STATE CONTACT
Anna B. Lucas
Extension Specialist for 4-H Youth Development
209 Scovell Hall, University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40546-0064
phone: (859) 257-5961
fax: (859) 257-7180
e-mail: alucas@uky.edu
America's Promise Plan and Evaluation Information
The University of Kentucky's America's Promise plan has been submitted to the national office. A copy of the 4-H Youth Development plan is attached. The plan and related evaluation information are on the 4-H web page.
The following items are included:
4-H Youth Development America's Promise Plan -
Evaluating results of the 4-H Workbook Series (including Reality Store)
Link to 4-H Workbook 1 Evaluation
Link to 4-H Workbook 2 Evaluation
Link to 4-H Workbook 3 Evaluation
Link to Workforce Preparation "Before and After" Worksheet
Link to 4-H Mentoring
Link to Reality Store
CHARACTER COUNTS!sm Evaluation
Link to Character Counts Program Evaluation Packet (You must print this and then fill in the blanks)
CHARACTER COUNTS!sm Report
Link to Character Counts Report
4-H Community Service Learning Evaluation
Link to Community Service Learning Evaluation Form
(You must print and fill in the blanks)
4-H Community Service Learning Report
Link to Community Service Learning Report
Web links:
University of Kentucky Plan - www.uky.edu
National Plan - www.americaspromise.org
AMERICA'S PROMISE
Mission
The mission of America's Promise is to mobilize people from every sector of American life to
build the character and competence of our nation's youth by fulfilling five promises:
•An ongoing relationship with a caring adult--parent, mentor, tutor or coach;
•A safe place with structured activities during non-school hours;
•A healthy start;
•A marketable skill through effective education; and
•An opportunity to give back through community service
4-H Youth Development is included in the University of Kentucky's America's Promise plan.
University of Kentucky
College of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
As we begin a new millennium, youth are experiencing unprecedented challenges. 4-H Youth Development is the Cooperative Extension System's dynamic, non-formal, educational program. 4-H is collaboration between youth, adult volunteer leaders, state land-grant universities, state and local governments, and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. All partners are working across the nation to assist youth in developing knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to become productive and contributing members of society. 4-H impacts youth from all ethnic, racial and socio-economic backgrounds who live in rural and urban areas. 4-H addresses current issues affecting today's youth such as: educational disparity, workforce preparedness, child care, nutrition, juvenile delinquency prevention and intervention programs, after school initiatives, program accessibility for diverse audiences, community development and leadership development. Through hands-on educational experiences, 4-H provides youth development necessary for the real world.
The vision for Kentucky's 4-H Youth Development program is: Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Education is a recognized community leader in developing youth to become productive citizens and serves as a catalyst for positive change to meet the needs of a diverse and changing society.
4-H Youth Development professionals strive to provide opportunities for young people to experience life skills, to practice them until they are learned, and to be able to use them as necessary throughout their lives. Life skills are abilities individuals can learn that will help them to be successful in achieving a productive and satisfying life.
4-H Youth Development programs have invited all Extension Agents in Kentucky's 120 counties to make input into plans for participation in the University's of Kentucky America's Promise. While the Extension Service has current programs that could be expanded in all five promise areas, input from the system and current program expansion possibilities have led to a plan to begin with a focus on two promises: a marketable skill through effective education and an opportunity to give back through community service.
Link to America's Promise Home Page
MARKETABLE SKILLS:
Workforce Preparation is a national extension initiative. In 1998-99, 40,249 youth participated in workforce related programs. Current specific programs on career exploration and employability include a three level project package for classroom use involving 17,253 youth. The content of these programs:
Open Your Eyes to the World of Work Fourth/Fifth Grade These young students may be a long way from beginning a career, but that first job - babysitting, lawn mowing, walking the neighbor's dog - is in the near future. Prepare them now to begin thinking about the world of work, and the kind of work they would like to do.
The World of Work: Scope it Out Middle School What's the difference between a job and a career? What kind of training do I need? How can my education make a difference in life-long earning power? Your students have lost of questions, and the activities in this workbook will help you point them in the direction to find answers.
Jump Start for Job Seekers High School It's a big step from occasional babysitting to regular paychecks. Help your students learn to fill out a job application, write a letter of application and resume, and practice basic interview skills and workplace etiquette. The practical advice in this workbook includes how to look for, find, and keep a job.
The Reality Store educational activity has introduced youth to the need for adequate education.
4-H programs have partnered with school systems and community leaders to introduce youth to the "reality" of the cost of adult life. In 1999-2000 over 16,000 junior high and high school youth were involved in this attention grabbing experience. The program is now moving into a "beyond Reality Store program". This will provide additional educational experiences on the relationship of education to income and how to manage economic resources.
