Educating & Empowering Individuals and Families to Make Responsible Choices and Develop Life SkillsPlan of Work

Back to the Program

Jefferson County CES

Title:
Educating & Empowering Individuals and Families to Make Responsible Choices and Develop Life Skills
MAP:
Developing Life Skills
Agents Involved:
C. Hall, K. Smith, J. Palmer
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Community Engagement
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Health & Wellbeing
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Leadership
Situation:

Developing life skills and making responsible, healthy choices can have a profound impact on family stability, individual well-being and community sustainability. Budgeting, interpersonal relationships, communication, family management and other skills are necessary for success. 
 
The consequences of the Great Recession and the extended period of slow economic growth which followed, encouraged Kentuckians to become more aware of their financial situation. Kentucky consistently lags behind other areas of the United States in key household economic indicators, including: personal income, population living below the poverty line, unemployment, and revolving debt. These indicators, especially unemployment numbers became more exaggerated during the period of the Great Recession. However, at present economist are cautiously optimistic regarding future economic forecasts. It is important to acknowledge the impact of current economic conditions on family financial management. The goal of the Securing Financial Stability Initiative is to help Kentuckians understand and respond to changing economic conditions, while promoting healthy financial behaviors across the lifespan. 
 

The development of life skills, like leadership, allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension). Almost 30 percent of youth in the United States (or over 5.7 million) are to be involved in bullying as a bully, a target of bullying or both. A troubling statistic that needs to be addressed. 

Youth participating in experiential learning opportunities coupled with setting goals, solving problems, and making wise decisions will help students develop their leadership skills, and in turn will provide them with the necessary skills for leading a successful life (Boyd, 2001).  

Healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. Furthermore, children who start kindergarten with delayed development and fewer assets are by far more likely to repeat grades, get tracked into lower-tier classes and drop out of high school than more advantaged children. 


Boyd, B.L. (2011). Bringing leadership experiences to inner-city youth. Journal of Extension [Online]. 39(4). Available:  https://www.joe.org/joe/2001august/a6.php  

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

 

 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults & Youth 

Project or Activity: Community Garden implementation; school garden 

Content or Curriculum: Extension publications 

Inputs: specialists; content curriculum 

Date: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025


 

Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: Community Gardens 

Content or Curriculum: CES publications 

Inputs: agents, garden space 

Date: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025


 

Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: In – School Clubs & Before/After School Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide, National 4-H Curriculum 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025


 

 Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Dollars & Sense, Reality Store 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2023– Apr. 2024


 

 Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: Teen Summit 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, Steps to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025


 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Jr. MANRRS 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025


 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: 4-H SPIN Clubs 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide, National 4-H Curriculum 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025


 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: 4 – H Embryology 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025


 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Babysitting 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025


 

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: 4 – H Camp 

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures, What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science, Step Up to Leadership, Cooking, Keeping Fit & Healthy, Be SAFE: Affirming and Fair Environments, STEPS to a Healthy Teen, Welcome to 4 – H: New Members Guide 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: Sept. 2024 – Apr. 2025


 

Audience: Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date: October 2023


 

Audience: Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date: December 2023


 

Audience: Extension Homemakers  

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA), Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date: March 2024


 
Audience: Senior Citizens 

Project or Activity: TBA

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Embracing Aging and Stand Up to Falling 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) publications and resources 

Date: Spring 2024


 

Audience: General Public 

Project or Activity: Personal Finance 

Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life, Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents, volunteers. 

Date: July 2023 – June 2024


 

Audience: General Public 

Project or Activity: Holiday Finances 

Content or Curriculum: Stretching Your Holiday Spending, Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents 

Date: October 2023– December 2024




Success Stories

Continuing Sewing Skills

Author: Kelly Smith

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

Studies indicate that sewing is not only a productive hobby and life skill, but it can also reduce stress and increase an individual’s feeling of self-worth. The Jefferson County 4-H Agents, 4-H assistants, County Master Clothing Volunteer, and County volunteers planned and delivered a sewing Day Camp.  This program was offered to those that may have attended 4-H sewing programs in the past and were intermediate sewers.  The youth refreshed their sewing skills, sewing machine fun

Full Story

Homemaker Leader Lesson Extravaganza

Author: Carolina Robles

Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

Describe the Issue or Situation.The Homemaker Leader Lesson Day addressed several key topics relevant to family and consumer sciences, focusing on practical life skills. There was a need to educate homemakers on modern tools and practices like air fryer usage, online grocery shopping strategies, avoiding scams, and maintaining bone health to combat osteoporosis. The program also recognized the benefit of fostering inter-county collaboration, which was previously limited as past lessons were held

Full Story

Sewing into the Next Level

Author: Chanda Hall

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

Studies indicate that sewing is not only a productive hobby and life skill, but it can also reduce stress and increase an individual’s self-worth. The Jefferson County 4-H Agents, 4-H assistants, County Master Clothing Volunteers, and County volunteers planned and delivered a sewing Day Camp.  This program was offered to those who may have attended 4-H sewing programs in the past and were intermediate sewers.  The youth refreshed their sewing skills, sewing machine functions and

Full Story
Back to the Program