Todd County CES

Title:

Empowering Youth to Succeed

MAP:

Empowering Individuals and Families to Succeed

Agents Involved:

Lee Ann McCuiston

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

4-H Youth Development Programming

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum

Situation:

4-H Youth Development is part of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. Extension’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens through non-formal education for the entire family. Extension agents and volunteers take the results of university research and explain it in such a way that different age groups can learn and apply the information to their own lives. 4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global society. 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults. According to 2014 population estimates (census.gov) there are 233, 463 youth living in households in KY in the recommended 4-H age range. Also, according to the Kentucky Department of Education (2014), the graduation rate for Kentucky students was 88.0 %, which did not meet the state goal. Research also shows us developing a strong sense of personal identity, responsibility, caring, compassion, and tolerance are essential first steps toward being engaged at the community level (National 4-H Council, 2014)

The structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring that young people receive through their participation in 4-H plays a vital role in helping them achieve success in life. The Positive Development of Youth: Comprehensive Findings from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development is a longitudinal study that began in 2002 and was repeated annually for eight years, surveying more than 7,000 adolescents from diverse backgrounds across 42 U.S. states. This national study released by National 4-H Council in 2007 establishes the fact that the more time youth spend participating in youth development program such as 4-H, the more likely they are to experience positive youth development and contribute to their communities
The study defined and measured positive youth development. Compared to their peers, the report shows that youth involved in 4-H programs excel in several areas. 4-H'ers are about:
Four times more likely to make contributions to their communities (Grades 7-12) and are two times more likely to be civically active (Grades 8-12);


All youth in Todd County need to enhance their economic opportunities and quality of life by learning how to further obtain and use the resources at their disposal, including money, time, human capital, material resources and community services. In 2009, 26 percent of Kentucky children lived in poverty, ranking Kentucky 48th in the nation. 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. The Todd County Extension Council identified developing basic life skills in individuals and families as a major area of concern for 2016 – 2020. The Todd County 4-H program will build protective factors in a young person’s environment to promote resiliency and thriving behavior.

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. 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.
4-H offers projects in FCS which assist youth in 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.

The Todd County 4-H program currently focuses on the four basic needs of youth in every family situation encompassed in the research validated “Circle of Courage.” These four basic needs include: the spirit of belonging, the spirit of mastery, the spirit of independence, and the spirit of generosity. Furthermore, youth must develop life skills throughout their stages in development that include: personal development; communicating; working and relating with others; problem solving and decision making; acquiring, analyzing and using information; and managing resources. The Todd County 4-H program plans to develop these life skills in youth to fulfill the 4 basic needs of youth identified in the Circle of Courage. A special focus to help youth who are victims of broken families will be applied to every possible programming situation.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Extension agents will help youth and adults manage the changing economic times by learning money management skills and workforce development practices that lead to an employable future and debt free lifestyle.

Long-term Outcomes:
4-H Youth and other youth involved in 4-H programming will:
--Improve their academic standing and job readiness skills that will lead to gainful employment.
--Successfully enter an institution of higher learning
--Increase practical living skills and make more effective decisions.
--Become a contributing member of society.
--Contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family
--Share the elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts with their community
--Become more comfortable sharing their thoughts with others
--Establish good credit through proper money handling skills

Intermediate Outcomes:

Intermediate Outcomes:
4-H Youth and other youth involved in 4-H programming will:
--Practice communication and team work skills among peers.
--Develop thoughts and present them orally and effectively to a group in the communications contest.
--Build strong decision making and oral communication skills.
--Safely operate and maintain a camera or bicycle
--Practice goals and objectives through the 4-H achievement program
--Perform in front of a group at the 4-H Talent Show, Kentucky State Fair and Performing Arts Troupe
--Study more effectively.
--Gain confidence in front of a group.
--Interview for a position.
--Prepare a 4-H project such as foods, photography dog, clothing, wood, etc.
--Communicate positively with their parent(s)/family more frequently.
--Use proper etiquette at a banquet.
--Watch children properly in a babysitting experience.
--Participate in cultural experiences.
--Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employ-ability in the future
--Practice responsible money handling procedure, check writing, etc.
--Balance a check book.
--Save money and decrease debt.
--Learn how to open a checking account (online banking)

Initial Outcomes:

