Extension
It Starts With Us
2024 2025 Financial Education, Developing Human Capital, Real Skills for Everyday Life
Life Skills and Consumer Awareness 2024 2025
Dan Allen, Joan Bowling, Diane Kelley, Lori Clark, Denise Donahue, Brandon George, Anna Meyers
Financial Education - General
Master Clothing Volunteer
Family and Consumer Science
Workforce Preparation – 4-H Youth Development
Kenton County has a population of 167,053 citizens,13% of the population lives in poverty with a 3 % unemployment rate (2019 data). The United States has been in an extremely long period of economic expansion; however, the recent pandemic has caused an economic downturn, creating the possibility of a recession. Securing financial stability for Kentuckians will help families thrive no matter the economic outlook. Financial stability is achieved when families are able to secure and manage resources needed to supply food, clothing, and shelter. Through increased financial knowledge, families may be able to make wise financial decisions, increase buying power, avoid overextended credit, develop savings habits, and manage risks. The recent Community Assessment and feedback from the County Extension Council indicated there was a need for more training in life skills for youth and families in money management, reducing debt, increasing savings, financial planning, and career readiness.
- Better family money management skills, such as reducing debt, increasing savings, and financial planning.
- More effective employees and community leaders.
- Improved financial capability for Kentuckians, resulting in better quality of life and stronger families.
- Increase the number of clientele reporting improved privacy security measures and reduction in reports of financial fraudulent matters across the state.
- Maximize or extend resources to maintain or increase financial resources.
- Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings or investments.
- Adopt financial planning strategies for short-, mid-, and long-term goals.
- Practice better employee “soft/essential skills” such as communication, networking, teamwork, time management, problem-solving, etc.
- Increased knowledge and skills related to managing financial resources, including savings, credit, and financial planning.
- Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations, to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education practices.
- Increase financial literacy (knowledge and skills) related to savings and investments.
- Participants will increase understanding of consumer rights and privacy protection measures.
Outcome: Increase awareness of sound financial behaviors
Indicator(s): Number of individuals who implemented at least one strategy to reduce expenses or manage money Number of individuals who made a sound financial decision (regarding credit, budgeting, savings, and/or debt)
Method: Pre-post test, Verbal Feedback, phone calls, emails
Timeline: Following the workshops
Outcome: Increase knowledge and skills related to managing financial resources
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of understanding in the area: confidence in handling money issues or specific financial matters
Method: Pre-post tests, Testimonials, phone calls
Timeline: two months after workshops
Outcome: Increase knowledge and skills related to estate planning
Indicator: Number of individuals who took action toward implementing at least one estate planning strategy.
Method: Written evaluation, verbal Feedback, emails.
Timeline: One month after the workshop.
Outcome: Increase knowledge and skills to improve employability.
Indicator: Increase number of responses to job inquiries, long-term employability
Method: Surveys, phone calls, success stories
Timeline: 3 to 6 months after class then a year follow-up
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:
Audience: Adults, teens unemployed individuals, limited-resource individuals, paroleesProject or Activity: Positive Employability
Content or Curriculum: KY CES Resources
Input: FCS Agents, Community Partners (Unemployment Office), Guidance Counselors, Life Learning Center
Date: April 2025
Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens
Project or Activity: Financial EducationContent or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life
Input: FCS Agents, Community Partners (High Schools)
Date: October 2024
Audience: Elementary School YouthProject or Activity: 4-H Consumer Education
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H curriculum
Inputs: UK curriculum, agent, 4-H assistantsDate: September 2024-May 2025
Audience: Elementary School Youth
Project or Activity: After-school SewingContent or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H curriculum
Inputs: UK curriculum, agent, 4-H assistants
Date: September 2024-May 2025
Audience: Kenton County Youth
Project or Activity: Junior /Senior Sewing/ Quilting
Content or Curriculum: KY 4-H curriculum
Inputs: Agent, volunteers, program funds, families purchase supplies
Date: September 2024 – May 2025
Project or Activity: Beginning Sewing for Adults series
Content or Curriculum: FCS Agent and Master Clothing Volunteer designed
Inputs: Master Clothing Volunteer Curriculum, FCS designed
Date: Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Project or Activity: Adult Sewing Project Group
Content or Curriculum: FCS agent and Master Clothing Volunteer designed
Inputs: UK Clothing publications
Date: Monthly, beginning September 2024
Activity: County Ham Speeches
Content or Curriculum: 4-H County Ham
Inputs: 4-H School Club programs; Volunteer leaders and community leaders as judges, guest speakers; UK Inputs
Date: August 2025
Activity: Homesteading Basics Series
Content or Curriculum: UK Specialists and publications
Inputs: Local Agents
Date: Fall 2024
