Extension
It Starts With Us
Building financial security through wise consumer decision-making and money management practices.
Family and Individual Financial Security
4-H, ANR, and FCS
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Financial Education - General
Family and Consumer Science
Communications and Expressive Arts
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.
(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.
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.
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.
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.
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, FCS, 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: FCS, 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, FCS
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, and FCS
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, and FCS
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, and FCS
Dates: Spring of each year
