Improve the stability, resiliency and capability of individuals through life skill development.Plan of Work

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Hickman County CES

Title:
Improve the stability, resiliency and capability of individuals through life skill development.
MAP:
Strengthening Quality of Life for Individuals, Families and Communities
Agents Involved:
Melissa Goodman, Paula McCuiston, Mattea Mitchell
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Financial Education - General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Family Development General
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Positive Employability
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture
Situation:

A key element for many youth development programs, including 4-H, focuses on practical life skills (Perkins & Borden, 2003). Since the introduction of the Targeting Life Skills Model (Hendricks, 1998), 4-H practitioners have used the model as a framework to plan, implement, and evaluate 4-H Youth Development programs. Hickman County 4-H and FCS are no different. The need for developing life skills in our youth has been made a priority by 4-H, FCS and Extension Homemaker Program Councils and the County Extension Council. This program plan focuses on life skill development throughout the life span. The Kentucky Extension Community Assessment for Hickman County identified more youth life skills training, better youth and adult career readiness, and more support for prevention of school violence and bullying as the top three issues concerning youth and families. 

Our focus on nurturing families through healthy couples and parenting education will bring family stability which benefits the well-being of adults and children. In 2020, 22 percent of Kentucky children lived in poverty, ranking Kentucky 40th in the nation. Hickman County has 28% of children living in poverty. Children who live in poverty are more likely to have learning disabilities and developmental delays. 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.

Securing financial stability is an issue that has been identified by the County Issues Forum as an ongoing need for education and resources from Cooperative Extension to increase the resiliency and capacity of our families. Kentucky consistently lags behind other areas of the United States in key household economic indicators, including personal income, the population living below the poverty line, unemployment, and revolving debt. These indicators acknowledge the impact of current economic conditions on family financial management. Hickman County has 61% of students eligible for free lunches, 20.1% of the general population is below poverty, and 5.7% unemployment rate.

Finally, People are living longer. Kentucky’s current population of seniors (65+) is 19%, a number that is expected to double in the next 40 years due to the aging Baby Boomers.  Whether it is the graying of America or extended life expectancies, aging is a lifespan process. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate the changes that accompany aging, in regard to health, independence, and life quality throughout all stages of life.

Long-Term Outcomes:

•Participants will utilize life skills gained through education and Extension programs to reach their full potential as individuals, family members, and citizens in the community.

•Participants will gain communication and decision-making skills that allow them to be competitive members of the current and future workforce.

•Participants will gain practice of practical living skills that will make them more effective adults with practice of experience such as cooking and child care.

•Participants will become contributing members of society.

•Participants will experience healthy, independent and quality aging

•Participants will enter school ready to learn.

•Participants will foster the optimal development of children and youth.

•Participants will increase household savings and decrease household debt.

Intermediate Outcomes:

•Participants will communicate more effectively with more self-confidence.

•Participants will practice safe cooking skills at home.

•Participants will use self-care skills to become competent members of society.

•Participants will utilize information obtained through Extension Programming to increase quality of life.

•Participants will use babysitting as an outlet for increasing income.

•Participants will employ good decision making techniques in personal relationships

•Participants will practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships including spousal, parent/child, caregiver and work related.

•Participants will demonstrate use of life skills.

•Participants will change behavior to decrease risk of falling.

•Participants will track spending habits.

Initial Outcomes:

•Participants will develop their life skills and gain knowledge to help them become better persons.

•Participants will develop personal care skills to take care of their own self.

•Participants will increase knowledge of cooking and childcare.

•Participants will develop knowledge of communication principles and public speaking skills.

•Participants will define key terms and acronyms related to drugs

•Participants will distinguish between facts and myths of drug use

•Participants will list three or more health risks as a consequence of drug use

•Participants will estimate the economic impact of drug use

•Volunteers will predict the long-term future for youth involved with drugs

•Participants will commit to set family rules regarding eating together, limiting screen time, active play and exercise, set routines

•Participants will intend to manage stress; make time for self; listen, talk, bond with family members; read with child daily; teach responsibility in use of money, time, etc.

