Jefferson County CES

Title:

Educating & Empowering Individuals and Families to Make Responsible Choices and Develop Life Skills

MAP:

Developing Life Skills

Agents Involved:

C. Hall, l. Milligan, B. Pratt, K. Smith, and P. Thompson

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Horticulture, Consumer and Home

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Community Engagement

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)

Situation:

Developing life skills and making responsible, healthy choices can have a profound impact on family stability, individual well-being and community sustainability. Budgeting, interpersonal relationships, communication, family management and other skills are necessary for success. 
 
The consequences of the Great Recession and the extended period of slow economic growth which followed, encouraged Kentuckians to become more aware of their financial 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, unemployment, and revolving debt. These indicators, especially unemployment numbers became more exaggerated during the period of the Great Recession. However, at present economist are cautiously optimistic regarding future economic forecasts. 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. 
 

The development of life skills, like leadership, allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension). Almost 30 percent of youth in the United States (or over 5.7 million) are to be involved in bullying as a bully, a target of bullying or both. A troubling statistic that needs to be addressed. 

Youth participating in experiential learning opportunities coupled with setting goals, solving problems, and making wise decisions will help students develop their leadership skills, and in turn will provide them with the necessary skills for leading a successful life (Boyd, 2001).  

Healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. Furthermore, children who start kindergarten with delayed development and fewer assets are by far more likely to repeat grades, get tracked into lower-tier classes and drop out of high school than more advantaged children. 

Boyd, B.L. (2011). Bringing leadership experiences to inner-city youth. Journal of Extension [Online]. 39(4). Available:  https://www.joe.org/joe/2001august/a6.php  

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Youth and adults will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity, and multiculturalism in their daily life. 

• Youth will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis. 

• Create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle.  

• Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in Extension programs. 

• Youth and adults will be responsible and contributing individuals and family members, gain and maintain employment through life skill development and contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family.  

• Youth and adults will learn to manage personal finances, make wise financial decisions and understand long-term financial stability. 

• Youth and adults make more informed consumer decisions that result in increased family economic stability. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Youth and adults will reduce stress levels by building personal strengths, self-control, interpersonal communication, life skills including wise decision-making. 

• Reported using preventive and positive discipline techniques in response to misbehavior and settling and enforcing logical consequences. 

• Practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships.  

• Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress. 

• Practice healthy lifestyle decision – making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors. 

Initial Outcomes:

• Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding healthy aging. 

• Commits to using logical consequences for misbehavior. 

• Youth and adults will identify healthy lifestyle choices, risky behaviors and their consequences and healthy ways to handle stress. 

Evaluation:

• Initial Outcome: Youth and adults will identify healthy lifestyle choices, risky behaviors and their consequences and healthy ways to handle stress. 

• Indicator: Ability to identify healthy lifestyle choices 

• Method: Pre – and post – surveys 

• Timeline: Before and after program 

 

• Intermediate Outcome: Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress. 

• Indicator: Youth and adults adopting and mastering healthy behaviors 

• Method: Pre – and post – surveys 

• Timeline: Before and after program and follow up 

 

• Long – Term Outcome: Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in Extension programs. 

• Indicator: Youth will display skills necessary to be competent, capable, contributing adults. 

• Method: Observation and interviews 

• Timeline: End of program 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults & Youth 

Project or Activity: Community Garden implementation; school garden 

Content or Curriculum: Extension publications 

Inputs: specialists; content curriculum 

Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Program Code: 1031 

 

Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: Community Gardens 

Content or Curriculum: CES publications 

Inputs: agents, garden space 

Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Program Code: 1031 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: In – School Clubs 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide, National 4-H Curriculum 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4001 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Reality Store 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4031 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Dollars & Sense, Reality Store 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022– Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4031 

 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: Teen Summit 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, Steps to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4041 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Jr. MANRRS 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4041 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: 4-H SPIN Clubs 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide, National 4-H Curriculum 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4001 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: 4 – H Embryology 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4011 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Babysitting 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4031 

 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: 4 – H Camp 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2022 – Apr. 2023

Program Code: 4071 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project Activity: Boyz to Men 4-H Program 

Curriculum: Health Rocks, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity-Go To High School, Go to College Manual, and National 4-H Sparks Curriculum, and Build Your Future. 

