Daviess County CES

Title:

Fostering Life Skills Education in Youth and Families

MAP:

Youth and Families Life Skills

Agents Involved:

Alexander, Potts, Heisdorffer, Clingenpeel

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Financial Education - General

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Family and Consumer Science

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Leadership

Situation:

The start of 4-H came about in the early 1900’s as a way to provide hands-on learning to youth so that they may share the learned skills with their families.  Today, 4-H is known as one of the largest youth development organizations in the country.  As many families in Daviess County live within broken homes, with 436 of every 1000 youth in foster care, 21% of children living in poverty, and a 45 of every 1000 juvenile incarceration rate, the need for both youth and families to gain valuable life skills has never been greater.  As guardians strive to meet family needs in single-parent households, 36% of homes with children in Daviess County, there is little time to teach these skills at home.  As many schools no longer include family and consumer science classes in their curriculum, youth must learn these skills elsewhere.  4-H is able to utilize in-school, after-school, club, and camp settings to engage and educate youth in these areas.  Additionally, the Family and Consumer Sciences program provides parents, guardians, caregivers, and young adults with parenting skills, financial education, and estate planning, as city and county schools respectively show the following statistics for age-appropriate youth; 42.8% and 56.7% are kindergarten ready, 48.1% and 59.5% display 4th grade reading level preparedness, 47.2% and 48.4% are 8th grade math proficient, and 84.1% and 92.3% graduate high school on time. 

*Source: Kentucky Kids Count Survey 

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Youth and families will improve financial stability 

• Extension youth will seek post-secondary and career development 

• Youth and families will make decisions to improve independence and resiliency 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Participants create a budget 

• Participants prioritize activities and needs 

• Individuals implement one or more activities to secure financial future 

• Families use appropriate learning activities and positive discipline 

• Participants apply one or more life skills in daily life 

• Individuals evaluate home or workplace for safety 

  

Initial Outcomes:

• Participants can distinguish between wants and needs/fixed expenses 

• Individuals discuss time management 

• Individuals define financial terms/literacy 

• Participants can match ages and stages 

• Identify/observe life skill practices 

• Individuals can name two or more safety practices 

• Participants can list two requirements for plants to grow successfully

Evaluation:

Long-term Outcome: Development in life skills in youth and families

Indicator: Youth and families will make decision to improve independence and resiliency

Method: Observation, written pre/post surveys, personal testimonies

Timeline: School year, duration of the program

Initial Outcome:  Developing gardening knowledge and skill for personal success

Indicator:  Participants can list two requirements for plants to grow successfully

Method:  Observation, written surveys, personal testimonies

Timeline:  Duration of the program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth Ages 9-18

Project or Activity: Cooking, Food Safety, Nutrition

Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef, Fantastic Foods, Luv-an-Egg, Put it Up! Food Preservation, Cooking 101-401, What's on Your Plate?

Inputs: 4-H Agents, Program Assistant

Date: School Year 2024-2025

Audience: Youth Ages 9-18

Project or Activity: 4-H Camp

Content or Curriculum: West KY 4-H Camping Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Agents, West KY 4-H Camping Faculty

Date: June July 2024/2025

Audience: Elementary School Youth Ages 9-12

Project or Activity: Progressive Agriculture Youth Safety Day

Content or Curriculum: Progressive Ag Safety Materials, Approved Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Agents, Program Assistant, Extension Volunteers

Date: 2024-2025

Audience: Youth Ages 9-18

Project or Activity: Project Day Camps

Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Agents, Program Assistant, Extension Volunteers

Date: Summer 2024

Audience: Youth Ages 9-18

Project or Activity: Shooting Sports

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports Approved Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Agent, Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Coaches

Date: October 2024-September 2025

Audience: Youth Ages 16-19

Project or Activity: Adulting 101

Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Daviess County Extension Agents, volunteers

Date: Fall 2024

Audience: Recovery Center participants, youth Ages 9-18

Project or Activity: Financial lessons, credit score, budgeting

Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes, CreditWise, Needs v. Wants

Inputs: Extension Agents

Date: Fall 2024

Audience: Individuals and Families

Project or Activity:  Horticultural topics including youth gardening projects

Content or Curriculum: Extension Publications

Inputs: Agent, Horticulture Program Assistant, and Extension Master Gardeners

Date: July 2024 - June 2025

Audience: College Students

Project or Activity: It's Your Reality

Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality

Inputs: Extension Agents, Volunteers

Date: 2024

Success Stories