Extension
It Starts With Us
Nurturing Families through the Lifecycle
Promote Safe & Healthy Lifestyles
FCS Agent
Embracing Life as We Age (general)
Grandparents and Grandchildren Together
Strong, resilient individuals build strong families, which ultimately form the foundation of a strong, vibrant community. Building community capacity to nurture all families through collaborations and programs is essential to supporting personal and family life skill development. Social networks and volunteerism increase individual capacity for resiliency. Allen county’s population continues to grow, from 19,010 in 2007 to 19,699 in 2010 – a 12% increase. 21.2% of families with related children were below poverty. 15.2% of people age 65 and over were below poverty. Increasing numbers of single parent families and blended families are challenges for family sustainability. The community continues to attract an aging population, with retirement centers at Barren River Lake. By 2020, the number of Kentuckians over the age of 65 is predicted to increase by 57%, with lifespan increases demanding stronger social, mental and emotional support systems. 27.2% of Allen County households included one or more persons age 65 and over. Safer living & environments with other support systems are a challenge for the Allen County community. The lack of quality, affordable child care coupled with stresses on parenting capacity continue to create early childhood development issues. Allen County has an inadequate number of nurturing child care environments for employed parents. 65.7% of children under 6 and 66.7% of children 6-27 had all parents in the labor force. There is a growing trend for ‘skipped’ generation child care with grandparents (many with lower educational attainment) increasing providing care developmental support for children of all ages. 288 grandparents lived with and were responsible for their own grandchildren. This creates financial, emotional stressors for the aging population. There is a growing emphasis on school readiness for educational success, but a lack of parental understanding of how to meet criteria. Adult literacy rates continue to be chronic problems – ultimately affecting employability.
*Clientele expand volunteer experiences for personal and community well-being
*Allen county families foster the optimal development of children and youth
*Families care for the physical, mental health and well-being of each individual over the lifecycle
Clientele practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships
*Individuals engaged in community outreach activities for mental & emotional health
*Clientele practice skills in fostering child development at appropriate levels
*Families increase knowledge of social, emotional and mental development opportunities over the lifecycle
*clientele increase knowledge and awareness of child development levels with appropriate early childhood education activities
*Clientele increase knowledge of volunteer activity opportunities for personal growth & development
Initial Outcome: Clientele increase knowledge of healthy lifespan behaviors
Indicator: number of individuals reporting changes in knowledge or skills related to strengthening personal relationships or personal growth
Method: observation & club program questionnaires
Timeline: July, 2019-June, 2020
Intermediate Outcome: Child care provider and parents practice developmentally appropriate activities to increase early childhood education and school readiness for pre-school children
Indicator: number of dependent care providers increasing early childhood education opportunities in local child care centers
Method: center surveys
Timeline: July, 2019 - June, 2020
Long-term Outcome: Individual personal social, emotional and mental growth opportunities increase stability over the life cycle
Indicator: Increased volunteerism to build social networks
Method: Volunteer service records
Timeline: July, 2019 - June, 2020
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Adult Literacy Enhancement Project
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Reading program
Inputs: KEHA awards & recognitions, Library partnerships, club leaders, log forms
Date: July, 2019 -June, 2020
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Certified Volunteer Service Project
Content or Curriculum: KEHA CVU awards and time log
Inputs: KEHA awards & recognitions, club leaders, community volunteers, log forms
Date: July, 2019 - June, 2020
Audience: Extension Homemakers/GED recipients /Allen County Adult Education Center
Project or Activity: GED/Adult Education Scholarship programs
Content or Curriculum: scholarship projects, adult education center testing support
Inputs: scholarship cash, Adult Education Center personnel support, testing center schedules/completions, GED graduation support
Date: July, 2019 – June, 2020
Audience: Child Care Providers, Young families, regional agencies
Project or Activity: KIDS NOW Regional Child Care Council Collaborations, child care provider trainings for school readiness; parenting education
Content or Curriculum: KIDS Early Childhood Profiles, Early Childhood education; WKU CCR&R resources
Inputs: Regional KIDS NOW funding, CCR&R resources, UK Extension agent leadership/facilitation, facilities, trainings, parent education resources
Date: July, 2019 – June 2020
Audience: Grandparents, Family Resource Centers
Project or Activity: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren workshops
Content or Curriculum: Diabetes curriculum, Plate It Up, Ky Proud, school readiness, nurturing families, child development
Inputs: educational workshops, e-newsletters via Family Resource Center
Date: January - May, 2020
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Mass Media, - Citizen Times, TV-31 WPBM Family Lifestyles
content or curriculum: Nurturing families initiatives, school readiness, aging issues, grandparents raising grandchildren
Inputs: State specialists curriculum /media scripts
Date: July, 2019-July, 2020
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: County leader trainings/ club programs- "Musical Heritage", "Family Genealogy", Quilt History, Family Communications through social media, Volunteerism through CVUs,
Inputs: Agent curriculum development, local & historical museums, historical society research
Date: July, 2019 - July, 2020
Audience: Aging population, caregivers
Project or Activity: Stand up to Falling
Content or Curriculum: UK publications, Nat. Institute for aging resources
Inputs: extension personnel, facilities, resources, NIA resources, UK Healthcare
Date: July, 2019 - June, 2020
