Kenton County CES

Title:

2023 Financial Education, Developing Human Capital, Real Skills for Everyday Life

MAP:

2023 Life Skills and Consumer Awareness

Agents Involved:

Dan Allen, Joan Bowling, Diane Kelley, Lori Clark, Denise Donahue, Brandon George, 3rd 4-H Agent

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Financial Education - General

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Master Clothing Volunteer

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Family and Consumer Science

Situation:

Kenton County has a population of 167,053 citizens,13% of the population lives in poverty with a 3 % unemployment rate (2019 data). The United States has been in an extremely long period of economic expansion; however, the recent pandemic has caused an economic downturn, creating the possibility of a 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. The recent Community Assessment and feedback from the County Extension Council indicated there was a need for more training in life skills for youth and families in money management, reducing debt, increasing savings, financial planning, and career readiness.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• 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, resulting in better quality of life and stronger families. 
• Increase the number of clientele reporting improved privacy security measures and reduction in reports of financial fraudulent matters across the state. 
• Maximize or extend resources to maintain or increase financial resources.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings or investments. 
• Adopt financial planning strategies for short-, mid-, and long-term goals.
• Practice better employee “soft/essential skills” such as communication, networking, teamwork, time management, problem-solving, etc.

Initial Outcomes:

• 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 investments. 
• Participants will increase understanding of consumer rights and privacy protection measures.

Evaluation:

Outcome: Increase 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: Pre-post test, Verbal Feedback, phone calls, emails

Timeline: Following the 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: Pre-post tests, Testimonials, phone calls

Timeline: two months after 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.

Method: Written evaluation, verbal Feedback, emails.

Timeline: One month after the workshop.

Outcome: Increase knowledge and skills to improve employability. 

Indicator: Increase number of responses to job inquiries, long-term employability
Method: Surveys, phone calls, success stories
Timeline: 3 to 6 months after class then a year follow-up

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults, teens, unemployed individuals, limited-resource individuals, parolees

Project or Activity: Employability Skills series

Content or Curriculum: KY CES Resources

Input: FCS Agents, Community Partners (Unemployment Office), Guidance Counselors
Date: September 2023 - April 2024

Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens

Project or activity: Financial Education

Content or curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life

Input: FCS Agents, Community Partners (High Schools)

Date: October 2023

 Audience: Elementary  School Youth 

Project or Activity: 4-H Consumer Education

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H curriculum

Inputs: UK curriculum, agent, 4-H assistants
Date: September 2023-May 2024
 

Audience:  Elementary School Youth 

Project or Activity:  After school sewing
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H curriculum
Inputs: UK curriculum, agent, 4-H assistants

Date: September 2023-May 2024

Audience:  Kenton County Youth

Project or Activity:  Junior/Senior Sewing/Quilting

Content or Curriculum:  KY 4-H curriculum

Inputs:  Agent, volunteers, program funds, families purchase supplies

Date:   September 2023 - May 2024

Project or Activity: Beginning Sewing for Adults series
Content or Curriculum: FCS Agent and Master Clothing Volunteer designed
Inputs: Master Clothing Volunteer Curriculum, FCS designed
Date: Fall 2023, Spring 2024

Project or Activity: Adult Sewing Project Group
Content or Curriculum: FCS Agent and Master Clothing Volunteer designed
Inputs: UK Clothing publications
Date: Monthly, beginning September 2023

 Activity: County Ham Speeches
 Content or Curriculum: 4-H County Ham
 Inputs: 4-H School Club programs; Volunteer leaders and community leaders as judges, guest speakers; UK Inputs
 Date: August 2024

Activity: Homesteading Basic Series

Content or Curriculum: UK Specialists and publications

Inputs: Local Agents

Date: Fall 2024

Success Stories