Link to Related Topics:
GOALS:
A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE:
An opportunity to give back to the community became part of the base 4-H program shortly after the program's inception. Over the nearly 100 year history of 4-H this has been known by various titles: citizenship, community development, community pride and most recently 4-H community service learning. These experiences include volunteering to help with community needs, sharing project skills and knowledge that will benefit the community and group projects. The group projects are developed through a process of studying the community, selecting a community need and planning and carrying out a project to meet the need.
While the project is important to meeting a need in the community, the emphasis in 4-H community service learning is on learning about the community, appreciating the community and identifying community needs and selecting a need that the 4-H group can accomplish by working with others in the community. Throughout the planning and implementing process the project is discussed and evaluated. This process helps the participants see how what they have learned while doing one project can be used in a variety of other ways.
The 14,243 youth, ages 9-19, involved in these programs last year did a variety of projects. These ranged from visiting nursing homes to serving as a leader for a group of younger 4-H'ers doing a service project.
4-H programs in three counties, McCreary, Cumberland and Green, are a partner with school systems in the Lake Cumberland consortium of 21st century learning communities "Bridges to Tomorrow". The project will focus on middle school students academic attainment, leadership development, asset development and youth/adult partnerships to build sustainable communities.
This partnership for after school programs is unique in the Kentucky Extension System. In addition to the benefits of the student's families and communities of the three counties involved, the program processes and content will serve as model for other counties to provide a safe environment for youth to further their development and education in after school programs. This will be accomplished by using the basic 4-H curriculum with over 1,000 students in this unique setting.
Link to Related Topic:
Link to Community Service Learning, Service Learning
***Coming soon - Gold Honor Project information***
GOALS:
FUTURE PLANS:
Partner with the University to connect students, staff and faculty to county 4-H program needs to expand 4-H America's Promise related programs and other phases of the 4-H program. This will be done throughout the year but during the summer months students who return home throughout the state will partner with the local County Extension Office to serve in leadership roles. Examples are 4-H resident camp leader, project instruction, and leading a day camp.
In addition the State 4-H Office will fund two part-time student workers. One will be available to the Fayette County Extension Office (home base of the University) to assist in connecting university students, staff and faculty to leadership roles in the 4-H program. The 2nd student will be available to assist the 4-H Department and University Public Relations in designing and implementing a process for linking students with local programs during the summer.
Some Examples of Programs Related to 4-H Youth Development's America's Promise Plan.
Link to Examples of Programs (2000)
Link to Examples of Programs (2001)
Included in the planning phases of the event was an "Ambassador Academy" where selected youth volunteers or "ambassadors" discussed their responsibilities to contribute to the community, explore effective ways to interact and implement the event. It is estimated that a minimum of 100 youth volunteers were involved in various aspects of the event. 40 t0 50 percent of the volunteers will be deaf or multiple handicapped. Given currently pledged donations of materials and professional dult volunteer time, the remaining projected budget need is $2,000.
Publicity
The event was publicized throug local newspapers, radio and television stations
in both our local community, the deaf community and the Lexington area. The
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service has taped the event for
statewide release. To enhance newsworthiness, dignitaries from the local community,
University of Kentucky and state agencies with an interest in promoting volunteerism
and inclusion for persons with disabilities attended. Volunteer "Ambassadors"
wore shirts with the National Youth Service Day Logo on the day of the event
and all participants and guests received paperweights prepared by the youth
volunteers with this logo. Residents of the housing communities received flyers
created by the volunteers with their monthly rent bills. Volunteers were recruited
through school channels, family resource centers, 4-H and community leaders.
Engaging Volunteers With Disabilities
The site is fully accessible for all volunteers, however, increased accessibility for the deaf community was gained through the purchase of a TDD (through the grant funds) for our local Extension Office from where the program was coordinated. The gala was hosted on the campus of the Kentucky School for the Deaf to enhance participation by deaf youth volunteers who planned, coordinated and participated in the actual event. Deaf interpreters were used during the Ambassador Academy and luncheon entertainment in order to maximize participation by deaf volunteers. Deaf and hearing volunteers will work in teams to help guests learn to interact with deaf volunteers and to facilitate cooperation. Special consideration is being given to a need for increased time in order for some disabled youth to effectively interact during the project.
Preparation for Volunteers Without Disabilities
Volunteers without disabilities received training during the Ambassador Academy to raise sensitivity and to learn ways to facilitate communication with deaf individuals. This training was conducted by instructors from KSD, some of whom are themselves deaf. Topics included are how to get the attention of a deaf person, ways to maximize lip reading, how to use an interpreter and understanding the deaf culture. All ambassadors xplored the needs of people with physical disabilites in order to anticipate needs of disabled guests as well as volunteers.
Last Revised: 10/22/01
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