Extension
It Starts With Us
Educating, & empowering individuals & families to make responsible choices & develop lifeskills
Developing life skills
C. Durr, C. Hall, V. Holland, A. Holt, S. Lewis, W. Long, B. Pratt, M. Pearce and K. Smith
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Conflict Resolution
4-H Youth Development Programming
Developing life skills and making responsible, healthy choices can have a profound impact on family stability, individual well-being and community sustainability. Budgeting, interpersonal relationships, communication, family management and other skills are necessary for success.
The consequences of the Great Recession and the extended period of slow economic growth which followed, encouraged Kentuckians to become more aware of their financial situation. Kentucky consistently lags behind other areas of the United States in key household economic indicators, including: personal income, population living below the poverty line, unemployment, and revolving debt. These indicators, especially unemployment numbers became more exaggerated during the period of the Great Recession. However, at present economist are cautiously optimistic regarding future economic forecasts. It is important to acknowledge the impact of current economic conditions on family financial management. The goal of the Securing Financial Stability Initiative is to help Kentuckians understand and respond to changing economic conditions, while promoting healthy financial behaviors across the lifespan.
The development of life skills, like leadership, allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension). Almost 30 percent of youth in the United States (or over 5.7 million) are to be involved in bullying as a bully, a target of bullying or both. A troubling statistic that needs to be addressed.
Healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. Furthermore, children who start kindergarten with delayed development and fewer assets are by far more likely to repeat grades, get tracked into lower-tier classes and drop out of high school than more advantaged children.
• Youth and adults will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity, and multiculturalism in their daily life.
• Youth will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
• Create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle.
• Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in Extension programs.
• Youth and adults will be responsible and contributing individuals and family members, gain and maintain employment through life skill development and contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family.
• Youth and adults will learn to manage personal finances, make wise financial decisions and understand long-term financial stability.
• Youth and adults make more informed consumer decisions that result in increased family economic stability.
• Youth and adults will reduce stress levels by building personal strengths, self-control, interpersonal communication, life skills including wise decision-making.
• Reported using preventive and positive discipline techniques in response to misbehavior, and setting and enforcing logical consequences.
• Practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships.
• Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress.
• Practice healthy lifestyle decision-making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors.
• Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding healthy aging.
• Commits to using logical consequences for misbehavior.
• Youth and adults will identify healthy lifestyle choices, risky behaviors and their consequences and healthy ways to handle stress.
Initial Outcome: Youth and adults will identify healthy lifestyle choices, risky behaviors and their consequences and healthy ways to handle stress.
Indicator: Ability to identify healthy lifestyle choices
Method: Pre- and post-surveys
Timeline: Before and after program
Intermediate Outcome: Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress.
Indicator: Youth and adults adopting and mastering healthy behaviors
Method: Pre- and post-surveys
Timeline: Before and after program and follow up
Long-term Outcome: Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in Extension programs.
Indicator: Youth will display skills necessary to be competent, capable, contributing adults.
Method: Observation & interviews
Timeline: End of program
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Community Garden implementation; school garden
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: specialists; content curriculum
Date: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Community Gardens
Content or Curriculum: CES publications
Inputs: agents, garden space
Date: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: In-school clubs
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate,
Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership,
Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE:
Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a
Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4-H: New Members
Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate,
Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership,
Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE:
Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a
Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4-H: New Members
Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Dollars & Sense
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate,
Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership,
Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE:
Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a
Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4-H: New Members
Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Teen Summit
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate,
Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership,
Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE:
Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a
Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4-H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Jr. MANRRS
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate,
Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership,
Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE:
Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a
Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4-H: New Members
Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: SPIN Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate,
Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership,
Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE:
Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a
Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4-H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Embryology
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate,
Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership,
Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE:
Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a
Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4-H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Babysitting
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate,
Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership,
Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE:
Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a
Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4-H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate,
Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership,
Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE:
Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a
Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4-H: New Members
Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Red Cross Pillowcase Project
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate,
Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership,
Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE:
Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a
Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4-H: New Members Guide
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside
funding
Date: September 2017 – April 2018
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Savvy Sellers and Bargain Hunters
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association
(KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: September 2017 – May 2018
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Creating and Maintaining Family Traditions
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association
(KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: September 2017 – May 2018
Audience: Extension Homemakers and General Public
Project or Activity: Tackling Your Laundry
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association
(KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: September 2017 – May 2018
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: It’s Sew Fine Sewing Expo
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky CES publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
agents, program assistants, specialists and
volunteers.
