Floyd County CES

County Emphasis:

Youth and Life Skills Development and Substance Abuse Education

Concentration 1:

Work and Life Skill Development

Concentration 2:

Health and Wellbeing

Concentration 3:

Substance Use Prevention and Recovery

Situation:

Kentucky household income statistics are concerning, with the median household income in Kentucky on a downward trend (i.e., approximately $55,100, which is 74% of the U.S. median income). Most alarming, it is estimated that nearly 62% of Kentucky households do not generate sufficient income to meet living wage standards given the state’s average cost of living. The Kentucky Center for Business and Economic Research (2024) projects that, “a key for Kentucky’s future economic growth is to identify and successfully implement programs that increase the employment-population ratio, particularly for working-age adults.” The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) is committed to improving the work and life skill development of adults across the Commonwealth by offering programming designed to increase the human capital of constituents. This includes providing education and training on topics such as workforce preparation, job readiness, financial literacy, soft skills, and professionalism, among others.

In a 2023 University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment, with nearly 28,000 responses from across the state, Building Employee Soft Skills (e.g., communication, productivity, and teamwork skills) and Building Life Skills of Community Members were among the top ten Individual and Family Development Needs reported by Kentuckians.

Youth Focus

America’s future hinges on a prepared workforce and engaged communities collaborating to tackle society’s most pressing challenges. As of 2024, there are 2,465,949 job openings in Kentucky and nationwide there are 10 million unfilled jobs. Fasted growing jobs are in the fields of vocational education and higher education teachers, agriculture professionals, and digitally enabled roles: ecommerce specialists, digital transformation specialists, and digital marketing professionals (World Economic Forum, 2023). 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 haven’t been invented yet (Dell Technologies, 2019). 77% of employers say focus less on traditional school subjects, more on real-world skills (Kauffman Foundation, 2021). Skills like analytical thinking, creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, adaptability are key (World Economic Forum, 2023). According to the National 4-H Index Study 2024, 80% explored career options, 50% received guidance for college decisions, and 95% reported 4-H helped them identify things they were good at. To ensure a sustainable society, it is crucial that our youth are equipped to fill these positions. The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension System Community Needs Assessment (2023) has identified key priority issues related to life skill development for young people. These priorities include youth life skill training opportunities, youth workforce readiness, and maximizing youth voice in matters that directly impact them. Empowering our youth to actively participate in addressing societal issues is essential for a thriving future.

National Center of Health, in 2018, Kentucky had a 79.5 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons compared to the national average of 51.4 prescriptions.  Kentucky has seen a decline in opioid related deaths from 433 in 2017 to 315 in 2018, but an increase of diseases related to injected drug use. The recent statewide needs assessment identified substance use prevention and recovery as the most urgent priority for Cooperative Extension.  Moreover, substance use was the focal point of the CES Advisory Council Meeting and the Floyd County Focus Group in early 2019.   2023 CES needs assessment demonstrated the need to address youth substance use prevention, recovery, stigma, and impact on families, communities and the economy. 

 

County Situation:

According to the Floyd County Extension Council, the community assessment with a percentage of 89% and our leaders, all expressed an increased need for youth and life skills development.  They believe that this will help our youth carry throughout life, the skills they need into adulthood.  By expanding our youth programming, we can reach all youth from preschool through adulthood. Thus serving as a possible way for them to develop the skills they will need throughout their lives. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

Youth

• Youth will demonstrate necessary leadership, teamwork, and communication skills needed to be successful in the workplace. 
• Youth participation in community involvement increases.
• Youth will serve in leadership roles in their community.
• Youth will more effectively communicate, work with others, and contribute to driving change and shaping the future. 
• Youth will become engaged, healthy, and productive members of their communities.
• Reduced youth substance use
• Reduced youth substance use disorder
• Reduced youth overdose fatalities
• Reduced stigma related to youth substance use

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth

Youth will practice teamwork, responsibility, communication, conflict resolution techniques, and problem-solving skills.

Youth will plan and implement a service project.

Youth will choose to take on leadership roles in their community

Increased availability and accessibility of evidence-based prevention programs

Initial Outcomes:

Youth

• Youth identify personal strengths that contribute to life and work skill development.
• Increased knowledge of career pathways.
• Increased knowledge of educational, training, and certification opportunities.
• Youth will practice civic engagement, leadership and communication skills.
• Increased knowledge about substance use and its effects
• Increased awareness of community resources to support prevention and recovery
• Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use (i.e. substance use refusal skills)
• Increased confidence and motivation to use destigmatized language
• Increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors (e.g., exercise, healthy nutrition, positive coping, etc.).

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Youth Short Term

Indicator:

• Number of youth who reported learning new skills to prepare or improve themselves for the workforce as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.
• Number of youth who reported that they improved their job interview skills as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.
• Number of youth who reported an improvement in their personal skills (e.g., communication, networking, time management) as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach. 

