Building financial security through wise consumer decision-making and money management practices.Plan of Work

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Livingston County CES

Title:
Building financial security through wise consumer decision-making and money management practices.
MAP:
Family and Individual Financial Security
Agents Involved:
4-H, ANR, and EFNEP/Program Assistant
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Financial Education - General
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Family and Consumer Science
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Communications and Expressive Arts
Situation:

Families must work hard to secure and manage their money to be able to provide for themselves and their families the basic human needs of food, clothing, and shelter. Increasing buying power, avoiding pitfalls of overextended credit, and wise consumer decision-making lead to better buying, budgeting, saving, and investment decisions.


Kentucky consistently lags behind other areas of the United States in household income indicators, including personal income, population living below the poverty line, unemployment and revolving debt loads. Although Livingston County's medium income is above many parts of the state, there are still many pockets of poverty. Livingston County's schools are all eligible for free and reduced lunches due to poverty and parents' inability to cover the cost for multiple children in many households. Our local food pantry services 350+ families as a result of consistent, low household income averages. Extension Advisory Councils have recognized a need to help educate residents about smart money handling, budgeting, and estate planning basics.

Long-Term Outcomes:

(A) Individuals and families will demonstrate financial literacy and sound basic financial practices to create budgets, pay off debt, and increase savings.

(B) Teens and young adults will improve financial literacy and appraise workforce preparedness.

(C) Increase in the number of clientele reporting improved privacy/security measures and reduction in reports of financial fraudulent matters across the state.

(D) Number of clientele reporting improved family financial stability and economic well-being; decrease in use of local food pantry and Christmas for Kids eligibility.

(E) Median household income will increase on census data.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Adopt privacy protection measures; annual, semi-annual, or quarterly credit-checking practices; and better recognition of fraudulent attempts from outside sources.


Improve employability through practical living skills and continued education practices.


Demonstrate practical living skills related to economic or enterprise development, as well as seeking to ascertain advanced education credentials.


Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings or investments. Be able to assess debts, assets, and execute a monthly budget.

Initial Outcomes:

Teenagers and adults will show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial and non-financial resources. Participants will increase understanding of their consumer rights and privacy protection measures. Clientele will show initial change in knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes about money; pertaining to savings, paying down debt, and working on a monthly budget. Increase financial literacy related to spending, savings and investments.

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome: Increased number of clientele reporting improved family financial stability, household income, and economic well-being, resulting in improved quality of life and stronger families.

Indicator: County Economic Statistics

Method: County Data Profiles, Census data, program evaluations/follow-ups from agents ,and Kids Count reporting

Timeline: four year period


Intermediate Outcome: Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings and/or investments.

Indicator: reporting by residents and youth participating in Extension Programs

Method: focus groups, evaluations, and surveys to clientele

Timeline: 2 year period


Initial Outcome: Individuals and families will increase their knowledge of money handling, savings, budgeting, and estate planning

Indicator: numbers of people participating in Extension Financial Management Programs

Method: Meeting statistics/evaluations

Timeline: Before and after classes/programs.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 7th grade at Livingston County Middle School

Project or Activity: It's Your Reality!

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Dollars & Sense and It's Youth Reality Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H, EFNEP, ANR

Date: Spring


Audience: General Audience and Audubon Day Care Parents

Project or Activity: Stretching Your Holiday Dollar program

Content or Curriculum: Stretching Your Holiday Dollar curriculum from KSU

Inputs: EFNEP, Homemaker Leaders

Date: November or December annually


Audience: Students and Adults interested in beginning to save money

Project or Activity: Kentucky Saves/Kentucky Saves Piggy Bank Contest

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Saves

Inputs: 4-H

Date: December through February


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Moneywi$e bulletins through social marketing via Facebook and Web Page

Content or Curriculum: Moneywi$e

Inputs: 4-H, ANR

Date: Quarterly


Audience: Youth 4th-7th grade

Project: Needs Vs. Wants, How Much Do I Cost?, Budgeting, Goal setting

Content or Curriculum: Dollars & Sense / It's Your Reality

Inputs: 4-H, ANR

Dates: April each year


Audience: Low-Income Families with Young Children

Project: Gardening on a Budget

Content: Extension Publications, and SNAP-ED materials

Inputs: ANR, 4-H, Program Assistant 

Dates: Spring of each year 



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