Inputs: KSU Staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors. 

Date: TBA

Program Code: 4041 

 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project/Activity: Girls Rock 4-H Club 

Curriculum: Health Rocks, National 4-H Sparks Curriculum, Healthy Teens, Problem Solving, Build Your Future. 

Inputs: KSU staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors. 

Date: TBA

Program Code: 4001 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project Activity: Robotics 

Curriculum: Ozobot Educator-Tools and Curriculum, Hour of Code, Robot Proof, Edison Educational Kits 

Inputs: KSU Staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors 

Date: TBA

Program Code: 4071 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project: Youth Futures: College within Reach Youth Mentoring Program for Middle and High Schoolers 

Curriculum: Build Your Future, College within Reach Curriculum, Be the “E” in Entrepreneurship 

Inputs: KSU Staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors. 

Date: TBA

Program Code: 4041 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project: CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) 

Curriculum: Carolina Biological: DNA Necklace Kit, KEMETIC Crime Scene Investigation Packet 

Inputs: KSU Staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors. 

Date: TBA

Program Code: 4071 

 

Audience: Youth 

Project: Tech Wizards STEM Youth Mentoring Program 

Curriculum: National 4-H Tech Wizards Grant Program Curriculum, Build Your Future 

Inputs: KSU Staff, volunteers, teachers, administrators, and mentors. 

Date: TBA

 

Audience: Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date: October 2022

Program Code: 2056 

 

Audience: Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date: December 2022

Program Code: 2066 

 

Audience: Extension Homemakers  

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date: March 2023

Program Code: 2056 

 
Audience: Senior Citizens 

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Embracing Aging and Stand Up to Falling 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) publications and resources 

Date: Spring 2023

Program Code: 2011 

 

Audience: General Public 

Project or Activity: Personal Finance 

Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life, Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents, volunteers. 

Date: July 2022 – June 2023

Program Code: 2056 

 

Audience: General Public 

Project or Activity: Holiday Finances 

Content or Curriculum: Stretching Your Holiday Spending, Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents 

Date: October 2022– December 2023

Program Code: 2056 

Success Stories

Closing the “Adventure” Gap: Sowing Seeds with Faith at 4-H Camp

Author: Chanda Hall

Major Program: Camping

Sowing Seeds with Faith (SSWF) is a youth program in Louisville whose goal is to engage youth academically and socially in the Louisville community by mastering developmental challenges via educational expectations, structure, faith, and accountability.  Sowing Seeds with Faith is a Louisville-based private tutoring service with tutors ranging from JCPS teachers to JCPS retirees to current college students. Sowing Seeds uses a Village approach to provide the highest caliber of educational s

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Becoming comfortable with financial planning.

Author: Jessica Marquez

Major Program: Economic Development

The monthly Grupo de Mujeres is a collaborative program between Eastern Area Community Ministries and Kentucky State University's Cooperative Extension program. The group welcomes all Spanish-speaking women who want to participate in financial education, life-skill development, and female empowerment for themselves and their families. As of September 2022, we have educated the participants on financial skills such as opening savings and checking accounts, understanding the difference between

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Reaching financial goals and making new ones.

Author: Jessica Marquez

Major Program: Economic Development

I have partnered with the director of multicultural services at Eastern Area Community Ministries to collaborate on programing for the Grupo de Mujeres. This program is welcomes all participants who want to learn about financial education, life-skill development, and female empowerment for themselves and their families. The program started in January 2022 with a focus on teaching participants about personal financial education, life-skill development, and female empowerment for themselves and th

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Pawpaw Tasting at Greenwood Elementary

Author: Von Barnes

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

The fourth grade students at Greenwood Elementary did a discovery walk through the Parklands of Floyds Fork this year. During that walk, they learned about nature and identified plants in the Kentucky ecosystem. One of the plants that was brought to their focus for this classroom program was the pawpaw tree.  For this program, 84 students were able to taste pawpaw ice cream for the first time. The students were very excited about the opportunity to try a fruit that they had not be able

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