McCracken County CES

Title:

McCracken County Residents and Youth Acquiring Life Skills

MAP:

Agriculture and Natural Resources Education

Agents Involved:

Dossett, Dodson, Moffitt, Davis, Hunter

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Horticulture, Consumer and Home

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Financial Education - General

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Family Development General

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Family and Consumer Science

Situation:

It is critical for a healthy and sustainable community to have contributing members of society with necessary life skills. Currently in McCracken County there is a need to learn and practice healthy habits, create and live within a budget and form positive relationships with others.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members.

Gain and maintain employment through life-skill development.

Contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family.

Residents utilize the skills gained through education and involvement in Extension programs.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Practice life skills in projects and life situations.

Be responsible consumers and financial decision makers.

Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future.

Initial Outcomes:

Gain knowledge and develop skills that enhance healthy life skills.

Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action.

• Adult Sewing Club
• Needlework Club
• Knitting Club
• Quilt Class for Beginners
• Crochet Club
• Food Presentation Class

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Youth and adults learn basic life skills

Indicator: Youth and adults participate in programs, read newsletters with basic skills information.

Method: Attendance, recipients of newsletters.

Timeline: Ongoing

Intermediate Outcome: Increase of self-esteem and life skill abilities

Indicator: Increased availability and request of information and participation in Homemaker and 4-H projects, FCS workshops and presentations.

Method: Testimonials and/or surveys from all participants.

Timeline: Ongoing

Long-Term Outcome: Increase of self-esteem and life skill abilities enabling youth and adults to increase life skills.

Indicator: Increased participation in Extension programs and/or activities that deal with life skill issues and reaching new clientele.

Method: Testimonials from all participants. 4-H group of youth forms. Increases in life skill programs conducted by 4-H, Horticulture, Agriculture and Family and Consumer Sciences.

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth and adults

Activity: Camp, Fashion Show, McCracken County Fair, sewing workshops, food workshops, summer programs, gardening with youth, Juvenile Justice Program, Dog Club, Job Skills Workshops, Art Club, Reality Store, Rotary Luncheon, Coins for Change, Garden Club, Money Wise Budgeting Classes.

Content or Curriculum: State 4-H curriculum, UK publications, videos and other research-based information. KEHA manual, UK Specialists, Horticulture Newsletter

Inputs: 4-H Volunteers, RSVP, Homemakers, English's Sewing Center, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club , Kiwanis, Rotary Club, UK Specialists, UK Specialists, UK Publications, AQS Agriculture Tours, Master Food Volunteers, Early Childhood Publications, Master Food Volunteers, Early Childhood Council and area schools, Councils, Department of Juvenile Justice and Paducah Parks, Purchase District Health Department, Money Smart curriculum, Active Parenting Now Curriculum, Nurturing Families Curriculum.

Date: August-June

Success Stories

KY State Fair Empowers 4-H Youth to Thrive and Shine

Author: Lisa Dodson

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

The Kentucky State Fair is the pinnacle event for 4-H members, showcasing the hard work and dedication put into their annual projects. 4-H project work is designed to engage youth in hands-on learning, guided by the following principles: (a) work is centered around the member's interests, (b) supported by an adult volunteer project leader, (c) focused on attainable and measurable goals, (d) recorded for reflection and growth, and (e) involves at least six hours of project-based instruction (

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In the Face of Disaster

Author: Kelly Alsip

Major Program: Emergency Disaster Preparedness - FCS

 Success Story  Kentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occur at any time and often with little warning. Disasters take many forms, and we can feel their impacts across most areas of family life. Because there is no “one-size-fits-all” disaster model, planning community outreach can be challenging. Cooperative Extension is often involved in disaster preparation and response at the local level.  As a result of local needs, Kelly Alsip

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Life Skills Day with Morgan Elementary

Author: Rachael Davis

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

While discussing a potential partnership with 4-H, the topic of Life Skills was raised during meetings with the Morgan Elementary Principal, the Resource Center, and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) meetings. A total of ten Life Skills topics were submitted for teaching 5th graders to help prepare them for middle school. 4-H Agent Rachael Davis compared these Life Skills with the existing 4-H Curriculum.On November 22, 2024, the entire 5th grade from Morgan Elementary visited the McCracken

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