Author: Alison Johnson
Planning Unit: Scott County CES
Major Program: Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
Plan of Work: Volunteerism
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
The drug epidemic is reaching an all time high in Scott County. Four years ago, Scott County 4-H collaborated with the Family Resource Coordinator at Royal Spring Middle School to organize a Truth & Consequences event at the school for 8th graders. Truth & Consequences is an U.K. Cooperative Extension curriculum, that encourages youth to make positive life choices and understand there are negative consequences for bad choices. For the last three years, all three middle schools in Scott County have participated in the event. There were over 800 8th grade students participating in the event, and more than 80 volunteers giving of their time to work a booth or lead students through the event with their scenarios. Volunteers consisted of local business and public service employees, 4-H Teen Leadership members, Family Resource Coordinators, and family members of the students participating in the event. Students participating in the event received a scenario that involved them in a situation where they made a bad choice and it told of the negative consequences that would occur. The scenario takes them to different booths where they will encounter people, such as a real judge, emergency room doctor, or counselor, that will help them understand what would happen to them in real life if they made that bad choice. The students then meet Quinten Higgins and hear his story. He is one of the survivors of the Carrollton bus crash, which was one of the worst drunk driving wrecks of all time. Quinten was riding on a bus when a drunk driver hit the bus, causing it to catch fire and kill 27 people. The students then get on a bus that is similar to the one that Quinten was riding in, to experience what it was like trying to get out after the wreck. The students also attempt to drive miniature cars or walk lines on the floor while wearing "drunk goggles" that impair your vision, similar to what alcohol can do to people. The students took a post-evaluation. The results showed that more than half of the students thought that Truth & Consequences was helpful in educating them on the negative consequences of making bad choices. In order for the event to occur and make a true impact, it requires volunteers that serve in a variety of positions. Volunteers work at booths, share their testimonies, serve lunch, work check-in, hand out materials, keep the program on schedule, walk youth through the scenarios in the gym, talk with youth, set up and take down in the gym, and many other helpful responsibilities. We have heard from volunteers that it is one of their favorite programs. The volunteers come to help make a difference in the lives of youth in Scott County, but they end up having a moving experience themselves.
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