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
Audience: General Public and Seniors
Project or Activity: Stand Up to Falling
Content or Curriculum: Stand Up to Falling
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
agents, program assistants, specialists and
volunteers.
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Accepting and Loving Your Body
Content or Curriculum: Universe of Possibilities, Kentucky CES
publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
agents, program assistants, specialists and
volunteers.
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Personal Finance
Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life, Kentucky CES
publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
agents, program assistants, specialists and
volunteers.
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Holiday Finances
Content or Curriculum: Stretching Your Holiday Spending, Kentucky CES
publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
agents, program assistants, specialists and
volunteers.
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
Author: Bethany Pratt
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
Gardening does so much more than produce food. At Volunteers of America (VOA), incarcerated adults participated in gardening to help in their recovery. Led by Extension volunteer and UK alumnus, Dave, over the course of the summer, sixty different people got to experience some aspect of seasonal gardening. About 80% of the participants had some previous gardening experience and the other 20% got to experience gardening for the first time. Working out in the garden allowed experienced partic
Author: Patrice Thompson
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
The 4-Hers at Western Middle School were invited to the Ignite Conference held at Kentucky State University during the Small Farms Conference on November 20, 2019. The Sparks Conference was designed using the Sparks Curriculum to help them identify and sharpen their unique talents and abilities. Middle schools from the Tri-State area were invited, and from Western 40 students participated. There was a total 251 participants, and all were given the opportunity to apply for a community service pro
Author: Bethany Pratt
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
The Horticulture Agent has been leading a weekly gardening program at the Women’s Healing Place since the Spring of 2016. The leadership of the program has undergone some changes since 2016, but since 2019 the need to develop a stronger leadership structure that is less dependent on Extension has become apparent. Starting in the winter of 2019, the Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer began working with the garden meeting participants to develop a more sustainable leadership st
Author: Louis "Jenie" Carter
Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
The story starts with Black Females at Conway Middle School, which is in Southwest Jefferson County. The Student Population is 811. Ethnic Breakdown is 49% White; 37% Black; 7% Hispanic; 6% Other. Of these students 71.6 % receive free & reduced lunch.According to the Conway Middle School Racial Equity Improvement Plan, Black female students have reported feeling less cared for and less supported than any other subgroup. More specifically, Black girls represent 2
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
The 4-H Reality Store is an experiential real-life simulation which provides students the opportunity to explore careers and make lifestyle and budgeting choices. Why this story is a success is that this program was delivered at a non-traditional site. Jefferson County 4-H agent, Kelly Smith, partnered with representatives at Boys and Girls Haven, Maryhurst center for children and the Louisville Junior League. The first two partners mentioned are facilities that service childr
Author: Lawrence Caudle
Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
Unfortunately, there are some youth who are not born with the privilege of living within a stable home, or even a home at all. According to the 2018-2019 Homeless Student Count by the Kentucky Department of Education, Jefferson County School District reported 5178 kids, preschool through 12th grade are homeless. Youth being homeless means that they are not learning the skills they would otherwise possibly obtain in a stable household. To assist in combating this issue, Jefferson County 4-H partn
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
In Jefferson County, there are limited occasions for inner-city youth to participate in hands-on cooking programs. Improving cooking skills and knowledge of foods helps to promote healthy eating habits. According to Thomas & Irwin, food and cooking skills/food preparation are important for several reasons related to health, knowledge, empowerment, engagement, culture, food security, and fun. An engaging cooking skills program targeting youth builds self-efficacy, food knowledge a
Author: Lawrence Caudle
Major Program: 4-H Communications and Expressive Arts Core Curriculum
COVID-19 has affected every corner of our Nation and the University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service is no exception. Due to COVID-19, the Extension Service as a whole has moved a number of programs to video format and this goes for the Jefferson County 4-H Youth Development Program as well. One of the major programs the 4-H Program offers, the Communications Public Speaking Event, was held virtually and it was a great success. The Communications Program allows youth, ages 9-18,
Author: Patrice Thompson
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
As the school year ended suddenly and summer approached, we have had to adjust our programming and re-focus our efforts in reaching our audiences to an alternative source. During this time of re-focus, I have kept in contact with my direct contacts which include various school and community leaders. This has been important because the online programming that is offered is being directly communicated by those stakeholders to our target audience through email and newsletter. The online programming
