Extension
It Starts With Us
Developing Life Skills Among Youth and Families
Family and Youth Development
Adkins, O'Bryan, Sigmon, Whitson, Williams
Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum
Embracing Life as We Age (general)
4-H Youth Development Programming
Extension’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens through non-formal education for the entire family. Extension agents and volunteers take the results of university research and explain it in such a way that different age groups can learn and apply the information to their own lives. Research shows that developing a strong sense of personal identity, responsibility, caring, compassion, and tolerance are essential first steps toward being engaged at the community level. Without the acquisition of life skills needed by young people and adults, it is doubtful they will reach their full potential as both individuals and as members of families. Fostering the development of personal and interpersonal skills, stimulating volunteer leadership, and personal active participation in community problem-solving can improve the capacity of communities to identify and address critical issues that affect the lives of citizens in Laurel County.
Focusing on improving the individual and family units will essentially lead to improvement in the economic situation.
Environmental improvements will proceed while individuals develop citizenship qualities.
Socialization of individuals will improve with the personal development of community members.
Because individuals develop personally the civic improvements will increase.
4-H alumni will be successful in a global society. 4-H youth will successfully enter the workplace and/or institution of higher learning.
Youth will have reduced risky behavior now and in the future.
Youth will contribute to self, family, community and to the institutions of our society.
Caring adults and youth will connect
Community Youth Development will be fostered
Children, youth and families personally seek development for self.
They seek life changes devoted to positive personal development
Provide access to places where knowledge of self-esteem building can be gained.
Youth set and achieve goals through a 4-H program.
Youth apply the skills learned in 4-H in other activities at home, school and in the community
Youth have a positive bond with a caring adult who believe in their success.
Youth will express themselves to others in group settings and on an individual bases.
Youth will use scientific decision making techniques to make decisions on a daily basis.
Children, youth and families will increase knowledge of personal issues which may require improvement.
Youth and families will develop skills to personally improve self-esteem as well as assist others in the same improvements.
They will aspire to continue personal development at all times.
Youth learn steps in goal setting and developing a plan of action.
Youth learn and develop life skills though 4-H.
Adult mentors will understand elements of positive youth development.
Youth learn skills need to communicate with others
Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the decision-making process.
Initial Outcome: Participants will gain knowledge of life skills and seek to practice them.
Indicator: Participants will attend and participate in Extension programs and practice life skill activities
Method: observation, judging rubics and surveys
Timeline: July - June
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will be capable of communicating, cooperating, resolving conflict, producing economic activity and making wise economic decisions to support a healthy lifestyle
Indicator: Observation and demonstrated abilities
Method: surveys, observation, pre-post test evaluations
Timeline: July-June
Long-term Outcome: Youth and Families will be strengthened through mastery of life skills gained through Extension programs
Indicator: Participants will exhibit behaviors conducive to those of competent and contributing citizens
Method: observation, surveys and pre-post test evaluations
Timeline: July - June
Audience: Adults, youth and families
Project or Activity: 4-H Expressive Arts (music, drama, visual and dance)
Content or Curriculum: KET Arts curriculum, variety show competitions
Inputs: extension agents, volunteers, local schools
Date: September 2017-August 2018
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications (Speeches and Demonstrations)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Speak Up, Building Bridges, UK publications
Inputs: extension agents, volunteers, local schools
Date: August 2017-April 2018
Audience: 4-H youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Afterschool programs
Content or Curriculum: Exploring 4-H, Character Counts, JCPenney Afterschool
Inputs: 4-H agents, 4-H assistant, volunteers, local schools and staff
Date: weekly (August 2017-May 2018)
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Community Clubs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H agents, volunteers
Date: monthly
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: extension agents, Camp Staff, 4-H volunteers (adult & teen)
Date: yearly: summer 2017
Audience: 4-H cloverbud age
Project or Activity: 4-H cloverbud Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Cloverbud curriculum, camp resources
Inputs: adult & teen volunteers, camp staff, extension agents
Date: Summer 2017
Audience: Preschool children
Project or Activity: Preschool Garden
Content or Curriculum: Early sprouts, Sowing Seeds of Wonder, Master Gardeners
Inputs: Extension program assistants, local preschools, master gardeners
Date: May-June 2017
Audience: Middle school youth
Project or Activity: Middle School Garden Club
Content or Curriculum: Junior Master Gardener
Inputs: Extension staff, middle school teachers and staff, Master Gardeners
Date: August - May
Audience: general public
Project or Activity: C.L.A.S.S. (Continuous Learning Assures a Successful Society) heritage skills programs
Content or Curriculum: UK publications
Inputs: Extension Agent, Extension program assistants, volunteers
Date: Fall and Winter semesters
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Photography Clubs and Workshops
Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Project books
Inputs: extension 4-H agent, local schools (teachers and staff), 4-H volunteers, community speakers
Date: July - August
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: SPIN (Special Interest) Clubs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Materials and workbooks
Inputs: community volunteers, 4-H volunteers, 4-H agents, parents
Date: ongoing
Audience: Community Youth
Project or Activity: SPARK clubs (spark an interest in 4-H)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H materials, online resources, community resources
Inputs: community resource volunteers, extension agents, parents
Date: ongoing 2017-2018
Audience: adults
Project or Activity: Jabez Quilt Seminar (Statewide)
Content or Curriculum: FCS materials
Inputs: Extension Agents, Master Clothing Volunteers, volunteers, state specialists, and quilting experts
Date: Winter 2018
Author: Judith O'Bryan
Major Program: Traditions
In today’s world of strife and conflict it is important for individuals to feel emotionally safe and secure. Family Traditions are practices or beliefs that are passed from generation to generation that help families to create a sense of connection and closeness as well as emotional safety, security and stability. The Laurel County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent taught Creating and Maintaining Family Traditions in eight counties to Wilderness Trail Area Extension
Author: Kimberly Whitson
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Research suggests distinctive characteristics of young adolescents (middle school aged youth) regarding their physical, cognitive, moral, psychological, and social-emotional development, as well as spiritual development (Scales, 2010). Young adolescents (middle school aged youth)warrant educational experiences and schools that are organized to address these needs. (Caskey & Anfara, 2014). Kentucky 4-H Summit seeks to engage middle school aged youth and retain their involvement in 4-H activit
Author: Kimberly Whitson
Major Program: Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
Studies show that youth are not getting the financial education they need in order to be successful in their adult lives. The results of the 2008 Jump Start Coalition Survey, that was done among 12th grade students, showed only an average score of 48.3% on financial literacy testing and only fifty-nine percent of the young adults in Generation Y (ages eighteen to twenty-one) pay their bills on time every month. (2008 Financial Literacy Survey National Foundation for Credit Counseling, Inc. and M
Author: William Adkins
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Through the 94th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference, 4-H’ers from across the Commonwealth developed leadership and teamwork skills, improved communication skills, became involved in civic life, expanded knowledge related to a 4-H core content area: communication/citizenship, health, natural resources, agriculture, expressive arts, family consumer sciences, and science, engineering, and technology. The participants fostered a sense of belonging through networking, engaged in youth-adult pa
Author: William Adkins
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
4-H Camp gives youth across the nation an opportunity to experience what it is like when parents are not around for a few days. Life skills are imperative for everyone. The sooner youth can be involved in activities and programs that help develop these skills, the more prepared they will be in the future. According to national research conducted by the American Camp Association, campers show significant growth in self-esteem, peer relationships, independence, adventure and exploratio
