Johnson County CES

Title:

Improve Individual and Family Development

MAP:

Life skills

Agents Involved:

Cockerham

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Financial Education - General

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

FCS Employment Skills

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Child Development General

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Artistic & Essential Skill Development

Situation:

“School-readiness” is a broad term that refers to multiple precursor cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills that indicate young children are prepared to learn and thrive in the school environment. A wide body of research shows a strong foundation in school readiness is indicative of school success. Emerging research also indicates that there is a synergistic effect when early learning activities activate physical and cognitive skills simultaneously, as opposed to doing so in isolation. However, in the state of Kentucky only 50% of children are deemed “school-ready” when they enter Kindergarten.  These numbers indicate a need for more activities that support school-readiness by building multiple skillsets simultaneously.

96,000 children in Kentucky live in kinship care.  Kentucky ranks first in the nation for the most children in kinship care settings in the country.  15,000 children are in kinship care due to removal from their home.   Kinship care providers need support.

Promote positive personal finance behaviors prepares Kentuckians for any future economic shift. The United States has been in an extremely long period of economic expansion; however, expansions are cyclical, meaning growth is eventually followed by recession. Securing financial stability for Kentuckians will help families thrive no matter the economic outlook. Financial stability is achieved when families are able to secure and manage resources needed to supply food, clothing, and shelter. Through increased financial knowledge, families may be able to make wise financial decisions, increase buying power, avoid overextended credit, develop savings habits, and manage risks.

Having soft skills in order to secure jobs is also a challenge to those seeking employment in an already economically challenged area. The Kentucky Extension Community Assessment Statewide Report 2019 indicates that money management for families and youth and employee “soft/essential skills” training continue to be important issues statewide. Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center indicates 85% of job success comes from having well developed soft and people skills, and only 15% of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge (hard skills).  Employers are often prepared to teach technical job skills; however, the intangible skills of being a team player, time management, and positive attitude are difficult to teach on-sight but critical to success. 

Homemaking skills cover a vast array of skill sets, from sewing, to budgeting, teaching children or grandchildren, crafting, quilting, painting…these life skills are important in achieving quality of life for individuals ranging from 0 to 110. Sharing these skills with others is often how they are passed from generation to generation. Leadership skills are often the conduit to which knowledge is exchanged. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

Increase the number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in the state of Kentucky.

Improve academic success for children in Kentucky 

Better family money management skills, such as reducing debt, increasing savings, and financial planning.

More effective employees and community leaders.

Improved financial capability for Kentuckians, results in a better quality of life and stronger families.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Increase opportunities and access to more preschool learning activities outside of the home
  • Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Johnson county
  • Increase number of learning activities experienced at home
  • Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.
  • Increase caregiver advocacy for children in their care including legal, medical, social, and educational services Increase access of community services to caregivers
  • Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings or investments
• Adopt financial planning strategies for short-, mid-, and long-term goals
  • Increased skills for employability
  • Increased skills for managing home life 

Initial Outcomes:

Kentuckians understand the importance of developmentally appropriate play to their child’s academic success

• Increase child’s ability to express appropriate emotion
• Improve child’s gross motor skills
• Improve child’s early literacy skills including phonological awareness, print awareness, and vocabulary
• Increase awareness of indicators of high-risk adolescent behaviors 
• Identify key points of adolescent development
• Establish realistic expectations for teen behavior, and explore changing relationships within families
• Increased knowledge and skills related to managing financial resources, including savings, credit, and financial planning.         
• Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations, to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education practices. 
• Increase financial literacy (knowledge and skills) related to savings and investment 

Evaluation:

Outcome:  Kentuckians learn fun age-appropriate activities to aid in their child’s healthy development.

Indicator:  Number of parents who expressed learning new activities to engage their children at home.

Method:  Parent Survey

Timeline:  January - December

Outcome: Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.

Indicator: How many children increased their ability to express emotion after attending the program?

Method:  childcare programs surveys

Timeline: July - June

Outcome: Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Johnson county. 

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many parents reported improved gross motor skills, social-emotional skills, and early literacy skills?) 

Method:  Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Kindergarten Readiness Results

Timeline:  July- June

Outcome: Increase skills and resources of caregivers to provide effective care for young relatives

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many caregivers improve skills/knowledge in child development, discipline and guidance, legal issues, and advocacy)

Method: Parenting a Second Time Around (PASTA) Evaluation 

Timeline:  Post program evaluation

Outcome:  Increased awareness of sound financial behaviors

Indicator(s):  Number of individuals who implemented at least one 

strategy to reduce expenses or manage money

Number of individuals who made a sound financial decision 

(regarding credit, budgeting, savings, and/or debt)

Method:  Retroactive pre-post

Timeline: Following financial education workshops

Outcome:  Increase knowledge and skills related to 

managing financial resources

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of 

understanding in the area: confidence in handling money issues 

or specific financial matters

Method:  Retroactive pre-post 

Timeline:  Following financial education workshops

Outcome:  Increase knowledge and skills related to 

estate planning

Indicator: Number of individuals who took action toward 

implementing at least one estate planning strategy in regard to the subject matter presented

Method:  Retroactive pre-post 

Timeline:  Following financial education workshops

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults, Young Adults

Project or Activity: Positive Employability

Inputs: FCS Council

Date: as requested

Project or Activity:  Various (ie FCS classroom outreach, daycares)

Content or Curriculum: Play Dates

Inputs: FCS Agent, Local Preschool, FCS Council, Early childcare council, FCS teachers

Date: On-Going

Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens

Project or Activity: Financial Life Skills

Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes, Recovering Your Finances, Money Smart

Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, 

Money Habitudes cards, Family Resource Center Directors, Drug Court

Date: as requested

Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens

Project or Activity: Financial Management 

Content or Curriculum: Good Credit Game, Recovering your finances

Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, 

Good Credit Game set

Date: ongoing, finishing in July 2023

Success Stories