Extension
It Starts With Us
Advance Adult & Youth Life Skills Preparation
Growing Grayson County through Rural, Youth, and Community Development
Ewing Jones, K.; Taul, N.; Carman, W
4-H Communications and Expressive Arts Core Curriculum
A large percentage of Grayson County citizens lack the life skills necessary to function effectively in modern society. County school teachers report that students lack problem solving skills and decision making skills. Parents are often unable to help students since they also lack these same skills.
Grayson County has seen a steady rise in substance abuse over the past several years. From 2011-2014 there were 36 overdose deaths reported and countless other reports indicating that overdose not resulting in death is also on the rise. Youth need to be made aware of the severe consequences that can affect their lives and their futures.
Grayson County youth will become responsible, self sufficient citizens that take an active role in county life. This will include an increase in job readiness skills, youth aspiring to attain highers levels of education and an increase in use of critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Participants will reduce their long term risk for substance abuse.
Citizens must be able to get and keep a job. Youth must be able to set personal and career goals and have the self discipline to attain those goals. All individuals will increase knowledge to develop personal and family stability.
Data indicates a decreased number of youth involved in substance abuse practices.
Youth will increase their knowledge of the connection between education and financial stability. Individuals will increase their knowledge of effective life skills, including budgeting for family needs.
Participants will increase knowledge about the legal, health, emotional, and financial consequences of substance abuse.
Initial Outcome: Goal of youth aspiring to further their education after high school
Indicator: Youth will plan for post-secondary education (college or vocational school)
Method: In classroom prep and evaluation of Reality Store (8th grade participants) and Dollars & Sense (5th grade participants).
Timeline: Spring
Audience: All Grayson County Middle School 8th grade students
Project or Activity: Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: Financial management, education and career goals, value of education
Inputs: Curriculum for youth involved in program, Reality Store will be held at the Grayson County Middle School and will be coordinated by Grayson County 4-H Agent, assisted by GCMS Life Skills teacher; each 9 weeks will be a new session in the classroom to reach all 8th graders through the year; time frame for each session will be correlated with the Financial lesson for the Life Skills class.
Date: Each 9 Weeks of the school year (4 sessions)
Audience: Grayson County 5th Grade Students
Project or Activity: Dollars and Sense
Content or Curriculum: Financial management, value of education
Inputs: Curriculum for youth involved in program, Dollars and Sense will be held at Grayson County Elementary schools with 5th grade students and will be coordinated by Grayson County 4-H Agent. Agent will work with 5th grade teachers to prepare and present the Dollars and Sense materials to students in a classroom setting allowing for students to work through the purchases on their own and with one-on-one assistance from agent and teachers.
Date: Fall
Author: Kindra Jones
Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
The Grayson County 4-H Agent has worked with the Teen Club leader in an effort to increase the etiquette and manners skills of the teens in the county 4-H program. Basic manners and meal etiquette seems to have gone by the way-side over the years, particularly as technology has increased its presence in the daily lives of the teens. The club leader, formerly a state 4-H officer, has had an increased awareness of the importance of these skills for youth, not only for ‘fancy’ events, b
