The Franklin Co. Cooperative Extension service partnered with the Franklin Co. Court Designated Worker Program to offer relationship education to vulnerable youth.  These skills are needed to develop positive interactions with self, family, peers, school personnel, and in the workplace. Research suggests that addressing topics of the youth and their relationships is necessary and long overdue. It is believed that the development of positive relationships can encourage improvement in academic work etc. 

According to the website, the Kentucky Designated Worker Program is a diversion program for youth under the age of 18 who have committed “public or status offenses". Status offenses are noncriminal forms of juvenile behavior, such as running away from home, skipping class, tobacco offenses, or exhibiting beyond-control behaviors at home or at school. Public offenses are the same as adult crimes.  Love Notes is a peer-reviewed relationship education curriculum that addresses various aspects of relationship development that support and empower youth to make choices that keep them from developing unhealthy relationships that lead to risky behaviors which can lead to negative consequences.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, ten students ranging from age 13-17 were referred to the Healthy Relationships class which met weekly at the extension office. Several of the youth were completing their commitment to the CDWP as the workshop began. After the pandemic, the class meeting transitioned via Zoom. There were some challenges student accountability and engagement were two due to youth taking on summer jobs or providing care for younger siblings. The good news is that we were able to overcome these challenges by adapting the program to accommodate the youth's schedules. 

As a result of the program, the caseworker reported that both parents and participants improved child-parent communication, increased their ability to recognize toxic relationships, and feel more confident in making new friends. One student had a combative relationship with her mother that resulted in yelling fighting, and law enforcement interventions which have decreased.  Now she uses some of the techniques she learned and is able to consider the feelings of her mother.  

The KDWP and Franklin Co. extension will continue to partner and offer this program this school year.