Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade County comprise the 46^th  Judicial Court District.  The newly elected District Judge is a big proponent of the Cooperative Extension Service and Family and Consumer Sciences programs.  Once elected, he met with the FCS agents to discuss ways to partner to reach the needs of at risk or families in crisis. He mentioned common situations families face and his desire to refer families he feels want to improve and could benefit from education. Parenting classes is a given but he also felt any class we offer can be of benefit. The agents then contacted extension specialists at UK to assist in program planning.  Dr. Julie Zimmerman researched and created stat sheets titled “Supporting Families at Risk” for each of the three counties.   Dr. David Weisenhorn met with the agents to identify common at risk behaviors as well as resources and adaptations to address the needs of families.

The agents worked together to identify existing programs in each of the seven FCS initiatives. A series title was adopted called Piecing It All Together.  Marketing pieces were then created to brand the series making it easily recognizable to families being referred.  

  While each county is different, many of at risk behaviors are common.   Each extension educator will assess the most prominent needs in their county through a variety of methods including utilization of “Supporting Families at Risk”.  Agents will also meet with other community partners and organizations to determine services addressing areas of risk, areas which need or need to be addressed. This process is ongoing as situations arise.  

The goal was not to add additional programs but to incorporate into current class offerings.  Monthly schedules of classes are created which incorporate one or more of the selected programs from the FCS initiatives.  

Business cards for each FCS agent and NEP assistant in the three counties were given to the Judge’s Staff assistant who then distributes them to referred families.  

Monthly class schedules are sent to the judge so he can determine if a particular class will benefit individuals who appear before him in court.  He is beginning to refer families so we are looking forward to helping at risk families who want to learn.