Muhlenberg County CES

Title:

Providing Positive Youth Development Experience

MAP:

Providing Positive Youth Development Experiences

Agents Involved:

Mackenzie Pogue

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Health 4-H Core Curriculum

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

4-H Youth Development Programming

Situation:

Volunteering develops self esteem, confidence, effective communication skills, and other assets kids need to succeed. Teens who volunteer are reported to do better in school, develop new career goals, and learn about career options. Youth who volunteer see themselves taking action against problems, and feel empowered to make a difference. Youth who volunteer learn about the interconnections within a community and see “real world” problems. According to the latest Search Institute’s Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey of Muhlenberg 6th-12th grade students, only 28% of the over 2000 surveyed indicated being given useful roles to serve in the community, this being one of the 40 developmental assets kids need to succeed. Creating a culture of youth giving back to their communities through leadership roles serves the multi-purpose process of personal empowerment, community development and helps to ensure a new generation of involved, volunteering youth - a top priority of Muhlenberg 4-H.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Teen Volunteers address critical issues that face our community.

Youth serve in volunteer roles, creating a sense of belonging and purpose.

Youth make less negative decisions as a result of peer role models.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth engage in community issues and needs and develop appropriate community service or service learning programs.

Youth develop communication skills that allow them to effectively communicate with peers, family and community leaders.

Youth utilize acquired delegation and leadership skills to teach or lead groups and programs; serve as active officers or committee chairs in external and internal groups, clubs and organizations.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth learn characteristics and definitions of leadership.

Youth aspire to create change in their community through their actions and leadership.

Youth learn parliamentary procedure and proper meeting format and presentation skills.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge of consequences of negative decisions

Indicator: Participants assessed on knowledge gain on consequences of making negative decisions

Method: one to one evaluations, and/or post surveys

Timeline: Year round

Intermediate Outcome: Observations to bullying no longer stand by

Indicator: Change in bad habits

Method: post survey

Timeline: Year round

Long-term Outcome: Teens addressing community issues of concern

Indicator: Teens ability to address issues

Method: Assembly responses/post assembly

Timeline: Year round

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Elementary Students

Project or Activity: Anti bullying assemblies

Content or Curriculum: engaging youth, serving community, other

Inputs: Teen and adult volunteers

Date: Year long

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: STAND programming, i.e., Reba Ribbon Rallies, Ghost Outs, New Years Lock Ins, more

Content or Curriculum: Various Anti Negative Decision

Inputs: Teen volunteerism Grant funds

Date: Year long

Audience: Elementary, middle, high

Project or Activity: Youth leadership, officers, committee chairs

Content or Curriculum: Step Up to Leadership, Florida Leadership program

Inputs: Agent, Program Assistant, Volunteers

Date: Year round

Success Stories

Retaining Middle School Aged Youth in 4-H: Stuck in the Middle at 4-H Camp

Author: Mackenzie Pogue

Major Program: Specialty Camps (overnight camps that take place outdoors)

Many instances have brought to light the common issue of 4-H losing touch with youth during their middle school transitional years.  4-Hers are commonly active, or peak 4-Hers during their 4th-6th grade years where their involvement includes classroom clubs.  As students enter middle school, their 4-H involvement lessens as many additional extracurricular activities are introduced, and monthly 4-H clubs are no longer in the classroom. This such issue was identified as a problem in dist

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Promoting Financial Aid to Local Students for Higher Education

Author: Mackenzie Pogue

Major Program: Community Engagement

According to recent cost comparisons for university and college tuition in Kentucky, the average fee is over $6,000.  Affording college consist of other varying expense including room and board, organizational fees, and books and supplies.  A high school graduate pursuing our own prestigious university, the University of Kentucky, in state resident expenses average $30,000 annually.  Here at the Extension Office employees actively promote higher education.  Extension agents p

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Students Teaching Against Negative Decisions in Muhlenberg County

Author: Mackenzie Pogue

Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum

The Kentucky Incentives for Prevention (KIP) survey is administered every two years to eighth grade students in the Muhlenberg County school system.  In 2018, three hundred and twenty-three eighth grade students were surveyed.  42% of students reported they thought tobacco use is a problem in their middle school.   31% reported drug use is a program in their school.  21% reported being electronically bullied in the past year.  14% of students reported feeling depressed m

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