Kenton County CES

Title:

Adult Leadership Development

MAP:

Empowering Community Leaders

Agents Involved:

Averbeck, Donahue, Kelley, Stanton, Allen, Bowling, Brown-Price, Byrnes

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Family and Consumer Science

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Community Strategic Planning

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Master Gardener

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

Situation:

Building the capacity of volunteer leaders within counties is critical for the sustainability of a community infrastructure that supports long term commitment to strengthen families. Within Kentucky there are 16,000 KEHA members, 119 Master Clothing Volunteers, more than 1,500 Master Gardener volunteers, and over 150 Champion Food Volunteers who share their expertise, and volunteer time with youth and families in their community. Through the efforts of the FCS and Horticulture agents, paraprofessionals, and volunteers local citizens are engaged, educated and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions.
Residents of south Kenton County, and specifically the agriculture community, have not been involved in county and local policy-making decisions. The recent expansion of retail and residential into the rural areas have spurred the local residents to interact with these policy makers. This recent surge indicates there are opportunities for the Cooperative Extension Service to help with leadership development.
The primary mechanism for securing input in the support and direction of local cooperative extension programs will be the County Extension Council. County Extension Council needs to continue to reach a partnership with professional staff so that they will help identify needs, set goals, plan, promote and implement programs and evaluate those programs. They will insure broad-based programs available to all. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

-Kentucky communities’ health and economy are strengthened through strong local organizational leadership. Community problems are solved through active engaged local leaders.
-County Extension Council is representative of the ethnic and geographic diversity of the population and is empowered to develop, implement and evaluate programs in partnership with professional staff.
-Engaged rural residents that will determine the future of what their community looks like.
-Extension Homemakers are empowered to maintain and improve membership opportunities.
-FCS council is empowered to develop, implement, and evaluate programs in partnership with FCS staff.
-Master Gardener volunteers continue to grow in number and broaden the reach of Extension as they foster community gardens and greenspaces, teach members of the public, and increase awareness of the value of horticulture throughout the community.

Intermediate Outcomes:

-Implementation of a Kenton County rural leadership program.
-Number of people who: Practice personal leadership skills in clubs, schools and community outreach.
-Number of people who: Improved skills in communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs.
-Number of people who: Apply skills to assess needs, develop programs and implement solutions for community problems
-County Extension Council committees meet regularly and execute committee goals.
-KEHA and FCS Advisory councils meet regularly to develop and implement plans for membership and program development
- Master Gardener volunteers increase in number and broaden their reach throughout the community.

Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Participants are actively engaged in the tasks of CEC.
Method: Observation.
Timeline: Ongoing.

Intermediate Outcome: MG volunteers are actively assisting the community through various MG-approved projects
Indicator: MG are required to give at least 40 hours per year to stay certified
Method: Self-report volunteer hours through PACE
Timeline: Ongoing 

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: 

Audience: County Extension Council members
Project or Activity: Regular County Extension Council Committee meetings
Content or Curriculum: Agents each mentor a committee, committees formed 3-04 and are updated each January
Inputs: County Extension Council Members, County Agents
Date: Quarterly Meetings

Audience: County Extension Council members
Project or Activity: South Kenton County Working Group
Content or Curriculum: Agriculture Agent presents current Extension programs.
Inputs: County Extension Council Members, County Agents
Date: Quarterly meeting

Initial Outcomes:

-Kentuckians increase knowledge and skills in community leadership.
-Value the collective partnership of the council and staff.
-Understand the roles and duties for committees.
-Become engaged in active participation in planning, promoting and evaluating programs.
-Upon completion of agent's research of other rural leadership programs, work with Ag Development Board to create a leadership program.
-Kentuckians increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership.
-KEHA and FCS Advisory Council members increase knowledge and skills in organizational leadership.
-Continually adding to the number of Master Gardener volunteers adds to Extension’s reach and improves horticultural knowledge throughout the community.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: A strong active CEC represents the diversity of the county and insures a broad-based program open to all citizens.

Indicator:  The diversity of program participants as reflected in attendance sheets and statistics. 

Method:  The diversity of program participants as reflected in attendance sheets and statistics. 

Timeline: Ongoing. 

Indicator: Participants are actively engaged in the tasks of CEC.
Method: Observation.
Timeline: Ongoing.

Initial Outcome: Committees meet regularly, execute committee tasks and report back to council.
Indicator: Increased attendance and participation on committees and at council meetings.
Method: Attendance sheets, committee reports, agent observation.
Timeline: all year

Initial Outcome: Increased participation in Homemaker Activities
Indicator: increased attendance
Method: Attendance sheets, committee reports, agent observation
Timeline: August 2017-April 2018

Initial Outcome: Homemaker membership increased or maintained
Indicator: Increased membership numbers
Method: Membership report
Timeline: July to December

Initial Outcome: FCS social media efforts will result in being known as valuable as a valuable resource for research-based FCS information.
Indicator: More hits on the webpage, more “Likes” and sharing
Method: Observation of webpages and other social media pieces
Timeline: All Year

Initial Outcome: Master Clothing Volunteers practice personal leadership skills in community outreach.
Indicator: Number of hours volunteers spent training others on behalf of Extension: Number of individuals reached by volunteer-led programs/activities who demonstrated one or more newly acquired skill.
Method: MCV reports
Timeline: All Year

Initial Outcome: New Master Gardener volunteers are recruited and trained every year
Indicator: MG students complete 50+ hours of Extension-led training, pass a final exam
Method: 50+ hours of classroom training through approved UK-Master Gardener program
Timeline: Every fall/winter 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: CEC members
Project or Activity: Committees meet regularly, execute committee tasks and report back to council.
Content: KELD 
Inputs: CEC Leadership
Date: Quarterly Meetings