Initial Outcomes:
4-H Youth and other youth involved in 4-H programming will:
--Learn what educational opportunities away from home are available and how to attend.
--Acquire study skills and memorization techniques.
--Learn how to communicate effectively, make informed and effective decisions.
--Learn how to be responsible for oneself away from home (managing money and resources).
--Learn how to exhibit self-confidence in front of a crowd.
--Learn how to research a topic and present it to a group of peers, family, etc.
--Learn life skills (cooking, sewing, budgeting, managing, and working, etc.).
--Learn proper job skills (interviewing, writing, communicating, thinking, problem solving.
--Learn proper etiquette when serving food to others.
--Gain knowledge in infant and child care.
--Learn how to market oneself as a babysitter.
--Learn about the fine arts and experience diverse culture.

Evaluation:

Evaluation

Long-term Outcome:

Indicator: The number of youth who obtain and maintain a job in the workforce or attend a higher education institute will be reported.

Method: Focus group with teen council members will be administered.

Timeline: Spring of 2020

Intermediate Outcome:

Indicator: The number of youth who use a skill that they learned while participating in camp or other 4-H programs will be reported.

Method: end of program evaluation

Timeline: Spring 2018

Initial Outcome:

Indicator: the number of youth who attest to the acquisition of responsibility, independence, conflict resolution and the acquisition of other skills while at camp, speech contest or other 4-H program.

Indicator: The impact of summer 4-H camp on the campers will be determined by an end of camp survey combined with a four-six month follow-up focus group after camp.

The impact of the 4-H speech contest will be determined by an end of program focus group and follow up survey of participants.

Method: End of program survey and four-six month follow-up survey after program.

Timeline: July - end of camp survey. Follow up - by December/February.

Long-term outcome: 4-H youth in their teen and adult years will be able to plan for unexpected costs in life by incorporating lower spending habits and a more deft free lifestyle.

Indicator: The number of 4-H youth who graduate high school will have lower spending habits and more money saved due to the impact of the Reality Store and other financial stability programs.

Method: A 3 year follow up survey of the 8th graders who are now juniors will result in the data collection of lower spending habits among teens.

Timeline: 3 year follow up in 2018 of the junior class.

Intermediate Outcomes: 4-H youth will be able to see the relationship between good grades and a good salary and therefore will study and work harder in school due to the impact of the 4-H Reality Store.

Indicator: 8th graders entering high school will show more effort to do well in school.

Method: Follow up survey of the freshman class (9th graders) who as 8th graders participated in the 4-H Reality Store.

Timeline: Follow up in the Fall after the 2018 Reality Store.

Initial Outcomes: 8th graders will be more aware of how to budget money and make wise financial choices.

Indicator: 8th graders will increase awareness of how to budget and make wise financial choices through the Reality Store experience.

Method: End of program survey.

Timeline: End of Reality Store program.

Learning Opportunities:

Learning Opportunities:
Education:
4-H Youth Development Agent and volunteer leaders will:
--Train all 4th and 5th grade students and community club members on proper public speaking during the January school club meetings. Provide lesson materials to middle school teachers on public speaking.
--Train leaders to work with youth in livestock and horse judging, speeches, and demonstrations and other projects during monthly club meetings.
--Coordinate 4-H project club meetings and activities including horse, clothing, cooking, crafts, dog, etc., throughout the year.
--Provide a leader training opportunity for project club leaders in the fall.
--Provide opportunities for teens to attend teen retreats, council meetings, and other teen activities throughout the 4-H year.
--Coordinate the Reality Store for 8th grade students in the spring.
--Provide a week long summer 4-H camp for 9-14 year old 4-H members in July.
--Coordinate the 4-H Talk Meet program in the school clubs and county 4-H Clubs from January through April.
--Coordinate the 4-H Talent Show program in the spring
--Provide opportunities for youth to get involved in community service through the Todd County Mentoring program and other services.
--Coordinate a 4-H/Youth Service Center Babysitting Clinic in the spring/summer for middle school students.
--Coordinate a culinary skills team to learn about safety and food handling in the kitchen
--Provide a Managing in Tough Times toolkit to clientele to build financial resiliency.
--Provide information to teens on teen spending, debt, credit cards, etc.
--work with the high school to provide a financial management seminar for high school seniors educating them on checking, savings, loans, credit, etc.

Success Stories