After seeing statistics of how poorly young adults were prepared for the real world of, "#Adulting," the McLean County Family and Consumer Sciences Program provided a series of classes to begin to address the issue. The topics for the classes was identified by a needs assessment conducted during FCS Advisory Council meeting and suggestions from 4-H volunteers to determine what topics both adults and young adults felt like young adults were missing from traditional school curriculum. Topics like how to apply for a loan, how to sew on a button,how to cook basic meals, how to change a tire, how to do laundry and more were addressed. The program included a series of 7 classes, some taught by the Family and Consumer Sciences agent, others taught by community volunteers. This program incorporated volunteers from a local bank, 4-H volunteer and local mechanic. 100% of participants in the program expressed an increase in knowledge after attending one or more of the series classes. 70% of participants reported an increase in their knowledge relating to car maintenance and how to change a tire. .80% of participants reported gaining knowledge relating to apply for a loan, opening a check account, and ways to monitor their credit scores. 75% reported an intent to make their own cleaning supplies at home in order to reduce the number of chemicals in their household. And 80% of participants intend to apply the practical living skills they learned through these classes to advance their education, employ-ability, and/or own personal management.
With this program Extension was able to reach new audiences some participants were located in a group home setting to assist them with developing life skills and skills to increase their independence.