2025  4-H - It’s Your Reality for today but you can make changes for the future

…more than 30% of teens reported they do not believe they will be financially independent from their parents by age 30.  This statement reflects a broader concern among teens about their readiness for financial responsibilities as cited by the Junior Achievement of OKI Partners.  

Kenton 4-H (Kelley) collaborated with 3 high schools and 2 middle schools to facilitate and conduct the 4-H It’s Your Reality program.  843 youth and 135 volunteers were involved during the 2024-2025 program year.  Two high schools – have their students participate as 8^th graders and then again in high school, to reinforce the lessons.  4 of the 5 schools are identified as limited resource, and 4 schools also represent underserved populations.  All schools used a combination of adult and life skills students to maintain the stores and work with younger students, again reinforcing the lessons for those youth as well.   Prior collected data seeking to confirm if youth followed through on potential actions, they intended to make to improve their academic standing was inconclusive.  However, the regional source BE NKY Growth Partnership, publishes socio-economic challenges for Northern Kentucky; their publication, Population and Labor Force Trends and Future Projections study highlights…” pressure on the region’s workforce and young residents to fill economic gaps earlier than expected,” echoes the written responses from the “It’s Your Reality” surveys about youth concerns to support themselves and their future families, as well as meeting current familial needs.  

The outcome from the written surveys collected and the 10 questions for reflection indicate of the educational program produces the intended results.  The lowest standard deviation responses from the surveys were the budgeting and saving for the future questions.  The highest standard deviation was the question about the cost of raising a child, but only in 2 of the data sets.  Written comments are not edited or corrected, and the words from the youth are reported directly.  Nearly one third of all comments were about the expenses associated with raising a child.   Multiple written comments expressed appreciation to their families and living situations which were also reflected in surveys from 2015.  A youth from Tichenor Middle wrote, “Parents are amazing people and money saving wizards”

Teachers, school administrators and volunteers continue to cite the value of the 4-H It’s Your Reality, currently there is not another program that offers localized life and financial education.  The results from the other data sets indicate the program is filling an expressed need for youth in Kenton County and potentially boosting future employable residents.

Describe the Issue or Situation.

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

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

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.