McLean County CES

Title:

Acquiring basic life skills in FCS and 4-H

MAP:

Basic Life Skills

Agents Involved:

David Fourqurean and FCS Agent

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Family and Consumer Science

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Food Preparation and Preservation

Situation:

How we live is ever-changing, but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Learning to practice healthy habits, create and live within a budget, prepare nutritious meals safely, nurture children, create a safe and pleasant home environment, practice common courtesy, and form relationships with others - all of these skills are basic to everyday life. Reality is that today's youth and adults are busier than ever. Many of the basic life skills are not consistently taught to youth at home or at school. 4-H and Family and Consumer Science projects equip youth with these skills.

As with any other Kentucky 4-H Core Curriculum area, when it comes to development of life skills, a strong case can be made for the need to go beyond mere transfer of knowledge to giving youth the opportunity for a variety of supportive, related learning experiences to significantly increase the program’s influence. 

4-H often offers basic learning activities on a topic of interest to youth but the addition of activities which support that interest (such as fair exhibits, related subject matter workshops or day camps, field trips, and decision-making judging contests) significantly increase the development of life skills in youth. In a study by Olson, Croymans and Ji (2014), 4-Hers reported that participating in 1 or 2 educational opportunities influenced the development of critical thinking and decision making skills, and participating in 6 to 8 opportunities significantly increased the program’s influence by adding development of life skills in leadership, planning/organization, wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills and accepting differences. 

While many FCS skills can be learned through self-directed projects or school enrichment, it’s beneficial for youth to have the added experience and guidance of a trusted adult and the opportunity to form relationships with caring mentors. For many adults, long-term volunteering is not always possible but shorter-term volunteer roles create doable opportunities for more people to tuck volunteering into busy schedules. Special interest clubs and groups that meet for a few weeks or months broaden the possibilities. The volunteer efforts of multiple adults may be required to take the 4-H experience from club meetings alone to also include exhibits, field trips and more. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

McLean County Youth will:

• Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members. 

• Gain and maintain employment through life skill development.

• Contribute to a safe pleasant and productive home and family.

Intermediate Outcomes:

McLean County Youth will: 

• Utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations 

• Project a positive image and self-confidence 

• Practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making 

• Practice healthy eating choices 

• Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results 

• Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future

Initial Outcomes:

McLean County Youth will: 

• Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects and programs 

• Understand the decision-making process 

• Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action 

• Learn to read and follow instructions

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:

Indicator: Number of youth who reported that they followed instructions step-by-step to do or make things themselves 

Method: Group discussion, observation, self-report

Timeline: 3-6 months

Intermediate Outcome:

Indicator: Number of youth who reported that they showed another person how to do what they learned to do for themselves 

Method: Follow Up Surveys, observation, discussion

Timeline: 6 months to 1 year

Long-term Outcome:

Indicator: Number of youth who demonstrate increased or routine use of life skills learned through 4-H in daily life 

Method: Follow-Up Surveys, Self-Report, Group Discussions

Timeline: 3-4 years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: McLean County 8th Grade

Project or Activity: Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, UK Specialist, Community Partners, Family Resource Center, Classroom Teachers

Date: March 2022

Audience: McLean County Youth

Project or Activity: Babysitting 101

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Babysitting Basics 4 Fun and 4 Profit Member Manual 

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, UK Specialist

Date: Spring 2022

Audience: McLean County Youth

Project or Activity: Super Star Chef

Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef (Basic Preparation Skills) (approved for SNAP-ed programming) 

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Family Resource Center Coordinators, UK Specialist

Date: October 2021

Audience: McLean County Youth

Project or Activity: Cooking Club

Content or Curriculum: Cooking 101 (approved for SNAP-ed programming) 

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, UK Specialist

Date: 2021-2022

Audience: McLean County Youth

Project or Activity: Sewing Club

Content or Curriculum: Keeping 4-H in Stitches: KY 4-H Sewing Project 

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, UK Specialist

Date: 2022-2023

Success Stories