Audience: County Extension Council members
Project or Activity: Regular County Extension Council Committee meetings
Content or Curriculum: Agents each mentor a committee, committees are updated each January
Inputs: County Extension Council Members, County Agents
Date:  August 2017, November 2017, February 2018, May 2018

Audience: County Extension Council members
Project or Activity: Regular County Extension Council Committee meetings
Content or Curriculum: KELD Curriculum
Inputs: County Extension Council Members, County Agents
Date: August 2017, November 2017, February 2018, May 2018

Audience: County Extension Council members
Project or Activity: Extension District Board
Content or Curriculum: UK District Board Handbook
Inputs: County Extension Council Members, County Agents
Date: Bi-monthly meetings 2017-2018

Audience: South Kenton Citizens Group
Project or Activity: Addressing Land Use and Conservation Practices
Content or Curriculum: Ag Agent's Advisory, CEDIK Specialists and publications
Inputs: CEC members, Ag Advisory members, NKY Area Planning Commission
Date: Bi-monthly meetings

Audience: FCS Leaders
Project or Activity: FCS Advisory Council
Content or Curriculum: FCS Agent Designed
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Agents and Specialists, Kentucky and CES Partnering Agencies, Publications and Resources, FCS program funds USDA, Partnering Agencies
Date: December 2021

Audience: Extension Homemakers
Initial Outcomes: Increased participation in Homemaker Activities
Indicator: Increased attendance
Inputs: Leader directed, KELD
Method: Attendance sheets, committee reports, agent observation
Timeline: Quarterly August 2017-April 2018

Audience: FCS Leaders, General Public
Project or Activity: Increase Social and General Media Outreach
Content or Curriculum: Kenton Agents design, UK publications
Inputs: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Local newspaper
Date: All Year
Method: Observation of webpages.
Timeline: All Year

Audience: Kenton County Homemakers
Project or Activity: Area Homemaker Leadership positions
Content or Curriculum: Member appointed
Inputs: Homemaker budget KEHA budget, area officers
Date: All year

Audience: General Public
New project or Activity: Adult Sewing Programs
Content or Curriculum: Master clothing volunteer program
Inputs: FCS Agent and MCV developed
Date: Fall and Spring series

Audience: Adult volunteers
Project or Activity: Client Protection Committee
Content or Curriculum: Client Protection
Inputs: Agent assistance and program funds. County program money will fund other projects.  Durr Center will be utilized for county programs. Paid staff and volunteers will conduct the educational sessions.
Date: July 2018 - June 2019 

Audience: Adult volunteers
Project or Activity: 4-H Horse Certified Leaders Committee
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Horse Program rules, guidelines
Inputs: The county special projects fund will help support volunteers’ registration fees that participate in Volunteer Horse Certification workshops. County program money will fund other projects. Either the Durr Annex or Durr Center will be utilized for county programs.
Date: Sept. 2017 – April 2018

Audience: Master Clothing Volunteers and candidates.
Project or Activity: Master Clothing Volunteer Workshop
Content or Curriculum: Sewing and clothing construction techniques
Inputs: The county special projects fund will help support volunteers’ registration fees that participate in the Master Clothing Volunteer workshops. County program money will fund other projects.
Date: October 2017

Audience: Adult volunteers
Project or Activity: Horse & Livestock Volunteer Certification & Re-certification
Content or Curriculum: Horse & Livestock Education, UK selected/developed materials
Inputs: The county special projects fund will help support volunteers’ registration fees that participate in Volunteer Horse & Livestock Certification workshops. County program money will fund other projects. Either the Durr Annex or Durr Center will be utilized for county programs.
Date: Dates determined by State 4-H Program

Audience: Adult volunteers
Project or Activity: Sewing Expo
Content or Curriculum: Sewing and quilting techniques
Inputs: The county special projects funds or county program money will help support volunteer attendance.
Date: April 2018

Audience: Adult volunteers
Project or Activity: 4-H Certified Livestock Leaders
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock rules, guidelines
Inputs: The county special projects fund will help support volunteers’ registration fees that participate in Volunteer Livestock Certification workshops. County program money will fund other projects.
Date: July 2018 – June 2019

Audience: Adult volunteers
Project or Activity: Jabez Quilt Seminar
Content or Curriculum: Quilting techniques
Inputs: The county special projects fund will help support volunteers’ registration fees.
Date: January 2018

Audience: Adult volunteers
Project or Activity: Shooting Sports Certification
Content or Curriculum: Shooting Sports
Inputs: 4-H Council and grants will help support volunteers’ registration fees that participate in Shooting Sports. County program money will fund other projects. Either the Durr Annex, Durr Center, or Lloyd Wildlife will be utilized for county programs. Paid staff and volunteers will conduct most of the educational sessions.
Date: 2017-2018

Audience: Adult or teen volunteers
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Camp Counselor training guides
Inputs: The county 4-H council and County funds will help support and train volunteers that will be attending 4-H camp.
Date: 2017-2018

Audience: Adult or teen volunteers
Project or Activity: 4-H Communication event
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communication
Inputs: County program funds will be used to train teens and adults to serve as room monitors and judges for the county communication event
Date: July 2017 – June 2018

Audience: Master Gardener Volunteers
Project or Activity: Weekly continuing education during the growing season
Content/ Curriculum: UK and other Extension Horticulture materials
Inputs: County Extension Agents
Date: Weekly April through October at the OEC

Audience: General public
Project or activity: MG training
Content/Curriculum: UK-Approved Master Gardener Training Manual
Inputs: County Horticulture & Agriculture Agents, UKy Extension Specialists
Date: Every fall/winter; Kenton Conducts training next fall/winter 2018/2019

Success Stories