Developing Life Skills
Youth and Families
Elizabeth Coots, Ryan Farley, Adam Probst, Faye Kuosman
Family Development General
Financial Education - General
Family and Consumer Science
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
As recognized by county stakeholders, the development of both hard and soft skills is an important aspect of workforce prep. Many are entering the career field not having developed the skills necessary to receive and maintain the job. With the county unemployment rate as of 2017 hovering at around 3.2% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is imperative that Woodford County Extension work to develop life skills that clientele can use to better equip themselves for all facets of their life including their careers.
An increase in qualified job candidates and a decrease in unemployment throughout Woodford County.
Clientele will employ specific skills or practices learned from Woodford County Extension programs to better equip themselves as future employees in Woodford County.
Clientele will be able to identify different life skills that are both applicable and necessary to become active and engaged Woodford County citizens.
Initial Outcome: Clientele will be able to identify different life skills that are both applicable and necessary to become active and engaged Woodford County citizens.
Indicator: Self-Report
Method: Evaluations
Timeline: Per program
Intermediate Outcome: Clientele will employ specific skills or practices learned from Woodford County Extension programs to better equip themselves as future employees in Woodford County.
Indicator: Observation
Method: Interviews
Timeline: Annuals
Long-term Outcome: An increase in qualified job candidates and a decrease in unemployment throughout Woodford County.
Indicator: Reports and Statistics
Method: U.S. Census Data
Timeline: Annually
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:
Audience: 4th-8th Grade Youth
Project or Activity: Lego Robotics Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Lego Robotics
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Volunteer Leader Time, Extension Office Facilities/Supplies
Date: January - April
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications Contest
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communications Curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Volunteers for judging, Support from Kiwanis/Midway Toastmasters
Date: January
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Summertime Fun Project Days
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Expressive Arts Curriculum, 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences Curriculum, 4-H Natural Resources Curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Volunteer instructors, Materials for teaching, Extension facilities
Date: June-July
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Plant Camp
Content or Curriculum: Junior Master Gardener Curriculum, 4-H gardening curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Volunteer instructors, Materials for teaching, Extension facilities
Date: June-July
Audience: Skills for Life
Project or Activity: Basic cooking, nutrition, budgeting
Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program "Everybody" Curriculum
Inputs: Agents time, materials, curriculum, Bluegrass Community Action Partnership
Date: Spring
Author: Ryan Farley
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts
Developing an opportunity for youth to showcase their project work during the summer of 2020 provided a challenge during a global pandemic. Opportunities for youth to explore project work within the 4-H State Fair project catalog were limited to just what the 4-H youth and parent were able and willing to attempt. In response, Woodford County 4-H was able to provide a large quantity of 4-H project kits to the general public as a means to explore these areas of interest. In order to evaluate the p
Author: Ryan Farley
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts
Providing positive youth development experiences in-spite of the restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those featuring more hands-on activities, provided a worthy challenge for the 2020-2021 4-H programming year. One response to this challenge was the 4-H Virtual Art Club Woodford County 4-H provided for any 4-H-aged youth from November to April. 6-13 participants met once a month and each meeting featured a different 4-H art project from the Kentucky 4-H State Fair project c
Author: Faye Kuosman
Major Program: Agriculture
In a world where technology consumes so much of our time, it is more important than ever to provide opportunities and tools for children to explore and connect with nature. The Woodford County Extension Agent for Horticulture along with the Woodford County Extension Master Gardeners coordinated with the Woodford County 4-H agent to provide a 4-H Plant Camp for youth. The camp was open to any youth interested in learning about gardening.The idea behind the camp was to give children a basic apprec