March 2022

Over the last year the state of Kentucky has seen some changes in how things are done within communities.  For Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension program, this process has been challenging and rewarding for the lessons that have been learned throughout the process.  Despite the challenges that covid-19 brought about Extension programs went from being just on-line to in person for the first time in months. In order to meet the needs of the community, one family and consumer science extension agent within Hardin County started to refocus programs within the community to working with youth organizations on a life skills program. In connection with the University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University are working together on a grant called the (CYFAR) Children, Youth, and Families at Risk Grant. The grant is being funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) & National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA). The program is called the CYFAR Grant Uplift Youth Empowerment Life-skills program. This program targets underserved audiences within rural and suburban community organizations with programs focused on life skills, goal setting, learning how to cook and financial literacy. The grant includes a team of extension agents, project coordinators, and Snap-Ed assistants who have worked with the youth on various projects. 

Over the last year, the program has served about 176 youth, from two different community organizations and a high school.  The program meets on a monthly basis about twice a month. The youth that participated in the program ranged from ages 12 to 18 years old and are involved in school at the middle school level to high school grade level (7^th-12^th grade).  The life skills program is a county-wide youth program targeting youth who want to get involved with learning how to improve upon life skills that will help to prepare them for life after high school.  Over the span of about a year, the program has taught youth how to communicate more effectively, how to develop and set smart goals, and how to budget and save money.

Within the program, the youth have been challenged with coming up with specific career goals and they have also had a chance to develop some short and long term goals towards deciding on what kinds of careers they want to pursue after high school.   

Several of students have been successful at starting to apply the skills that they have learned from the life-skills program to their own life experiences.  At least 90% of the students involved in the program have started the process of applying for jobs, internships, and colleges while being involved in this program. 

Our program has been successful at expanding each year to meet the needs of youth within our smaller and more urban communities, where some of the challenges for students are unique to their specific family.   One of the best benefits of the CYFAR Grant Uplift Empowerment program is that students learn essential life skills that will be essential later on in their lives as they choose different career paths and eventually start their own family one day. 

Pictured Above: Youth participated in life skills program where they are learning decision-making skills. 

Pictured Above: Youth participating in Nutrition Education classes as part of their life skills program.  This activity included learning how to cook a hamburger and preparing a salad for a nutritious meal.  

Pictured Above: Youth prepares a healthy meal for the group. 

Pictured Above: Youth prepares a healthy meal for the group. 

Pictured Above: Youth learn about Goal setting and how to set realistic goals.