Hopkins County CES

Title:

Provide Resources and Training regarding Financial Literacy, Career Skills, and Business Management

MAP:

Improving Economic Outlook and Financial Stability

Agents Involved:

Connor Cooper, Erika Wood, Jay Stone, and Amanda Dame

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Farm Management, Economics and Policy

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Financial Education - General

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Business Retention and Expansion

Situation:

Hopkins County is continuously working diligently to increase the number of youth achieving a Bachelor's degree or higher education, trade job, and knowledge in financial resources. Unfortunately, Kentucky is behind other states in key household economic indicators, including: personal income, population living below the poverty line, unemployment, and revolving debt. Hopkins County boasts a mere 14% of the population with a Bachelor's degree or higher education, and the average household income in Hopkins County operates on average $21,000 shy of the national average. It is important to acknowledge the impact of current economic conditions on family financial management, farms, and small businesses. With the knowledge of available Extension programming, the Hopkins County Extension Council and Area Program Councils recommend increased financial literacy programming, career skills, and business management to help citizens understand and respond to changing economic conditions, while promoting healthy financial behaviors across the lifespan.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize or extend resources to maintain or increase financial stability

Increased number of individuals and businesses reporting family financial stability and economic well-being.

Maximize profits for commercial ag producers

Intermediate Outcomes:

Adopt one or more short, mid and long term financial planning strategies.

Practice one or more resource management behavior(s) resulting in increased savings or investments personally or in a business setting.

Apply practical living skills to advance education or employability

Initial Outcomes:

Youth and adults will show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial and non-financial resources.

Youth and young adults will simulate life situations to recognize importance of education and employability skills.

Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintaining and improving their financial stability.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintaining and improving their financial stability.

Indicator: pre-test/post-test evaluations, observable increase in knowledge

Method: survey, evaluation results

Intermediate Outcome: Apply practical living skills to advance education or employability.

Indicator: self-reported institution of practical living skills

Method: pre-test/post-test evaluations, post-post test surveys

Intermediate Outcome: Adopt one or more short, mid and long term financial planning strategies.

Indicator: self-reported behavior change, self-reported instituted financial planning strategies

Method: pre-test/post-test evaluations, post-post test surveys

Intermediate Outcome: Practice one or more resource management behavior(s) resulting in increased savings or investments personally or in a business setting.

Indicator: self-reported behavior change, self-reported increased savings or investments

Method: pre-test/post-test evaluations, post-post test surveys

Long-term Outcome: Increased profitability and economic viability for producers, consumers, families and clientele in Hopkins County.

Indicator: CEDIK Data, Annual Ag Economic Situation Report, and Ag Census

Method: data comparison

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High School Students

Project or Activity: American Private Enterprise Seminar, Reality Store, Stuck in the Middle, M.A.P.S., Adulting, Junior Leadership

Content or Curriculum: American Private Enterprise System, It's Your Reality, 4-H Workforce Preparation and Career Readiness 

Inputs: UK Curriculum, school system, local business owners, chamber of commerce

Time Frame: Spring

Audience: Families

Project or Activity: Budgeting Programs, Babysitting Program, Positive Employability

Content or Curriculum: Where Does Your Money Go, Small Steps to Health and Wealth, Managing in Tough Times, Healthy Money Habits, Workforce Readiness, "Positive Employability"

Inputs: UK Curriculum, Madisonville Community College Ready to Work Program, School System, Family Resource and Youth Service Coordinators.

Time Frame: Summer

Audience: Agriculture Enterprises

Project or Activity: Farm Management, Marketing and Risk Management Meetings, Farmers' Market, Agritourism Planning, Farm Start up for youth and Military, Farm Day Camp, Master Gardeners, Chick Hatching, Ag Matters Podcast

Content or Curriculum: Farm Business Management Programs, agriculture economics workshops and economic updates, Junior Master Gardeners, The Egg and I, Kentucky Master Gardeners State Curriculum

Inputs: UK Curriculum, local business owners, farm business management personnel, youth interested in agriculture and Chamber of Commerce

Time Frame: Spring, Summer, Fall