Developing Life Skills Among Youth and FamiliesPlan of Work

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Laurel County CES

Title:
Developing Life Skills Among Youth and Families
MAP:
Youth and Families
Agents Involved:
Adkins, O'Bryan, Sigmon, Williams
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Family and Consumer Science
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Leadership
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Communications and Expressive Arts
Situation:

How we live life is ever-changing but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Learning to practice healthy habits, select clothing to emphasize one’s best appearance, create and live within a budget, prepare nutritious meals safely, nurture children, create a safe and pleasant home environment, practice common courtesies, and form relationships with others—all of these skills are basic to everyday life.  Reality is that today’s youth and adults are busier than ever. Many of these basic life skills are not consistently taught or are learned at home or school. Extension projects equip adults and youth with these skills. As with any other Cooperative Extension program area, when it comes to the development of life skills, a strong case can be made for the need to go beyond the mere transfer of knowledge to giving people the opportunity for a variety of supportive, related learning experiences to significantly increase the program’s influence. Extension programs often offer basic learning activities on a specific topic of interest but the addition of activities that support that interest (such as fair exhibits, related subject matter workshops, camps, field trips, and decision-making judging contests) significantly increase the development of life skills. In a study by Olson, Croymans, and Ji (2014), participants reported that participating in 1 or 2 educational opportunities influenced the development of critical thinking and decision making skills, and participating in 6 to 8 opportunities significantly increased the program’s influence by adding development of life skills in leadership, planning/organization, the wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills and accepting differences.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Participants will:

Intermediate Outcomes:

Participants will:

Initial Outcomes:

Participants will:

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Participants will gain knowledge of life skills and seek to practice them.

Indicator: Participants will attend and participate in Extension programs and practice life skill activities

Method: observation, judging rubics and surveys

Timeline: July - June


Intermediate Outcome: Participants will be capable of communicating, cooperating, resolving conflict, producing economic activity and making wise economic decisions to support a healthy lifestyle

Indicator: Observation and demonstrated abilities

Method: surveys, observation, pre-post test evaluations

Timeline: July-June


Long-term Outcome: Youth and Families will be strengthened through mastery of life skills gained through Extension programs

Indicator: Participants will exhibit behaviors conducive to those of competent and contributing citizens

Method: observation, surveys and pre-post test evaluations

Timeline: July - June

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults, youth and families

Project or Activity: 4-H Expressive Arts (music, drama, visual and dance)

Content or Curriculum: KET Arts curriculum, variety show competitions

Inputs: extension agents, volunteers, local schools

Date: September -August 


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Communications (Speeches and Demonstrations)

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Speak Up, Building Bridges, UK publications

Inputs: extension agents, volunteers, local schools

Date: August -April 


Audience: 4-H youth

Project or Activity: 4-H School Clubs

Content or Curriculum: 4-H curriculum

Inputs: 4-H agents, 4-H assistant, volunteers, local schools and staff

Date: weekly (August -May)


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Community Clubs

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H agents, volunteers

Date: monthly


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Camp

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: extension agents, Camp Staff, 4-H volunteers (adult & teen)

Date: yearly: summer 


Audience: 4-H cloverbud age

Project or Activity: 4-H cloverbud Camp

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Cloverbud curriculum, camp resources

Inputs: adult & teen volunteers, camp staff, extension agents

Date: Summer 


Audience: Preschool children

Project or Activity: Preschool Garden

Content or Curriculum: Early sprouts, Sowing Seeds of Wonder, Master Gardeners

Inputs: Extension program assistants, local preschools, master gardeners

Date: May-June 


Audience: general public

Project or Activity: C.L.A.S.S. (Continuous Learning Assures a Successful Society)

Content or Curriculum: UK publications

Inputs: Extension Agent, Extension program assistants, volunteers

Date: Fall and Winter semesters


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Photography Clubs and Workshops

Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Project books

Inputs: extension 4-H agent, local schools (teachers and staff), 4-H volunteers, community speakers

Date: July - August


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: SPIN (Special Interest) Clubs

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Materials and workbooks

Inputs: community volunteers, 4-H volunteers, 4-H agents, parents

Date: ongoing


Audience: Community Youth

Project or Activity: SPARK clubs (spark an interest in 4-H)

Content or Curriculum: 4-H materials, online resources, community resources

Inputs: community resource volunteers, extension agents, parents

Date: ongoing 


Audience: adults

Project or Activity: Jabez Quilt Seminar (Statewide)

Content or Curriculum: FCS materials

Inputs: Extension Agents, Master Clothing Volunteers, volunteers, state specialists, and quilting experts

Date: Winter 2021


Audience:  General Public

Project or Activity:  Positive Employability

Content or Curriculum:  Positive Employability

Inputs:  FCS Agent and State FCS specialists

Date:  Fall


Audience: Adults

Activity: Gardeners Toolbox Workshop Series

Content or curriculum: UK publications and specialists

Inputs: Extension Agents, staff, Extension Office, community garden, Extension specialists,

Date: monthly


Audience: Farmers

Activity: Farm Record book Workshop

Content or curriculum: UK publications

Inputs: Extension Agent and staff, farm record books and CD's, Volunteers, CPA,

Extension Office

Date: Winter



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