Empowering Community LeadersPlan of Work

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Marshall County CES

Title:
Empowering Community Leaders
MAP:
Engaged Communities
Agents Involved:
LDM, NR, VW
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Leadership
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Master Gardener
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. Within Kentucky there are 16,000 KEHA members, 119 Master Clothing Volunteers, 8,575 Master Gardener Volunteers, and over 150 Champion Food Volunteers who share their expertise, and volunteer time with youth and families in their community. Through the efforts of the FCS agents, paraprofessionals, and volunteers local citizens are engaged, educated and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions.


Youth Leadership & 4-H Volunteer Development

Leadership is a needed and important programming emphasis in Kentucky 4-H.  The Cooperative Extension Service provides opportunities for youth and families to help improve their leadership ability and create a positive impact on their future.  Leadership opportunities for youth create a setting that reduces the access of youth to risk factors that can negatively impact their success. 

Basic leadership knowledge & skills are essential for success in almost any field.  The skills associated with leadership are necessary when working in a group or communicating with others.  Employers look for leadership skills in future employees.   Developing leadership in the youth and adults who are involved in the 4-H program is a priority.  By assisting the development of leadership skills in today’s youth, we improve their ability to face the challenges of tomorrow (Unlock Your Leadership Potential, University of Florida, 2017). 

Kentucky 4-H provides opportunities for youth to actively engage locally and globally to promote life skills [such as leadership] that prepare them for the global marketplace. Through 4-H youth exercise critical thinking skills, learn to appreciate diversity, practice tolerance, develop socio-emotionally, and strive to contribute to their environment (United States Department of Education International Affairs Office of International Strategy).  4-H participants rate their leadership life skills above average, have a positive view of their leadership ability, and have a positive attitude toward diversity and acceptance of others (Locke, Boyd, Fraze, and Howard, 2007).   

According to the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS), Kentucky ranks 48th in Teenage Volunteer Rate and 39th in Adult Volunteer Rate.  Kentucky’s Teenage Volunteer Rate was 17.9%, as compared to other states which ranged from 14.1% to 42.2%.  Conversely, 28.1% of adults volunteer.  Meanwhile, volunteer rates among teens, nationwide are increasing.  Finally, teens engaged in service activities during their high school years are twice as likely to serve as volunteers during their 20’s and 30’s.   Clearly, in order to develop the next generation of volunteers in Kentucky, Extension must be more proactive in engaging teens in volunteer service.

Marshall Master Gardener Association (MMGA):
The Extension Master Gardener Program was created to meet an increase in requests from home gardeners for horticultural information.  This increase derives primarily from the urban and transient nature of modern American life. Fifty years ago, an Extension agent dealt with the questions of a few hundred farm families. In many regions, however, land that once constituted a single farm now encompasses several subdivisions, increasing the number of families an Extension office must serve. In additions, many of these families are unfamiliar with the grasses, shrubs, trees, and diseases that comprise the microenvironment of their new home.  They often will call their local Extension for advice on what to plant and how to care for it.

Consequently, Master Gardeners have become a vital part of Extension’s ability to provide consumers with up-to-date, reliable knowledge so they can enjoy and protect the plantings around their homes. Master Gardening also has become a fun and useful volunteer activity that has given its participants a sense of community spirit, accomplishment, and intellectual stimulation.

Extension Homemakers

The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) is a volunteer organization that works to improve the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development, volunteer service, and education. The organization was developed in cooperation with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Across the state, County Extension Agents for Family and Consumer Sciences work closely with KEHA members and clubs to provide educational programming and coordinate community activities. Marshall County Extension Homemakers plan of work includes educational programs and service activities for related opportunities throughout the community. Master Clothing Volunteers and Master Food Volunteers are engaged leaders and active volunteers that are an asset to the local community.

Long-Term Outcomes:

--Kentucky communities' health and economy are strengthened through strong local organizational leadership

--Community problems are solved through active engaged local leaders? Youth will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth.


Community assessment 2020
community vitality-
***More qualified leaders to prepare community for the future
More citizens helping to solve local issues
More pride in the community and its assets

Intermediate Outcomes:

Number of people who:

--practice personal leadership skills in clubs, schools and community outreach

--improved skills in communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs

--apply skills to assess needs, develop programs and implement solutions for community problems

Initial Outcomes:

--Kentuckians increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership

--KEHA members increase knowledge and skills in organizational leadership

--Kentuckians increase knowledge and skills as community leadership. Youth will learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting.

-- MMGA increase knowledge and skills in organizational leadership

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: KEHA members will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership through club lessons and special interest workshops.

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership knowledge and/or number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership skills.

Method: end of program evaluations, surveys

Timeline: ongoing


Intermediate Outcome: KEHA members will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer and chairman training

Indicator: Number of KEHA members who report knowledge gained through county and/or area officer and chairman training.

Method: program evaluation with per and post assessment questions

Timeline: ongoing


Long-term Outcome: KEHA leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level.