Method:Standard Evaluation

Timeline:Immediately post program (6+ hours) 

Intermediate Outcome:Youth Medium Term

Indicator:

• Number of youth who developed a resume as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.  
• Number of youth who gained an increase in salary/income as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach. 
• Number of youth who gained new employment as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.

Method:Survey

Timeline:End of program year

Long-term Outcome:Youth Long Term

Indicator:Long-term evaluation will be conducted using the National 4-H Index Study. Recorded either by video or typed of testimonials 

Method:Survey or Interview

Timeline:1+ years

Substance and Recovery

Outcome: Increased awareness of community resources to support prevention and recovery (initial)

Indicator: Number of partnerships with community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals to address substance use/recovery in the community

Method: Program metrics (agents will track and report based on their activities and partnerships related to substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery)

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:4-Hers, Extension Professionals, Clientele 

Project or Activity:4-H Core Program Areas (Leadership, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Communication and Expressive Arts, Science, Engineering and Technology, Health and Wellbeing, and Family Consumer Sciences), 4-H Camp, Cloverbud, Volunteerism

Content or Curriculum:approved Kentucky 4-H Curriculum by Core Program Area or Area of Interest

Inputs:These programs are supported by the research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system, funding from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc., local, state, and federal sources, grants, and the engagement of volunteers, youth, communities, and external stakeholders.

Date:September-May

Audience:

4-Hers, Extension Professionals, Clientele

Project or Activity:4-H Resume, Cover Letter, and Interview Skills Program (Club/Group/Individual)

Content or Curriculum:Kentucky 4-H Work & Life Readiness Lessons, 4-H Build Your Future, Work Ready Life Skills, and Leap into Careers

Inputs:These programs are supported by the research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system, funding from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc., local, state, and federal sources, grants, and the engagement of volunteers, youth, communities, and external stakeholders such as civic groups. Focus is on Grades 8-12.

Date:September-May

Audience:Youth in grade 4^th-12th

Project or Activity:4-H Project Work

Content or Curriculum:KY 4-H Project Books and National 4-H Project Books

Inputs:These programs are supported by the research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system, funding from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc., local, state, and federal sources, grants, and the engagement of volunteers, youth, communities, and external stakeholders.

Date:October-August

Audience:Youth Preschool-12^th grade

Project or Activity:4-H Overnight Camp/Day Camps

Content or Curriculum:approved Kentucky 4-H Curriculum by Core Program Area or Area of Interest

Inputs:These programs are supported by the research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system, funding from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc., local, state, and federal sources, grants, and the engagement of volunteers, youth, communities, and external stakeholders.

Date:May-August

Audience: Youth in grades 4th-12th

Project or Activity: 4-H Clubs, Enrichment Programs and After School

Content or Curriculum: -H Core Program Areas (Leadership, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Communication and Expressive Arts, Science, Engineering and Technology, Health and Wellbeing, and Family Consumer Sciences)

Inputs:  These programs are supported by the research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system, funding from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc., local, state, and federal sources, grants, and the engagement of volunteers, youth, communities, and external stakeholders.

Date: August-May

Youth

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Substance Use Prevention Programming

Content or Curriculum: Botvin Lifeskills, Strengthening Families, 4-H Health Rocks, Engaging People with Lived Experience (testimonies),

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, health coalitions, schools and school staff

Date: Ongoing

 

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Positive Youth Development

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks, Positive Employability, Mindful Mechanics, Get Experience in Mindfulness (GEM), Social/Emotional Health-Focused Programming

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, faith-based organizations, health coalitions, schools and school staff

Date: Ongoing

 

Audience: Communities

Project or Activity: Community-Based Substance Use Prevention

Content or Curriculum: Substance Use Prevention Education (i.e. Addiction 101, Ad Hoc Webinars, etc.), Engaging People with Lived Experience (testimonies), Strengthening Families

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, elected officials, faith-based organizations, health coalitions, and faith-based organizations

Date: Ongoing

Audience:

Project or Activity:

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs:

Date:

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Youth Short Term

Indicator:

• Number of youth who reported learning new skills to prepare or improve themselves for the workforce as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.
• Number of youth who reported that they improved their job interview skills as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.
• Number of youth who reported an improvement in their personal skills (e.g., communication, networking, time management) as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach. 

Method:Standard Evaluation

Timeline:Immediately post program (6+ hours) 

Intermediate Outcome:Youth Medium Term

Indicator:

• Number of youth who developed a resume as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.  
• Number of youth who gained an increase in salary/income as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach. 
• Number of youth who gained new employment as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.

Method:Survey

Timeline:End of program year

Long-term Outcome:Youth Long Term

Indicator:Long-term evaluation will be conducted using the National 4-H Index Study. Recorded either by video or typed of testimonials 

Method:Survey or Interview

Timeline:1+ years

Substance and Recovery

Outcome: Increased awareness of community resources to support prevention and recovery (initial)

Indicator: Number of partnerships with community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals to address substance use/recovery in the community

Method: Program metrics (agents will track and report based on their activities and partnerships related to substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery)

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration