Extension
It Starts With Us
Financial Education
Enhance Life Skills and Build Consumer Awareness
Rebecca Miller, Brian Good
Financial Education - General
Food Preparation and Preservation
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Promoting positive personal finance behaviors prepares Kentuckians for any future economic shift. The United States has been in an extremely long period of economic expansion; however, expansions are cyclical, meaning growth is eventually followed by recession. Securing financial stability for Kentuckians will help families, adults and youth thrive no matter the economic outlook. Financial stability is achieved when individuals are able to secure and manage resources needed to supply food, clothing, and shelter. Through increased financial knowledge, individuals may be able to make wise financial decisions, increase buying power, avoid overextended credit, develop savings habits, and manage risks.
Also, according to the 2019 Needs Assessment done in Bell County, community members feel that youth and families need more life skills training such as money management, life decision making skills, etc.
- Better individual money management skills, such as reducing debt, increasing savings, and financial planning.
- More effective employees and community leaders.
- Improved financial capability for Kentuckians, results in better quality of life and stronger families.
- Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings or investments.
- Adopt financial planning strategies for short-, mid-, and long-term goals.
- Increased knowledge and skills related to managing financial resources, including savings, credit, and financial planning.
- Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations, to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education practices.
- Increase financial literacy (knowledge and skills) related to savings and investments.
Outcome: Increased awareness of sound financial behaviors
Indicator(s): Number of individuals who implemented at least one
strategy to reduce expenses or manage money
Number of individuals who made a sound financial decision
(regarding credit, budgeting, savings, and/or debt)
Method: Retroactive pre-post
Timeline: Following financial education workshops
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
Long-term Outcome: Bell Countians will achieve financial literacy, stability and economic well-being through practices learned at Extension programs.
Indicator: Clientele will report an increase in savings and financial gain.
Method: Follow up survey, discussions
Timeline:following financial education workshop
Audience:Youth, middle school age
Project or Activity: 4-H Dollars and Sense
Content or Curriculum: 4-H dollars and sense curriculum
Inputs:agents, schools, volunteers, family resource centers, teachers, facilities
Date: spring2022
Audience: Youth, High School
Project or Activity: Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Reality Store curriculum
Inputs: schools, facilities, family resource centers, volunteers, agents
Date: Spring 2022
Audience: general public, homemakers
Project or Activity: Stretching Your Holiday Dollars
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: agents, facilities, schools, family resource center
Date: October- December 2022
Audience: farmers, general public
Project or Activity: Shared Use Equipment Use Program
Content or Curriculum: UK pubs
Inputs: agents, Ag Council, Farm Bureau, Ky Ag Development Board, Road Department
Date: on going through out year
Audience: youth and adults
Project or Activity: Financial Education
Content or Curriculum: Building a Healthy Wealthy Future, Real Skills for Everyday Life, Where Does Your Money Go, MITT
Inputs: agents, specialist, schools, teachers, community partners
Date: Jan- Dec 2022
Audience: farmers, adults
Project or Activity: Commercial Vegetable Production
Content or Curriculum: UK gardening pubs, soil samples
Inputs: agents, specialist, community partners
Date: Jan- Dec 2022
Audience: youth
Project or Activity: Piggy Bank Design Contest
Content or Curriculum: Piggy Bank materials
Inputs: agents, specialist, community partners, materials
Date : Dec-Jan
Author: Brian Good
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts
Bell County 4-H recently conducted a consumer literacy program at Lone Jack School. The program is named Dollars and Sense. It teaches middle school students about being responsible consumers. According to the 2019 Most and Least Financially Literate States report, Kentucky ranks 45th in the nation for financial literacy. Much of what students learn about finances and consumerism begins at an early age. The 4-H agent spoke to the students prior to the program about needs and wants. The students
Author: Rebecca Miller
Major Program: Financial Education - General
Holidays can be stressful and exciting at the same time. For most of us, this means more family time, more traveling, more shopping, and spending. The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agents from Bell, Laurel, Rockcastle, and Whitley provided eight counties with strategies on how to deal with stress, incorporate more family time, and take care of yourself. The Holiday Ideas program has been an annual program that covers Harlan, Bell, Clay, Knox, Rockcastle, Laurel, Whitley, Jackson counti