Indicator: Number of KEHA members who utilized knowledge gained through office training to fulfill a KEHA leadership role at the club, county, area and/or state level.

Method: Observation, review of office directories and reports

Timeline: ongoing


4-H Youth Development Program Evaluation

Evaluation of 4-H Volunteer Development Programming


Master Gardener Volunteer Development

Initial Outcome: MMGA members will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership while participating in MMG class.

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting who report that they develop skills they can use in other areas of their lives.

Method: observation and end of program evaluations/surveys

Timeline: continuous 


Intermediate Outcome: MMGA members will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership while participating in monthly meetings and association activities 

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting who report that they develop skills they can use in other areas of their lives or increased confidence in public speaking. 

Method: observation and evaluations/surveys 

Timeline: continuous 


Long-term Outcome: MMGA leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles (officer roles, program leaders, committee leaders, etc.)

Indicator: Number of MMGA volunteers who report that they develop skills they can use in other areas of their lives or increased public speaking skills. 

Method: Observation and priority indicators 

Timeline: continuous 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: volunteer leaders, KEHA members

Project or Activity: KEHA leader training, Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD)

Content or Curriculum: KEHA resources, KELD curriculum

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers, Kentucky CES publications and resources, community partners, KEHA, Master Clothing Volunteers

Date: Fall 2024-Spring 2025


Audience: Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYSCs), Libraries, Schools, Faith-based groups, non-profit organizations

Project or Activity: Master Clothing Volunteers

Content or Curriculum: MCV curriculum

Date: Fall 2024-Spring 2025


Audience: Volunteer leaders, KGA members

Project or Activity: KY Master Gardener

Content or Curriculum: KMG Lessons, and other local learning opportunities 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers, Kentucky CES publications and resources, community partners, KMG, Master Gardener Volunteers

Date: ongoing


Audience: Marshall County, Community 4-H Clubs & CFS/NCCA Club Members/Students 

Project or Activity: Leadership 4-H Club Lessons / Officer Elections & Role Experience / Specialized Lessons when requested from club leaders or teachers.

Content or Curriculum: 4-HCCS "Step Up to Leadership" and "Unlock Your Leadership Potential"

Inputs: Marshall County Extension for 4-H Youth Development Agent, Extension Assistant, 4-H Club Leaders, and 4-H Teen Volunteers.

Date: 2024-25


Audience: Marshall County, Community 4-H Clubs & CFS/NCCA Club Members

Project or Activity: Volunteer Service/Civic Engagement

Content or Curriculum: Marshall 4-H Volunteer Service Scholarship Program

Inputs: Marshall County Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent, Extension Assistant, Marshall County 4-H Members and Teen & Adult Volunteer, Marshall County 4-H Council, and local community organizations.

Date: 2024-25


Audience: Marshall County 4-H Teens

Project or Activity: Teen led 4-H School Enrichment, SPIN Club Programs, Day Camps, etc Lessons

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Curriculum for topic(s) to be taught.

Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, 4-H Teen Volunteers

Date: 2024-25


Audience:  Marshall County 4-H Sharp Shooters

Project or Activity:  Teen Discipline Coaches

Content or Curriculum:  Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports Certification

Inputs:  Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors, Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Marshall County 4-H Sharp Shooters Coordinator & Adult Coaches

Date:  Spring/Summer 2025


Audience:  Marshall County 4-H Clubs / Day Camp & School Enrichment Program Participants

Project or Activity: 4-H Global Education

Content or Curriculum:  4-H Backpack to Adventure / WeConnect / A Global Youth Citizenship / Youth Leaders in a Global World

Inputs:  Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, 4-H Teen Volunteers

Date:  2024-25 Club Year


Audience:  Marshall County Teens & Adults

Project or Activity:  Kentucky 4-H Camp Counselors

Content or Curriculum:  Kentucky 4-H Camp Counselor Training

Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development and Past 4-H Camp Adult Counselors

Date:  Spring/Summer 2025


Master Gardener Volunteer Development

Audience: Aspiring Master Gardener Volunteers

Project or Activity: Marshall Master Gardener Class

Content or Curriculum: EMG Core Curriculum  

Inputs: Sessions taught by Agents, Specialists or local experts utilizing Extension publications, research and resources. 

Date: Fall 2025

Audience: Master Gardener Volunteers

Project or Activity: MMGA Continuing Education Efforts

Content or Curriculum: EMG Curriculum, UK/KSU and other University's resources, etc.

Inputs: UK/KSU specialists, agents, and resources, local experts, Extension volunteers, KY Horticulture Newsletter articles, KY Pest News, UK Agriculture Communications articles, etc. 

Date: Continuous

Audience: Master Gardener Volunteers and Gardening/Landscape Enthusiasts

Project or Activity: Home Horticulture Classes and Workshops

Content or Curriculum:  UK/KSU Resources

Inputs: UK/KSU Specialists, agents, and resources, local experts, and Extension volunteers

Date: Continuous


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