Extension
It Starts With Us
Securing Financial Security
Resource Management
Jason Phillips, Catherine Webster, Christy Ramey
Real Skills for Everyday Life
Local Food System Development and Mapping
4-H Communications and Expressive Arts Core Curriculum
Situation: The median household income in Simpson Co. is $39,500, with 20% of Simpson Co. residents living in poverty. Compare this to a national median household income of $53,000 and a 15% poverty rate across the United States. Recently extension clientele were asked to identify the “issues & needs” facing Simpson Co. Money Management & Living on a Budget topped the list. 85% of Simpson County adults do not have a four year college degree, yet only 46% of high school graduates are deemed “career ready” upon graduation. 61% of the county’s employment sector is made up of manufacturing & trade jobs that typically do not require a college education. As one can see, these numbers leave quite a divide among the county’s workforce. Nationwide the number of stay-at-home parents has greatly decreased over the last 25 years. Parents are increasingly relying on schools to teach financial management concepts & skills once taught within the home. However, given recent budget cuts to education many schools have cut family & consumer sciences classes that teach financial management skills. In addition, as Baby Boomers head into retirement & aging, their need for help with affordable health care, food access, caregiving, and estate planning will increase. Extension’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens through non-formal education for the entire family, including the much needed financial resource management programs for youth, families, and our aging population.
Long-term Outcomes:
Youth, families, & retirees be financially responsible
Individuals gain & maintain employment through money management skills
Individuals make choices that lead to financial security throughout life
Youth will be productive, financially contributing adults in the future
Youth & families adopt financial saving & spending habits that contribute toward their employ-ability
Youth, families, and retirees practice financial management skills
Individuals (of all ages) practice responsible consumer & financial decision-making
Individuals contribute to a financially secure home & family
Gain financial management knowledge & skill development
Learn skills to setting financial goals and budgeting
Understand the decision-making process that goes into setting a family or individual budget
Process the relationship between good grades = college = better paying career = financial stability as an adult
Outcome: Participants in financial programs learn then practice then adopt short, mid, & long term money management strategies to budget their financial resources, reduce debt, and increase savings.
Indicator: Families & retirees are financially stable and youth become financially contributing adults in the future
Method: Pre and post program surveys
Timeline: Anywhere from immediately following program, up to 12 months later
Audience: 5th, 6th, 8th, grades
Project or Activity: 4-H Dollars & Sense for Elementary and 4-H Reality
Store for Middle/SCYCTC students
Content or Curriculum: It’s Your Reality/Dollars and Sense’
Inputs: School District, FBLA Students, Homemakers, Local Businesses,
4-H Teens, Franklin Bank & Trust, SKYCTC students, Extension Agents
Date: January-April 2020
Audience: Young Adults
Project or Activity: Small Steps to Health and Wealth
Curriculum: Moneywise newsletters, Small Steps to Health and Wealth, Communication Skills
Inputs: Local Employment Agencies, Local Banks, Extension Agents
Date: Fall 2019 – Spring 2020
Audience: High School Students
Project or Activity: Money Habitudes
Curriculum: Moneywise, Money Habitudes
Inputs: Teachers, students, Agents
Date: Winter 2020
Audience: Homemakers and General Public
Project or Activity: Lunch and Learn
Curriculum: UK Money Wise materials
Inputs: Agent led, Train-the-trainer, newsletters in commodity boxes
Date: September-December 2019
Audience: General Population
Project or Activity: Budgeting for Beginners
Curriculum: Extension publications-, Small Steps to Health and Wealth
Inputs: Parents, children, volunteers, bankers, Agents
Date: June 2020
Audience: General population
Project or Activity: Savings First
Curriculum: Moneywise and America Saves
Inputs: Agent time, Facebook, businesses in the community
Date: February 2020
