Studies have shown that nearly 50% of the state of Kentucky's families fall at or below the federal poverty line.  Within that economic distress in families, there is often a prevalence of mental health issues, developmental & intellectual disabilities and possibly chemical dependency with youth 18 and under.  Cumberland River Comprehensive Care Center provides summer programming within the Family Resource Centers at Whitley County Schools during the summer months.  In 2017, Whitley County 4-H partnered with the Comprehensive Care Schools to provide programming to youth enrolled in the program through a series of 4-H Day Camps. These day camps were held at four participating schools and the Extension Office. 

Over the course of the summer, 159 youth participated in the program, taught by the 4-H Agent,  learning a multitude of skills that included: 4-H knowledge, art projects, snap ed education and food projects,  healthy activities, sun safety education, singing and public speaking.  These skills were chosen in order to provide basic skills that the youth could apply to their daily life as well as use in future instances.  73% of the participants reported that they had never participated in any type of  public speaking.  98% of the attending youth participated in our canvas art speech where they described what they had created during our art project time.  All youth learned how to make simple, but healthy, snacks at their home that did not require a heating element.  Through modifications and encouragement, 100% of participants engaged in our healthy activities and learned the important of exercising.   

Comprehensive Care counselors reported that the skills and activities the youth participated in were sure to have a lasting effect on their lives.  The main goal of the day camp programs was to help youth develop self worth and sense of self awareness of their true abilities.  Developing true self-worth is the cornerstone to empowerment and self-sustainment, to which these participants learned and experienced through our 4-H programming.