Casey County CES

Title:

Life Skills Preparation for Youth and Adults

MAP:

Leadership & Personal Development

Agents Involved:

FCS, Meagan Klee, Kelsey Woodrum

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Communications and Expressive Arts

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Economic Development and Workforce Preparation – 4-H Youth Development

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Civic Engagement

Situation:

Our lives are ever changing, but learning basic life/living skills is still very important. Acquiring life skills is imperative for community members, especially teens and young adults as they enter the workforce and secondary education. These skills include effective communication skills, interview and job readiness, financial literacy, practicing healthy habits, and basic household/upkeep skills (cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.). Due to limiting budgets, many schools no longer include family and consumer sciences classes in their curriculum. Because of this, many basic life skills are not consistently taught to youth/teens at school or even at home. Kentucky Cooperative Extension provides resources to help meet the needs of these students.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Participants will be responsible, self-sufficient, and contributing community and family members.
• Participants will apply skills gained through educational programs and involvement in Extension Programs.
• Participants will develop positive self-image and self-confidence.
• Participants will effectively write a speech and speak in front of an audience.
• Participants will be better apt when entering adulthood.
• Participants will be better prepared when entering secondary education and/or the workforce.
• Participants will obtain and sustain employment.
• Participants will achieve previously set goals.
• Participants will obtain leadership roles in community organizations.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Participants will demonstrate an increased level of confidence when speaking in front of groups.
• Participants will be able to construct a speech with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion and deliver it effectively.
• Participants will make a significant effort to obtain and sustain employment.
• Participants will set personal and career goals and work to achieve those goals.
• Participants will become active in community organizations.

Initial Outcomes:

• Participants obtain necessary basic life skills to be a functioning citizen.
• Participants write a speech outline including introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Participants learn the necessary skills for a successful job interview.
• Participants learn how to set and work toward set goals.
• Participants will learn how to become active in community organizations.

Evaluation:

• Long-Term
  • Number of participants who are more confident when speaking in front of an audience.
  • Number of youth who completed resume or interview through 4-H programs.
  • Number of youth who completed a 4-H Family and Consumer Science Project.
  • Number of youth who completed a speech or demonstration.
  • Number of youth who completed a state fair arts, photography, or other visual arts project.
  • Number of youth who completed a drama, music, or dance project.
  • Number of youth who participated in overnight, 4-H summer camp(s)

• Intermediate

  • Number of participants who have improved their communication skills.
  • Number of participants who know how to set and achieve goals.
  • Number of participants who are active in community organizations.
  • Number of youth who practiced financial decision-making skills as a result of what they learned in 4-H.
  • Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself?”
  • Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader?”

• Initial

  • Number of youth who received the 4-H/UK CAFE marketing materials.  
  • Number of youth who participated in college and career educational programs.
  • Number of youth who participated in education related to family and consumer sciences.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Casey County 8^th Grade Students

Project/Activity: 4-H Reality Store

Content Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Reality Store Curriculum

Inputs: Check writing and checkbook balancing lesson in the classroom provided by 8^th grade teachers and local bank employees. Reality Store program will be implemented at Casey County Middle School in coordination with the middle school, Youth Services Center, and community partners and volunteers.

Date: Spring

Audience: Casey County Elementary Students

Project/Activity: 4-H Dollar and Sense

Content Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Dollar and Sense Curriculum

Inputs: In coordination with the three elementary schools and the Family Resources Centers. 4-H Agent will work with classrooms to prepare and present the Dollars and Sense materials in the classroom setting allowing for the students to work through the purchases on their own and with one-on-one assistance from the agent and teachers.  

Date: Fall - Spring

Audience: Casey County Teens and Young Adults/Adults

Project/Activity: #adulting – Life Skills Workshops

Content Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Communications Curriculum, Resume Building, Additional Resources as necessary

Inputs: Focused workshops offered 6 times a year. Life skills education provided as seen necessary by audience, parents, and community members. Casey County Cooperative Extension in collaboration with Casey County Public Library, Campbellsville University – Liberty, Casey County Youth Services Center, Community Members and Local Business Owners.  

Date: All Year

Audience: Casey County 11^th Grade Students

Project/Activity: LIFE 101

Content Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Reality Store Curriculum

Inputs: Check writing and checkbook balancing lesson in the classroom provided by 11^th grade teachers and local bank employees. The LIFE 101 program is an adapted Reality Store with the addition of Mock Interviews with local business owners providing constructive feedback. LIFE 101 will be implemented at Casey County High School in coordination with the high school, Youth Services Center, and community partners and volunteers.

Date: Spring

Audience: Casey County High School Students

Project/Activity: American Private Enterprise System (APES)

Content Curriculum: American Private Enterprise System (APES) Curriculum

Inputs: Program provides participants with beneficial information on today’s business and economics. The two/three day program consists of local business owners speaking on specific areas of business and tours of local businesses and industry. Participants will be tested on their knowledge gained after each topic discussed.  

Date: Spring

Audience: Casey County Youth (ages 9-19)

Project/Activity: 4-H Speeches and Demonstration

Content Curriculum: 4-H Public Speaking Curriculum

Inputs: In-School Club Meeting Lessons; 4-H Teen Council Lesson. Participants will learn how to compose and deliver/present a compelling and effective speech and/or demonstration.  

Date: Fall - Spring

Audience: Casey County Youth (ages 9-19)

Project/Activity: 4-H Communications Contest

Content Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Communications Curriculum

Inputs: Participants will apply communication skills learned in a local, area, and state competition. Provide constructive feedback to assist with participants’ improvement.

Date: Spring

Audience: Casey County Youth, Teens, and Adults

Project/Activity: 4-H Camp

Content/Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Camping Program

Inputs: Participants will prepare and participate in a 5-day summer camp.

Date: Summer

Audience: Casey County Youth/4-H Members interested in Culture Education

Project/Activity: Around the World Culture Club

Content/Curriculum: 4-H Backpack to Adventure: Youth Leaders in a Global World, WeConnect: A Global Youth Citizenship Curriculum

Inputs: Extension Staff, Extension Specialists, Casey County Library

Date: September – August

 

Audience: 5^th Grade Students

Project/Activity: 4-H School Clubs

Content/Curriculum: Civic Engagement, Character Counts

Inputs: Extension Agents, Extension Specialists, Casey County Teachers

Date: September – April

Success Stories