•Participants will describe child’s developmental levels relative to averages

•Participants will be aware of fall hazards and the risk of falling

•Participants will gain knowledge of healthy life span behaviors

•Participants will show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial and non-financial resources.

•Participants will simulate life situations to recognize importance of education and employability skills.

•Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintaining and improving their financial stability.

Evaluation:

Intermediate Outcome: Youth will practice life skills & knowledge gained through extension program

Indicator: change habits and practice new life skills learned

Method: surveys, participation in activities

Timeline: 20-21 program year


Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge of Child Development and Positive Personal Relationship

Indicator: Increased knowledge as indicated by survey answers

Method: survey, participation in activities

Timeline: 20-21 Program Year


Initial Outcome: Youth will obtain more knowledge of the detrimental effect of drugs and alcohol use

Indicator: Knowledge obtains through classes indicated by pre/post-test answers.

Method: Pre-Post Test of Truth and Consequences

Timeline: Spring 2021



Initial Outcome: Increased level of understanding how to manage/address current econoic events facing my family.

Indicator: Number of individuals reported increased level of understanding in the area: how to manage/address current economic events facing my family, farming operation, or business

Method: Survey of Securing Financial Stability Programming

Timeline: Program Year 20-21


Intermediate Outcome: Improved Personal Skills that stimulate children's optimum development

Indicator: Number of individuals (parents or caregivers) reporting improved personal skills that stimulate children’s optimum development (such as communication and literacy skills; healthy eating practices; conflict management techniques)

Method: Survey of Nurturing Families Programming

Timeline: Program Year 20-21


Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge about risk factors of Alzheimer's Disease

Indicator: Number of participants whose knowledge about the risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease improved.

Method: Evaluation for Basics of Alzheimer

Timeline: Fall 2020


Intermediate Outcome: Practice of Healthy Behaviors

Indicator: Number of participants who practice healthy behavior (such as physical activity, healthy diet, stress management, sleep, mental exercise, meaningful social engagement).

Method: Evaluation for Keys to Great Aging

Timeline: Spring 2021

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth rising from 5th-9th grade

Project or Activity: MADD Camp

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Arts Curricula

Inputs: Extension Staff, Arts Council, Community Education, FLIGHT 21st Century Program, Hickman County School Staff including Librarian Date: Summer 2020


Audience: Youth 6th-8th grade

Project or Activity: Babysitting Clinic

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Babysitting Curriculum

Inputs: Middle School, 4-H Agent, Family Resource Center, 21st Century Coordinator, Ambulance Service, School nurse, Early Head Start

Date: Spring 2021



Audience:  Youth

Project or Activity:  Code Name Home Alone

Content or Curriculum: Code name: Home Alone, Keeping Fit & Healthy - First Aid in Action

Inputs: 4-H Agent, Youth, FRYSC

Date: 2020-2021 School Year


Audience: 8th and 10th grade

Project or Activity: Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Reality Store

Inputs: Extension Staff, KAPS Family Resource and Education Center, School System, Program Councils, community volunteers

Date: Spring 2021


Audience: Primary and Middle School Students

Project or Activity: Family Science Night

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum and outside resources

Inputs: 4-H Agent, School Teachers and facilities, students

Date: Spring 2021


Audience: Elementary and Middle school students

Project or Activity: Marvelous Manners

Content or Curriculum: KICKS and Various Manners Curriculum

Inputs: Community Leaders, Extension Homemakers, County School System and Facilities, Extension Staff, Program Council, UK educational materials

Date: 20-21 School Year


Audience: 4th- 6th, 8th, & 10th Grade Students

Project or Activity: Career Fair

Content or Curriculum: Extension Curriculum

Inputs: Extension Staff, School facility, Local Businesses, Community Education Director, KAPS Family Resource Coordinator, and students

Date: Spring 2021


Audience: 9th Grade

Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences

Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences

Inputs: Extension Staff, Community Leaders, Extension Homemakers, County school system and facilities, Program Councils, UK educational materials, students' parents, County and City Law Enforcement, DJJ, CDW, District Judge, Hospital, Coroner, Ambulance Service, and Health Department

Date: Spring 2021


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: Speeches and Demonstrations

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communications Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Agent, School teachers, volunteers, support from 4-H Council

