Martin County CES

Title:

Better Living Through 4-H Programming

MAP:

4-H Family and Consumer Science

Agents Involved:

4-H

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

4-H Communications and Expressive Arts Core Curriculum

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

4-H Leadership Core Curriculum

Situation:

Over the last 25 years, the number of stay-at-home parents has decreased. Parents have increasingly relied on schools to teach concepts and skills once taught within the family. With societal changes and cuts in school budgets, many schools have eliminated family and consumer science labs and no longer include or have decreased FCS instruction in the curriculum. In nutrition alone, the lack of basic life skills is evidenced by alarming rises in childhood obesity, poor diets of youth of all ages, and an overreliance on packaged/fast food.

Life choices are often based more on personal desires rather than factual information. Those who seek information often turn to internet sources which may not be based in research. Decision-making may be based on product marketing claims, family tradition, myths, faulty information, and lack of knowledge. Today’s massive health and economic problems are due in part to the lack of instruction in the home by parents and in school through Family and Consumer Sciences classes.

4-H offers projects in FCS which assist youth toward becoming responsible and contributing members of the family and contributing members of Kentucky communities. At the same time, these life skills prepare youth for the families they will establish as adults.

Long-Term Outcomes:

•Be engaged citizens and community leaders

•Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members.

•Childhood obesity and cost of health care will be reduced

•Be more likely to complete high school, pursue post- secondary education and be contributing individuals, family members and citizens

Intermediate Outcomes:

•Apply skills to projects and life situations

•Project a positive image and self-confidence

•Practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making

•Be responsible, contributing, caring members of the family

•Practice healthy eating choices

•Exhibit habits that contribute toward safe, pleasant, and productive family life

•Exhibit habits and skills that contribute toward an employable future

Initial Outcomes:

•Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences

•Explain decisions

•Make positive choices

•Make decisions about his/her project based on information and experiment

•Display creativity

•Develop connectedness with other youth and adults

•Strengthen his/her individual identity and motivation

•Increase self-esteem and gain self-confidence.

•Express a desire to help others.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences Indicator.

Method: Pre and Post Tests

Timeline: July - December (2016-2020)

Intermediate Outcome: Youth will project a positive self image of themselves and make health choices.

Indicator: Increase in number of youth applying skills to live a healthy and well rounded life style.

Method: Pre and Post Tests

Timeline: january - June (2016-2020)

Long-term Outcome: Youth will become productive members of society.

Indicator: Martin County will have an increased number of college and wok ready students, an increase in community leaders, a decrease in obesity and more family ready citizens.

Method: Observation

Timeline: 4 Years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Grades 9-12

Project or Activity: In -School Sewing Clubs

Content or Curriculum: 4-H sewing curriculum and Instructor expertise

Inputs: Agent, Staff, Volunteers, Teachers, High School Facilities

Date: September - May (2016-2020)

Audience: Youth Age 9-14

Project or Activity: After School Sewing Club

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Sewing Curriculum

Inputs: Agent, Staff, Volunteers, Extension Facilities

Date: Year Long (2016-2020)

Audience: High School Sophomores

Project or Activity: Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: Reality Store, World of Work

Inputs: Agent, Staff, Volunteers, Teachers, Youth Service Centers, Teen Volunteers, Community Partners, Extension Resources, High School Facilities

Date: Fall Semester (2016-2020)

Audience: High School

Project or Activity: Workforce Preparation

Content or Curriculum: Workforce Preparation, Resume Resources

Inputs: Agent, Staff, Volunteers, Teachers, Youth Service Centers, Teen Volunteers, Extension Resources, High School FacilitiesDate: Spring Semester

Audience: 4th and 5th Grade

Project or Activity: In-School Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Professor Popcorn

Inputs: Agent, Staff, Volunteers, Teachers, Youth Service Centers, Extension Resources, Elementary School Facilities

Date: September - May (2016-2020)

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Summer Day Camps

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Health Curriculum

Inputs: Agent, Staff, Volunteers, Teachers, Youth Service Centers, Teen Volunteers, Community Partners, Extension Resources, Summer Food Program

Date: June (2016-2020)

Audience: 8th grade

Project or Activity: This Is Your Reality

Content: This Is Your Reality

Inputs: Agent, Staff, Volunteers, Teachers, Youth Service Groups, Middle School Facility

Date March - April 

Audience: 8th Grade

Project or Activity: Career Fair/Operation Preparation

Content: Local Expertise

Imputs: Agent, Staff, Volunteers, Teachers, Youth Service Groups, Middle School Facility

Success Stories