Author: Dianna Reed
Planning Unit: Johnson County CES
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Plan of Work: Youth Life Skills
Outcome: Initial Outcome
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the County Extension Council, 4-H Program Council, local volunteers and Extension personnel were tasked with continuing to provide resources and programs to assist our communities. The 4-H Youth Development Agent spoke to local schools and community members to ask what the issues were affecting our families. Some of the main topics that came up in conversations numerous times were youth and family stress levels, the feeling of being disconnected socially, stress, and depression. To address these issues, a high school teacher and volunteer worked with the 4-H Youth Development Agent to create the Virtual Cover Cafe group for teens in 7th-12th grades. This group was to give our youth a place to connect virtually, learn life skills, promote positive mental health and lower stress levels by hanging out virtually to check in on how everyone was doing. To date, opportunities to learn life skills through painting, crocheting and pre-packaged cooking have been highlights in this program. Youth are talking, laughing and learning skills in a positive place to "be". With the expansion of in-person programming being re-introduced in our programs, we plan to continue Clover Cafe, and to also allow a hybrid program structure model to allow continued virtual participation at the choice of the member. Our members have enjoyed the group and have asked for it to continue on a monthly basis.
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