Extension
It Starts With Us
Life Skills Development
Life Skills Development
Kelly Woods, Heather Toombs
Family and Consumer Science
Master Clothing Volunteer
The ever-changing landscape of the family unit requires an innovative approach to providing the basic needs families have as they navigate many new challenges. The recent COVID Stay at Home Order left many families struggling to meet these needs. Extension provides the opportunity for youth and families to develop vital life skills such as consumer awareness, monetary management, culinary arts, textiles, housing, and human development. Families working together to meet these needs builds a stronger bond within every family unit.
Data gathered in the 2019 Oldham County Assessment shows the top three concerns from county residents regarding life skills are a desire for youth to have life training skills such as money management, life decision making, etc.; for youth to be better prepared for future careers; and for increased support for prevention of bullying and school violence.
Oldham County population has increased slightly over the last few years and as of 2021 was at 68,685. Unemployment in Oldham County rose from 4.8% in 2007 to 7.5% in 2010 and was at 3.5% in 2017. The poverty rate fell from 6.2% in 2016 to 5% in 2021, according to the 2021 Census. The child poverty rate decreased from 8.5% to 6.0% from 2010 to 2016. (UK CEDIK data)
Participants will teach others acquired skills, helping build community stability.
Participants will apply skills learned to reach individual goals and strengthen family stability.
Participants learn new skills that support personal and family growth.
Initial Outcome: Participants learn new skills that support personal and family growth.
Indicator: Participant learn a new skill and understand how to follow instructions.
Method: Youth complete a project or workshop to develop a new skill.
Timeline: Fall 2022 and Spring 2023
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will apply skills learned to reach individual goals and strengthen family stability.
Indicator: Participants will expand knowledge relating to new skill and exhibit completed project.
Method: Project entered in the County Fair
Timeline: Fall 2022 and Spring 2023
Long-term Outcome: Participants will teach others acquired skills, helping build community stability.
Indicator: Participant will teach a workshop or shared skills learned.
Method: 4-H Common Measures Universal Survey
Timeline: Spring 2023
Activity: Reality Store
Audience: Juniors (North Oldham High School)
Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality
Inputs: Rotary Clubs Participation, Funding from Oldham County Schools and Metro United Way, Extension Staff and Volunteers, Oldham County Health Department, Oldham County Library
Date: NOHS – Fall 2022
Activity: Life Skills 101
Audience: Middle School Youth
Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, Community Volunteers
Date: Fall 2022
Activity: Youth Sewing Workshops
Audience: Youth
Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, Community Volunteers, Master Clothing Volunteers
Date: Fall 2022
Activity: Visual Arts
Audience: Elementary School Youth
Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, Community Volunteers
Date: Summer 2022
Activity: Come Sew with Us Sewing classes
Audience: Adults interested in improving sewing skills
Content or Curriculum: Economical sewing projects
Inputs: Master Clothing Volunteer, FCS Agent, Volunteers
Date: 2022-2023 Program Year, Depending on commitments of Master Clothing volunteer
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Living with Loss, Self Care, and managing Grief, Art of Eating Mindfully, Move Your Way: Exercise for Everyone
Content or Curriculum: KEHA, UK-approved materials, and Publications
Inputs: Louisville Area FCS Agents
Date: October 2022- March-April 2023
Author: Kelly Woods
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Oldham County 4-H Chef Schools continue to be a valuable educational program, sharing the love and knowledge of cooking is a vital life skill embraced in our community. When the program began, one session was held annually, Oldham County 4-H now has completed 4 four-week Chef Programs this year with 96 youth completing the program and a Chicken BBQ Camp involving 22 young people. Surveys indicated youth learned to: use a knife properly, measure ingredients, crack an egg, prevent tunne
Author: Heather Toombs
Major Program: Child Development Programs
Teachers in the Oldham County school district have been concerned about the lack of student manners in the lunchroom. As a result, Lagrange Elementary partnered with the Oldham County Kentucky Family Consumer Science Agent to teach manners to elementary children K-1rst grade. The La Grange elementary librarian shared that the typical lunchroom experience was extremely loud; children had physical contact with each other and left litter on each table once excused.Oldham County Cooperative extensio
Author: Kelly Woods
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Sewing skills build confidence, patience, creativity, problem solving and motor skills. Oldham County has two newly certified Master Clothing Volunteers who are working along side Extension Staff to offer three four week 4-H sewing sessions. Members learned to thread a sewing machine, strengthened motor skills by cutting fabric, mastered pinning and measuring techniques, and conquered utilizing the seam ripper. Program participants indicated 88% learned the parts of the machine, controlled
Author: Heather Toombs
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 30 million Americans suffer from Type 2 Diabetes. Approximately 531,646 people in Kentucky, or 14.5% of adults, have diabetes. Charcuterie has been around for centuries and is growing in popularity. The participants targeted were Oldham County Residents interested in learning a new way to prepare and present food. Oldham County partnered with Trimble County to present a Charcuterie class that focused on bala
Author: Kelly Woods
Major Program: Camping
Oldham County 4-H continues to break camp enrollment records with the number of campers, recruitment of new leaders and growth in club participation. In June 2023, 317 campers, 26 teen leaders and 55 adult leaders all experienced the MAGIC of camp. Camp enrollment included 50% of returning campers and 50 % were first time campers, with 79% of campers who were 4-H Club members this past year. Club members attended camp because of their participation in one of the 11 community clubs, 10 project cl
