Livingston County CES

Title:

Develop community leaders with strong personal and interpersonal skills and stimulate volunteerism.

MAP:

Empowering Community Leaders

Agents Involved:

FCS, 4-H, and EFNEP/Program Assistant

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Empowering Community Leaders (general)

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD)

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum

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. Through the efforts of the FCS agent, paraprofessional, and volunteers local citizens will become engaged, educated and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions.

In Livingston County the Extension Agents work with the Grand Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce, Smithland Chamber of Commerce, The Livingston County Fair Board, the Livingston County Tourism Commission, the Community Early Childhood Council, The 21st Century After School Programs, the Family Resource/Youth Services Centers and our own County Extension Council, District Board and advisory councils.

Adult Volunteer leaders are a vital part, not only of Extension but of many other county organizations and they look to Extension for knowledge and experience in building community capacity. According to the Grand Rivers Chamber President, Extension is our "go to" partner. When we need a question answered, statistics found, or an action planned developed, we know that the agent has the research based information of the University available. The Chamber and other groups recognize the need for more trained adult volunteers in the county.

With a new facility comes new responsibility, and a need for more adult 4-H Leaders as well. This need has been recognized in community listening sessions and the 4-H Advisory Council meeting. 4-H is growing in Livingston County and trained leaders are needed.

Clientele develop communication, problem solving, and group skills. Youth identify and strengthen leadership skills through participation in communications programs, a leadership development workshop, and the officer and committee system of the club structure. Involvement in councils and coalitions coordinated through Extension programming gives volunteers opportunities to practice and strengthen these skills as they identify needs, set priorities, and conduct programs.

Many times the value of our volunteers is overlooked. The Independent Sector research organization has place a $16.54 per hour price tag on volunteer time. National statistics show that 44% of adults will volunteer and this can be equal to over 9 million full-time employees. With limited resources available in rural areas like Livingston County, training volunteers becomes even more important.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Individuals will:
(A) Develop skills and knowledge designed to improve personal leadership capacity.
(B) Implement leadership practices designed to improve successful accomplishment of organizational goals and objectives.
(C)Employ effective practices designed to increase community support for improving community quality of life.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Individuals will practice personal leadership skills in clubs, schools, volunteer roles, and community outreach. Individuals will show improved skills in communication, problem solving, or community needs identification. The youth will be able to reach honor goals. They will be able to address organizational issues, needs and execute plans for improvement. They will apply acquired skills to assess these needs, develop programs, and implement solutions for community problems. More community members will take part in Chamber of Commerce activities and Livingston County Homemakers will see growth in membership. The county will see a rise in employability and entrepreneurship.

Initial Outcomes:

Individuals show increased knowledge and skills in personal leadership in clubs, chambers and county organizations. All program advisory council members will increase knowledge and skills in organizational leadership. Community members, 4-H'ers, homemakers, and Extension advisory groups show an increase in knowledge and desire to learn new skills in community leadership. Youth volunteer for community service projects to fulfill honor achievement level goals. New adult volunteers in sewing, shooting sports, beekeeping, and foods will complete training, and begin to fulfill their community hours commitment. Homemakers will take leadership rolls at the county and Pennyrile Area levels while seeing growth in community club membership.

Evaluation:

Intermediate Outcome: Livingston County Homemakers increase volunteerism and participation in local events and charitable efforts in the community. Community schools, organizations, and clubs will benefit from local leadership development.

Indicator: Number of active and mailbox homemaker members will increase. Those who have been trained and are working with organizations in the community and 4-H programs will log hours at extension office. Homemakers will make efforts to participate in 2 community events per year.

Method: Statistics will be kept of membership and completed activities. Charitable giving and volunteer hours will be logged.

Timeline: yearly

Intermediate Outcome: 4-H Council members and community members increase volunteerism and participate in local events and efforts in 4-H Programming. Youth and adult community members will gain interaction and come together to achieve a common purpose. 

Indicator: Number of community members serving in intermittent and regular volunteer capacity will increase. 

Timeline: Yearly

Intermediate Outcome: Numbers of trained volunteers who work with Extension programs and who serve with community organizations show increase(s)

Indicator: Numbers and hours spent volunteering.

Method: Statistics will be kept

Timeline: Annualy

Initial Outcome: Individuals will learn how to become effective leaders in their community.

Indicator: Number of people participating in 4-H, Homemakers, extension volunteers, and KELD program attendance. Smithland Chamber of Commerce membership and meeting attendance will increase.

Method: Officer training/leadership training for 4-H and Homemakers; KELD Curriculum

Timeline: January 2017 start date

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H Members, Adult community members

Project or Activity: 4-H Communications & Expressive Arts

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Speech and Demonstration Competition offered to every 4-12th grade student in Livingston County. Youth 16 and older may apply for and interview to be Teen Leaders for 4-H Summmer and other leadership events.

Inputs: 4-H, Community volunteers, Parents

Date: 2017-18

Audience: 4-H, Fair Board, Chambers, FCS, CEC, District Board, CEC, and other community leader councils

Project or Activity: Leadership Development programs (KELD), CEC and DB officer training opportunities

Inputs: FCS, 4-H, and ANR

Date: 2017-18

Audience: Homemaker Council & club members; FCS Advisory Council

Project or Activity: Recruiting members

Content or Curriculum: KEHA leader lesson curriculum and special interest clubs

Inputs: FCS, Program Assistant

Date: Fall 2016

Audience: Chambers of Commerce

Project or Activity: Regular Meetings and Festivals

Content or Curriculum: Meeting planning/Leadership

Inputs: FCS, 4-H

Date: Monthly

Audience: 4-H Members

Project or Activity: 4-H Meetings

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Club Officer Training

Inputs: Volunteers, Agent, Teacher, Club Youth Members

Date: Monthly

Audience: 4-H Teen Leadership Academy

Project or Activity: Monthly Teen Leadership Acedemy(TLA) meetings & tours

Inputs: Volunteers, business leaders and agents from Caldwell, Crittenden, Lyon, Trigg and Livingston Counties

Timeline: Monthly

Audience: 4-H Council

Project or Activity: 4-H Programming Council

Inputs: 4-H, volunteers and youth

Timeline: Bi-Monthly

Audience: 4-H Youth 

Project or Activity: Various Summer Day Camps

Inputs: Volunteers, youth, parents

Timeline: Summer

Audience: 4-H Youth & Volunteers

Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Camp

Inputs: Volunteers, youth, parents

Timeline: Summer

Audience: 4-H Youth 

Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Conference

Inputs: 4-H Teens & Volunteers

Inputs: Youth, volunteers, parents

Timeline: Summer

Success Stories