Jessamine County CES

Title:

Improved Communication, Family, and Life Skill Development

MAP:

Youth & Families

Agents Involved:

Cathy Weaver, Steve Musen

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Child Development General

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Family Development General

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Communications & Expressive Arts

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Camping

Situation:

There are many skills necessary for an individual or family to acquire in order to achieve a high quality of life and to be a productive citizen of their community. These skills are manners and etiquette, money management, good decision-making skills, parenting basics, group living skills, communications skills and many others. We acknowledge that life skill development begins at an early age and by fostering this development, youth will become strong citizens in the future. Starting good habits and life skill development at an early age is necessary to build a lifelong foundation for growth.  By participating in these programs, individuals and families will acquire skills to able them to become more productive and knowledgeable citizens of Jessamine County. 

Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance in Kentucky.  The development of communications skills is one of the preeminent skills necessary to grow as an individual, a community member and a leader.   Using age appropriate activities selected from the approved Kentucky 4-H Communication & Expressive Arts Curriculum, educators can maximize the ability of youth to develop their writing, reading and personal communication capacities.  This in turn creates a solid foundation for positive youth development (Jones, K. R. 2006) Research also shows a positive association between arts participation and a number of desirable academic and social outcomes, such as school grades, test scores, enrollment in post-secondary education, attainment of a bachelor’s degree, and higher levels of literacy and civic engagement. (Child Trends, 2012) Kentucky 4-H provides communication and expressive arts by engaging youth in hands-on educational experiences that inspire confidence and foster a love for the arts. Programs and projects are offered in the areas of public speaking, visual arts, and performing arts.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Participants were prepared for kindergarten.
• Participants improved their confidence in parenting a second time around.  
• Youth will utilize the skills gained to serve as leaders in 4-H and other organizations;
• Youth share the elements of the music, dance, drama and visual arts with their community
• Youth will be advocates for the arts
• Youth serve as a leader for summer 4-H camp 
• Youth share and express how camp has helped them grow

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Participants demonstrated new motor skills.
• Participants practiced more social-emotional skills. 
• Participants demonstrated improved early learning literacy skills. 
• Participants improved their parenting skills. 
• Participants used positive discipline techniques. 
• Youth will construct a speech that has a clear introduction, body and closing
• Youth will demonstrate an increased level of confidence when presenting in front of groups
• Youth apply elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts in creating and performing
• Youth see themselves as part of a team
• Youth understand and practice independence

Initial Outcomes:

• Participants increased their ability to express emotion.
• Participants learned new gross motor skills. 
• Parents increased their parenting knowledge. 
• Youth will gain knowledge in researching, preparing and presenting a speech or demonstration
• Youth can identify key elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts
• Youth are able to master a skill at camp
• Youth are able to recognize being kind to others

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome:

A listserv of FCS class participants will be created and sent a long-term follow-up evaluation.  

Intermediate Outcome: 

• A 3-6 month follow-up evaluation will be sent to participants to evaluate behavior changes.
• Parenting a Second Time Around Indicators to be measured:
• Number of individuals reporting improved parenting skill
• Number of individuals who reported using specific preventative and positive discipline techniques in response to child’s misbehavior
• Number of individuals who practice effective parenting skills, such as parental empathy, proper ways of establishing family rules and/or boundaries, or concrete support of their child

Initial Outcome: 

• An evaluation (visual or written) will be given at the conclusion of programs to determine if knowledge change occurred.
• SSS Indicators to be measured:
• Based on observation, how many children improved their gross motor skills?
• Based on observation and/or feedback from caregivers and/or teachers, how many children put new social-emotional skills into practice after completing the program?
• Based on observation and/or feedback from caregivers and/or teachers, how many children demonstrated improved early literacy skills?
• Based on observation, how many children increased their ability to express emotion after attending the program? 
• Parenting a Second Time Around Indicators to be measured:
  Number of individuals (parents, caregivers, grandparent, or relative) reporting improved personal knowledge
  
  
  

Evaluation measures/Impact Indicators-

• The number of youth that have improved their communication skills.
• The number of youth that can express themselves through the arts.
• The number of youth that report feeling comfortable sharing their thoughts with others.
• The number of youth that have confidence speaking in front of groups.
• Number of returning campers to summer camp
• Number of former campers who become leaders 
• Number of campers who report learning a new skill, feeling a part of a team, feeling independent etc.

Learning Opportunities:

Stories, Songs, and Stretches
state-supported FCS curriculum will be used
audience: 3-5-year-olds and their caregivers
inputs: FCS Agent, SSS curriculum
timeframe: Fall 

Parenting A Second Time Around
state-supported FCS curriculum will be used
audience: adults
inputs: FCS Agent, state-supported curriculum, community partners
timeframe: Spring 

4-H camp – week long learning activity 

Standard curriculum

Ext staff and volunteers

Summer

Reality Store – provide students with real life experiences – spring/Fall, 4-H Curr., Ext Staff and Community volunteers

4-H project clubs – various hands on activities – year round, Specific Curr, Ext Staff and Volunteers

School Clubs – monthly lessons – during the school year, Various Curr, Ext Staff

Chick Incubation – science – school year, NC State and UK approved Curr., Ext Staff

Cyber Bullying./bullying- school year, UK Approved Curr., Ext Staff

Shooting Sports – Feb - July

safety and marksmanship – April- Sept., SS Curr., Cert Coaches

4-H Speech lesson and speech contest – school, county, area and state level 

Approved 4-H Communications Curriculum

Inputs: Extension Staff

Audience is 1200 4th and 5th graders, Middle and High school students

Time frame: Winter

4-H Demonstration Event – school, county, area and state level – 

Approved 4-H Communications Curriculum

Inputs: Extension Staff

 Audience is 1200 4th and 5th graders, Middle and High school students

Time frame: Late winter and early spring