Author: Lawrence Caudle
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
In March 2020, the United States ended up taking on a new enemy in the form of a virus named COVID-19 or the Coronavirus. COVID-19 has slowed, if not stopped, the United States in almost every aspect from universities refraining from attending classes to businesses either shutting down their operations or limiting the number of employees that can work, plus limiting their hours of operations. The University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service has been no exception to the rules. The
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: Master Clothing Volunteer
Studies indicate that sewing is not only a productive hobby and life skill, it can reduce stress and increase an individual’s feeling of self-worth. The Shelby County Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent and Jefferson County 4-H Agent served as the Cooperative Extension Service’s Louisville Area Master Clothing Volunteer (MCV) Contact and Assistant Contact Agents. The FCS and 4-H Agent coordinated the Louisville Area Master Clothing Volunteers (MCVs) statewide training attendance
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: 4-H Communications and Expressive Arts Core Curriculum
The COVID-19 global pandemic forced families into quarantine and required them to spend more time at home, minimizing opportunities for youth to engage in typical extracurricular activities. The Kentucky 4-H Foundation offered mini grants to Counties wanting to do some type of virtual programming to help with the at home needs families were facing. The Jefferson County 4-H agents together submitted an application and received funds to support a virtual Art day camp. The day camp was
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
When the COVID-19 global pandemic forced Kentuckians into quarantine youth and families began spending more time at home, minimizing opportunities for youth to engage in typical extracurricular activities. Due to this situation the Kentucky 4-H Program began the Kentucky 4-H Virtual Experiences on social media platforms. The goal of the Kentucky 4-H Virtual Experiences was to maintain ways for youth and families to engage with 4-H projects, events and activities while learning new life skills th
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: 4-H Science, Engineering, and Technology Core Curriculum
According to the After School Alliance (ASA), the after school field is an essential response to the coronavirus pandemic. The ASA states that innovative program services support youth families and communities in several ways. Virtual programs provide safe, enriching activities for their families and youth. A virtual classroom is the core of many online college degree programs. Many would say that virtual programs are demanding to the presenter yet con
Author: Jessica Marquez
Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
Issues: What is the situation? Who cares and why?The number of Grandparent-headed households (GrandFamilies) is rapidly growing. Low income and minorities are disproportionately represented and lack adequate access to community-based services and programs. Many grandparents are challenged with generational gaps when raising their grandchildren and may lack knowledge on how to address issues that are due to this.Response: What has been done? Summarize your program, project, or response to the iss
Author: Valerie Holland
Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)
Nearly 70% of consumers live paycheck to check and only a quarter of Americans feel informed about managing household finances. Families and individuals, who struggle with limited resources, need guidance to effectively manage their decreasing resources. The Community Action Partnership, an agency of the Louisville Metro government requested the Jefferson County Family & Consumer Sciences agent to partner with them in conducting a money management series for their clientele. Topics included
Author: Valerie Holland
Major Program: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Research is starting to show a clear link between increased sugar consumption and poor health outcomes such as being overweight, obesity, and developing diabetes. The recommendation is that no more than 10 percent of daily calories should come from sugar. On average, almost 20 percent of the calories in a typical American adult’s diet comes from sugar and sweeteners, with the most common sources being beverages, snacks, and sweets. In addition, the arrival of several non-nutritive swe
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: 4-H Science, Engineering, and Technology Core Curriculum
According to the After School Alliance (ASA), the after school field is an essential response to the coronavirus pandemic. The ASA states that innovative program services support youth families and communities in several ways. Virtual programs provide safe, enriching activities for their families and youth. A virtual classroom is the core of many online college degree programs. Many would say that virtual programs are demanding to the presenter yet convenient to the parti
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
The COVID-19 global pandemic forced families into quarantine and required them to spend more time at home, minimizing opportunities for youth to engage in typical extracurricular activities. According to the After School Alliance (ASA), the after school field is an essential response to the coronavirus pandemic. The ASA states that innovative program services support youth families and communities in several ways. Virtual programs provide safe, enriching activitie
