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
Communications and Expressive Arts
Positive Employability
Financial Education - General
The Kentucky Extension Community Assessment Statewide Report 2019 indicates that money management for families and youth and employee “soft/essential skills” training continue to be important issues statewide. Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Sanford Research Center indicates 85% of job success comes from having well developed soft and people skills, and only 15% of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge (hard skills). Employers are often prepared to teach technical job skills; however, the intangible skills of being a team player, time management, and positive attitude are difficult to teach on-site but critical to success.
Additionally, creating more financial education opportunities will prepare Kentuckians and the people of Grayson County for the inevitable ebb and flow of the economy, helping them to be financially stable and prepared for the unexpected.
Improved problem solving and financial capabilities for Kentuckians results in a better quality of life and stronger families.
Improve employability through practical living skills and continued education practices.
Change KOSA to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education practices.
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
Intermediate Outcome: Improved workforce communication
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported the intent to utilize etiquette practices to improve verbal, written, and electronic communication practices.
Method: Pre/Post Evaluation
Timeline: following program implementation and 3 -6 month follow up surveys
Intermediate Outcome: Increase knowledge and skills related to managing financial resources.
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of understanding in the area: confidence in handling money issues or specific financial matters.
Method: Retroactive pre-post
Timeline: Following financial education workshops
Audience: All Grayson County Middle School 7th or 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 7th or 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
Audience: Working-age adults and young adults preparing for the workforce
Project or Activity: 10 Soft Skills for Success, Networking for Success, Conveying Your Message
Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability
Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local employers, community leaders, chamber of commerce
Date: Spring and Fall 2021-2023
Audience: Adults, Young Adults, and Teens
Project or Activity: Workshops and educational sessions
Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes, Good Credit Game, Real Skills for Everyday Life
Inputs: FCS Agent, CES curriculum publications and resources, schools, local banks
Date: Ongoing projects yearly
Author: Natalie Taul
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
Research shows that people who prepare and cook meals at home are more likely to eat the recommended fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains needed in a balanced diet. Building skills and cooking knowledge increases the likelihood that people choose to prepare home-cooked meals. To encourage more home-prepared meals, the Grayson County Extension Office hosted a virtual workshop Savor the Flavor: Cooking with Oils and Vinegars. The Savor the Flavor program focused on cooking oils an
Author: Kindra Jones
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
During program year 2021, the Grayson County 4-H Agent planned to main virtual learning formats. The first being for families that wanted to have virtual supplemental lessons; ten families signed up at the beginning of the year, three completed all projects. The agent worked to have a virtual lesson focused on Core 4-H Areas and set the lesson project up using the virtual platform Sway. Lessons that required materials that families may not have had on hand at home were provided by the agent for
Author: Natalie Taul
Major Program: Positive Employability
Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center indicates 85 percent of job success comes from having well-developed soft and people skills, and only 15 percent of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge (hard skills). Employers are often prepared to teach technical job skills; however, the intangible skills of being a team player, time management, and positive attitude are difficult to teach on-site but are critical to success.  
