The CYFAR “Uplift: Empowering Today’s Youth for Tomorrow’s Future” project collaborates with Kentucky State University and the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension program. The purpose is to provide comprehensive life skills development programming to Middle and High school youth. Utilizing Botvin Life Skills curricula as the primary tool, the Uplift team delivered life skills programming in urban and rural settings. The Life Skills focus has been primarily on Transitions—helping youth be ready to transition into new environments (High School, Adulthood, etc.).

Over 500 youth have gained life skill experiences in the five years of this grant through Kentucky’s project UPLIFT.  Youth learned skills that contributed to their knowledge of goal setting and attainment, teamwork, communicating goals, and accountability towards them, as well as how to plan for the future and dream big.  Being impacted by the Pandemic has been one of the most unique stressors for this generation of young people.  To see youth thrive in the classroom despite the challenges of the times is beyond amazing.  Youth reporting that they have remained positive towards their experiences is a win as we conducted the life skills programming.

The life skills that were taught focused heavily on vision, goal setting, communication, teamwork, and learning to chart pathways for future success. Youth became passionate and invested in the program and continued engaging with us, helping us tailor programming to fit their needs as they transition through adolescence and adulthood.  In Hardin County, the built partnerships have been powerful and branched out into other areas. The partnership with Sunrise Children Services has even led to plans to expand the life skills program to more locations across the state. The Hardin County Extension KSU Agent will sustain programming after the grant by continuing to collaborate with the primary partners and providing the life skills program series for youth and families.  The two middle schools in Fayette County where programming was implemented will continue to utilize support from the UK Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, including resources shared in the school-based programming such as leadership, team building, communication, and other topics.