Describe the Issue or Situation.

Jefferson County is the largest county in Kentucky and many adults—particularly immigrants and caretakers—face significant barriers to employment and full participation in community life. These include limited digital literacy, lack of experience with financial management, unfamiliarity with workplace expectations, and low confidence in communication skills. As more adults transition from caretaking to workforce participation, the need for practical, foundational life skills has become increasingly urgent.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

To address these challenges, Kentucky State University's Cooperative Extension Service launched Pathways to Progress in early 2025 as a pilot program. This initiative aims to test and help develop a workforce and life skills curriculum by offering a series of hands-on educational sessions with a group of caretakers and newcomers. 

Sessions have covered a variety of critical topics including but not limited to:

• Soft skills (teamwork, communication, professionalism)
• Digital literacy and online learning
• Budgeting and financial management
• Time management and stress reduction
• Scam prevention and online safety
• Conflict resolution and self-advocacy

As a work in progress, the program is using participant feedback to improve and adapt each session. The goal is to develop a replicable, evidence-based curriculum that can be scaled and offered more broadly. The program is expected to conclude its pilot phase with a graduation event in August 2025.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

This pilot cohort includes 20 adult participants, primarily women and adults re-entering the workforce after extended time as caretakers. Participants range in age from their 20s to 60s, with diverse educational, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. 

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.