Butler County CES

Title:

Parenting/Child Development

MAP:

Improve Individual and Family Development

Agents Involved:

Cowles

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Family Development General

Situation:

“School-readiness” is a broad term that refers to multiple precursor cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills that indicate young children are prepared to learn and thrive in the school environment. A wide body of research shows a strong foundation in school readiness is indicative of school success. Emerging research also indicates that there is a synergistic effect when early learning activities activate physical and cognitive skills simultaneously, as opposed to doing so in isolation. However, in the state of Kentucky only 50% of children are deemed “school-ready” when they enter Kindergarten.  These numbers indicate a need for more activities that support school-readiness by building multiple skill sets simultaneously.

96,000 children in Kentucky live in kinship care.  Kentucky ranks first in the nation for the most children in kinship care settings in the country.  15,000 children are in kinship care due to removal from their home.  Kinship care providers need support

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Increase the number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in the state of Kentucky.
• Improve academic success for children in Kentucky   

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Increase opportunities and access to more preschool learning activities outside of the home
• Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Butler County
• Increase number of learning activities experienced at home
• Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.
• Increase caregiver advocacy for children in their care including legal, medical, social, and educational services
• Increase access of community services to caregivers 

Initial Outcomes:

• Kentuckians understand the importance of developmentally appropriate play to their child’s academic success
• Increase child’s ability to express appropriate emotion
• Improve child’s gross motor skills
• Improve child’s early literacy skills including phonological awareness, print awareness, and vocabulary
• Increase awareness of indicators of high-risk adolescent behaviors 
• Identify key points of adolescent development
• Establish realistic expectations for teen behavior, and explore changing relationships within families 

Evaluation:

Outcome:  Kentuckians learn fun age appropriate activities to aid in their child’s healthy development.

Indicator:  Number of parents who expressed learning new activities to engage their children at home.

Method:  Laugh and Learn Play Dates Survey

Timeline:  January - December

Outcome: Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Butler County. 

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many parents reported improved gross motor skills, social-emotional skills, and early literacy skills?) 

Method:  Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Kindergarten Readiness Results

Timeline:  July- June

Outcome: Increase skills and resources of caregivers to provide effective care for young relatives

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many caregivers improve skills/knowledge in child development, discipline and guidance, legal issues, and advocacy)

Method: Parenting a Second Time Around (PASTA) Evaluation 

Timeline:  Post program evaluation 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Preschool Children and their Parents

Project or Activity:  Various

Content or Curriculum: Laugh and Learn Play dates, Home is      Where the Health Is

Inputs: FCS Agent, Library, 

Date: Available February 2021

Audience: Kinship Caregivers

Project or Activity:  Various

Content or Curriculum: Parenting a Second Time Around, Life Story/Memory Banking, Traditions, AARP Prepare to Care

Inputs: FCS Agent, 

Date: Available Fall 2020

Audience: Parents

Project or Activity:  Parent Classes 

Content or Curriculum: Nurturing Families

Inputs: FCS Agent, 

Date: Ongoing July 2020 – June 2021

Success Stories