Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance in Kentucky. The development of communications skills is one of the preeminent skills necessary to grow as an individual, a community member and a leader. Using age appropriate activities selected from the approved Kentucky 4-H Communications & Expressive Arts Curriculum, educators can maximize the ability of youth to develop their writing, reading and personal communication capacities. This in turn creates a solid foundation for positive youth development (Jones, K. R. 2006)

Research also shows a positive association between arts participation and a number of desirable academic and social outcomes, such as school grades, test scores, enrollment in post-secondary education, attainment of a bachelor’s degree, and higher levels of literacy and civic engagement. (Child Trends, 2013)

This year in Kentucky 4-H, 5940 youth revealed in an end of program evaluation that they have improved their communications skills through participation in Kentucky 4-H Communication and Expressive Arts programming. Three thousand three hundred and twenty-eight youth stated that they now have confidence speaking in front of groups. Finally, 2440 youth shared that they can now express themselves through the arts.