET classes or pursue a SET related career.

Method: Follow-up surveys, personal interviews, and observations

Timeline: 1-3 month follow-up to program implementation


Long-term Outcome: Youth will gain and maintain employment through life skill development.

Indicator: Participants employed after successfully completing additional training or education after high school.

Method: Testimonials, census data

Timeline: 1-3 month follow-up to program implementation

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Camp

Content or Curriculum: Annual camp program based on the Kentucky 4-H Camping program and policies

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools, community action, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business sponsorship

Date: Summer 2018 and Summer 2019


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Career Club

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved core curriculum (Building Your Future, Picking up the Pieces, etc.)

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools,family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business sponsorship

Date: 2018-2019 program year


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H School Clubs and Afterschool Programs

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved core curriculum (Project WET, Project WILD, Citizenship - Public Adventures, Civic Engagement - Afterschool Activities for Citizenship, Leadership, and Service, etc.)

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools,family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leaders

Date: 2018-2019 program year


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Family, Friends, & Foods Program

Content or Curriculum: Super Start Chef, Teen Cuisine, Cupcake Wars, Culinary Challenge

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers

Kentucky CES publications and resources

Date: 2018-2019 program year


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H It's Your Reality Program

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H It's Your Reality curriculum

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools,family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leaders

Date: 2018-2019 program year


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Hissing Cockroach Programs (e.g. BCMS STEM Program)

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Hissing Cockroach curriculum, Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum

Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership

Date: 2018-2019 program year


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Communications Program

Content or Curriculum: Picking up the Pieces curriculum

Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership

Date: 2018-2019 program year


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Local 4-H Performing Arts Program

Content or Curriculum: KET Arts Curriculum and Kentucky 4-H approved core curriculum

Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership

Date: Spring 2019


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Robotics Club

Content or Curriculum: Robotics with EV3 curriculum

Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership

Date: 2018-2019 program year


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Photography Club

Content or Curriculum: Focus on Photography curriculum and other Kentucky 4-H approved photography curriculum

Inputs:  Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth  service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program  resources, local organizations and business leadership

Date: 2018-2019 program year


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Adventurers Club

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved core curriculum (Outdoor Adventures, Exploring Your Environment, Amphibians, Science Discovery, etc.)

Inputs:  Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public  schools,family resource and youth service centers, volunteer  leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and  business sponsorship

Date: 2018-2019 program year


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Cloverbud Programs

Content or Curriculum: KET Toolkit and other Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum for Expressive Arts

Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources

Date: 2018-2019 program year


Audience: New mothers and fathers

Project or Activity: Community Baby Shower

Content and Curriculum: Home is Where the Health Is, NEP, Keys to Great Parenting

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, and volunteers

Kentucky CES publications and resources

Community partners and resources

Date: April 2018



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4-H Rabbit Club Provides Agriculture and Leadership Opportunities

Author: Alexandria Bryant

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

Kentucky 4-H believes that all youth should have opportunities for positive youth development in our four guiding concepts:  mastery, belonging, independence, and generosity.  The 4-H Rabbit program fosters mastery by learning about raising, breeding, and marketing rabbits, belonging by interacting and connecting with adults and youth with similar interests, independence by demonstrating responsible rabbit ownership, and generosity by participating in community service and citizenship

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Author: Alexandria Bryant

Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum

According to the U.S. Department of Education (2017), “globalization has led to environmental, economic, social and political challenges requiring youth to be aware of differences among cultures, open to diverse perspectives, and appreciative of insight from cultural exchange.” Cultural exploration develops life skills in youth, including critical thinking and creativity, allowing youth to understand cultures and “work effectively in cross-cultural settings to address society,

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4-H Robotics Club Teaches Life Skills

Author: Alexandria Bryant

Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum

The Kentucky Department of Education states, “By creating more opportunities for computer science learning for Kentucky students, we will reach, keep and engage more students in learning, create a pool of more qualified people to fill existing job openings and stimulate suppressed economic regions of our state by developing a high-tech skilled workforce. Computer science and coding utilize critical thinking and problem-solving talents that benefit all career paths.” Career opportunit

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Major Program: Nurturing Families (general)

In Kentucky the need for early childhood development and school readiness continues to be identified.  Due to limited early childcare programs in Breckinridge County, there are only 400 slots in licensed and certified childcare facilities.  With this limitation, many local young children are not in structured learning environments; therefore, Breckinridge County Community Early Childhood Council (BCCECC) once again applied and was successful in receiving funding ($6,800) for early chil

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