Date: Spring 2021


Audience: Youth and Teens

Project or Activity: 4-H Camp

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Camp Curriculum

Inputs: Business and community donations for camp scholarships, adult and teen volunteers

Date: Summer 2021


Audience: FLIGHT Afterschool Participants

Project or Activity: GLAM Girls

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curricula, DOVE Body Image Curriculum, FCS Healthy Choices Curricula, Weight the Reality Series Body Image

Inputs: FLIGHT Afterschool Program, FRYSC, Community Education, Extension Agents, Fitness Instructors, Health and Beauty Experts

Date: School Year 2020-2021


Audience: Families with Children Ages 0-5

Project or Activity: Grow, Learn, Succeed Play Fest

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Resources from Governors Office of Early Childhood

Inputs: Community Early Childhood Council, Governors Office of Early Childhood, UK FCS Agent, Area Childcare Providers, Area Early Childhood Partners, FRYSC, Hickman County Schools

Date: Fall 2020


Audience: Families with Children 0-5

Project or Activity: School Readiness Night, Laugh and Learn Playdates

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Resources from Governors Office of Early Childhood

Inputs: Community Early Childhood Council, Governors Office of Early Childhood, UK FCS Agent, Area Childcare Providers, Area Early Childhood Partners, FRYSC, Hickman County Schools

Date: Spring 2021


Audience: Working-age adults and young adults preparing for the workforce

Project or Activity: Workforce Preparation

Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability

Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local employers and community leaders

Date: Fall 2020

                     

Audience: Adults and Families

Project or Activity: Estate Planning

Content or Curriculum: UK Estate Planning Curriculum

Inputs: Extension Agents, Banking and Financial Professionals, Lawyers, Small Business

Date: Winter 2020


Audience: Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity: Specialty Skill Clubs and Classes i.e. Crochet and Craft

Content or Curriculum: Needlework, Master Clothing Volunteers Knowledge

Inputs: Master Clothing Volunteers, Craft and Heritage Skill Leaders

Date: Program Year 2020-2021


Audience: Senior Citizens and Baby Boomers

Project or Activity: Keys to Great Aging

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Aging

Inputs: Hickman County Senior Citizens, PADD Office Senior Program, Extension Homemakers

Date: Program Year 2020-2021


Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Financial Education

Content or Curriculum: Moneywise, Good Credit Game, Real Skills for Everyday Life, Money Habitudes

Inputs: Drug Court, FRYSC, Mission House

Date: Program Year 2020-2021


Audience: Families with Children Ages 0-5

Project or Activity: Born Learning Academy

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Born Learning Curriculum, Resources from Governors Office of Early Childhood

Inputs: Community Early Childhood Council, Governors Office of Early Childhood, UK FCS Agent, Area Childcare Providers, Area Early Childhood Partners, FRYSC, Hickman County Schools

Date: Program Year 2020-2021



Success Stories

Use Less, Spend Wi$e Challenge

Author: Melissa Goodman

Major Program: Financial Education - General

Use Less, Spend Wi$e Challenge helping insecure resource populationsAmericans spent more than 1 trillion dollars during the holidays in 2018. That number rose another 4.5% in 2019. In comparison, holiday spending at an all-time high pre-pandemic, many families across Kentucky may have less to spend during the 2020 holiday season. COVID-19 financial challenges might cause people to adjust their holiday budgets. When tighter budgets are coupled with pandemic-related supply shortages, it is crucial

Full Story

Adulting Series: Positive Employability creates behavior change

Author: Melissa Goodman

Major Program: Positive Employability

Adulting Series: Positive Employability creates behavior change

Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center indicate 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. T

Full Story

Adulting Program

Author: Paula McCuiston

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

Adulting Program: Real-World Life Skills for Launching Adults in Hickman CountyAfter seeing statistics of how poorly college students were prepared for the real world of, "Adulting," the Hickman County 4-H and FCS Programs decided to facilitate a two day workshop based on the Hardin County FCS model to begin to address the issue. The Hickman County KAPS Family Resource Center was a planning partner. Topics like what is credit, professional etiquette, ten soft skills, communication

Full Story
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