Basic Life Skills for Youth and Adults in Scott County

Basic Life Skills for Youth and Adults in Scott CountyPlan of Work

Back to the Program

Scott County CES

Title:

Basic Life Skills for Youth and Adults in Scott County

MAP:

Acquiring Basic Life Skills

Agents Involved:

Allen, Flynt, Redmon, Conner

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Leadership

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Communications and Expressive Arts

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Master Gardener

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Nutrition and Food Systems General

Situation:

How we live life is ever-changing but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Learning to practice healthy habits, select clothing to emphasize one’s best appearance, create and live within a budget, prepare nutritious meals safely, nurture children, create a safe and pleasant home environment, practice common courtesies, and form relationships with others—all of these skills are basic to everyday life. Many schools no longer include family and consumer sciences classes in the curriculum. Reality is that today’s youth and adults are busier than ever. Many of these basic life skills are not consistently taught to youth at home or at school. 4-H family and consumer sciences 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.
The consequences of the Pandemic and the period of slow economic growth encouraged Kentuckians to become more aware of their financial and food security situation. Kentucky consistently lags behind other areas of the United States in key household economic indicators, including: personal income, population living below the poverty line, food insecurity, unemployment, and revolving debt. These indicators, especially unemployment numbers became more exaggerated during the period of the Pandemic. It is important to acknowledge the impact of current economic conditions on family financial management. The goal of the Securing Financial Stability Initiative is to help Kentuckians understand and respond to changing economic conditions, while promoting healthy financial behaviors across the lifespan.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Youth / Adults 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.
Number of individuals reporting improved family financial stability and economic well-being.
Number of individuals who avoided breaches in personal or financial security.
Improved the quality of their life resulting in a stronger family.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth / Adults 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
Adopt one or more short, mid and long term financial planning strategies.
Practice one or more resource management behavior(s) resulting in increased savings or investments
Apply practical living skills to advance education or employability
Examine personal and financial stability on a regular basis (at least annually)

Initial Outcomes:

Youth / Adults will:
Gain knowledge and develop skills in core areas and other programs
Understand the decision-making process
Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action
Learn to read and follow instructions
Teenagers and adults will show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial and non-financial resources. (Social marketing and Program participants)
Participants will increase understanding of consumer rights and privacy protection measures.
Teens and young adults 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:

Outcome: Participants learn and practice life skills
Indicator: Knowledge gained
Method: Pre test and post test questionnaires, Common Measurements
Timeline: Throughout the year

Intermediate Outcome: Apply soft skills to attain and retain employability
Indicator: ability to successfully implement soft skills
Method: mock job interviews, soft skills curriculum
Timeline: year round

Long-term Outcome: Adults and youth will be able to practice financial literacy
Indicator: Ability to apply knowledge
Method: financial related workshops and information
Timeline: year round

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Extension Homemakers/General Public
Activity: Lesson Leader Training/Seminar
Content or Curriculum: SNAP Curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Throughout the Year

Audience: Master Gardeners/General Public
Activity: Classes, Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Year Round

Audience: 4-H Members/Youth
Activity: Youth clothing, knitting & crochet project group organization and leader training
Content or Curriculum: 4-H project material
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Spring

Audience: Youth
Activity: 4-H Speech & Demonstration Contest
Content or Curriculum: Communication
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Spring

Audience: Youth/Adults
Activity: Training Adults, Youth Leadership
Content or Curriculum: Leadership, 4-H Camp Counselor Manual
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Summer/ Fall

Audience: Youth
Activity: 4-H Club Officer Training
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Officer Handbooks & Notebooks
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall

Audience: Youth
Activity: 4-H Council Evaluation Training
Content or Curriculum: Community Conflict Resolution Materials
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: November

Audience: Youth
Activity: 4-H Life Skills School Club Lessons
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Growing On My Own Curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Spring/ Fall

Audience: Youth
Activity: 4-H Summer Camp
Content or Curriculum: Summer Camp
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: June

Audience: Youth
Activity: 4-H Cloverbuds
Content or Curriculum: Penn State Cloverbuds/Arts and Crafts
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Monthly

Audience: Youth
Activity: Truth and Consequences
Content or Curriculum: Family and Consumer Sciences curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Spring

Audience: Youth
Activity: It's your Reality
Content or Curriculum: Family and Consumer Sciences curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: November

Audience: General public
Activity: Estate planning workshops
Content or Curriculum: estate planning
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: annually

Audience: 4-H Youth
Activity: 4-H Cooking
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Cooking Curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Monthly

Audience: 4-H Youth
Activity: Outdoor Living
Content or Curriculum: Survival, Navigation, Cooking
Input: Nature Reliance School, equipment, Volunteers, Staff
Date: Year round

Audience: General public/can include Master Gardeners
Activity: Virtual classes
Content or Curriculum: Extension Specialists, Agents, UK Cooperative Extension publications
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials
Date: Year round

Audience: General public/Master Gardeners
Activity: Scott Co. Cooperative Extension Horticulture Demonstration Gardens
Content or Curriculum: UK Cooperative Extension publications, Monarch Watch, Bluegrass Green Source
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, labor
Date: Year round

Audience: General public/Master Gardeners
Activity: Community Garden website, videos, projects
Content or Curriculum: Agents, UK Cooperative Extension publications, Monarch Watch, Bluegrass Green Source
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, labor
Date: Spring, Summer, Fall

Success Stories

Middle School Leadership

Author: Patrick Allen

Major Program: Leadership

The after school middle school program started in 2019 with a full classroom of middle school youth looking for an after school program that was not a sport. We continue to see strong attendance numbers in the after school program and have made plans for the new program year. We are looking to incorporate more opportunities for increasing  communication skills though the 4-H communication program, as well as focus more on service learning by having the group help clean or make small improve