STATE CONTACT
Anna B. Lucas
Extension Specialist for 4-H Youth
212 Scovell Hall, U. K.
Lexington, KY 40546-0064
Phone: (859) 257-5961
fax: (859) 257-7180
e-mail: alucas@uky.edu

Jann Burks
Extension Associate
e-mail: jburks@uky.edu

CHARACTER COUNTS!sm

DESCRIPTION
The Character Counts! Coalition is a project of the Josephson Institute of Ethics. The Coalition is a national partnership of organizations and individuals involved in education, training and care of youth.

The Coalition has taken on the challenge of providing a basic standard for our national's youth. The program is geared toward combating violence, dishonesty and irresponsibility.

The curriculum is designed to teach the six pillars of character with age appropriate activities. The approach will be: Teach/ illustrate; Advocate ethical behavior, encourage and inspire; Model - teach by what we do, not by what we say; Enforce

The Four C's important to effective use of the Character Counts! Programs are: Consistent; Concrete message; Conscious effort to teach; Creative

The six pillars of character presented in the Character Counts! Programs: respect, responsibility, caring, trustworthiness, fairness and citizenship are accepted as universal characteristics of character. This program not only fits elements we strive to accomplish through 4-H but will provide Extension an opportunity to provide the leadership to involve many aspects of the community in teaching and reinforcing the characteristics of character.

The six pillars of character can be taught at each of the age levels with meaningful experiences designed to emphasize character trait development related to the specific age category. This gives us the advantage of reinforcing the six character traits throughout a young person's life.

This program emphasizes many of the content found in workforce preparation, Citizenship, Talking with T.J. I and II and may be done in conjunction with these programs or on alternating years.

LIFE SKILLS, KERA GOALS and ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS, WORKFORCE PREPARATION SKILLS can, in many cases be related to program content, but consideration needs to be given to the delivery method and the extent of involvement of teen and adult leaders, and the participants involvement in related project/program activities and events. The lists below are only to serve as a starting point to indicate relationships of 4-H educational programs to defined developmental needs, skills and knowledge. Refer to a more detailed list of life skills, workforce competencies and KERA goals and academic outcomes.

SOME Life Skills Connections:

Self-responsibility	Marketable skills	Cooperation
Teamwork	Nurturing relationships	Sharing
Empathy	Concern for others	Accepting differences
Conflict resolution	Social skills	Self-motivation
Self-esteem	Service learning	Critical thinking
Problem solving	Decision making	Community service volunteering
Responsible citizenship	Leadership	Contributing to group effort
Character	Managing feelings	Self-discipline
Stress management

SOME KERA Goals and Expectations Connections:

Speaking	Democratic principles	Diverse ethnic & cultural groups
Mental & emotional wellness	Positive self-concept	Healthy lifestyle
Adaptable & flexible	Self-control	Self-discipline
Ethical values	Interpersonal skills	Consistent responsive & caring behavior
Rights & responsibilities for self & others	Open mind to alternative perspectives	Critical thinking
Decision making	Problem solving

SOME Workforce Preparation Skills:
Interpersonal:
*Participate as a member of a team
*Exercise leadership
*Negotiates
*Works with diversity

Information:
*Acquires, organizes, interprets and communicates information

Foundation skills:
*Basic skills - listening and speaking
*Thinking skills - decision making, problem solving and reasoning

Personal qualities:
*Responsibility
*Self-esteem
*Sociability
*Self-management
*Integrity

SUGGESTED AUDIENCES
For ages 4-6, 6-9, 9-11, 11-13 and teens.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE - (To be checked out - borrowed only)
Available from State 4-H Office: Review material available for your use to determine if you want to use the program or to add additional teaching activities or market/explain the program to others.

Good Ideas Book:
This book help kids develop good character in six ways. It gives lesson plans, activities and other strategies for bringing the six pillars of character to the Home, School, Youth Group and Community. Great ideas to use in planning, conducting and supplementing the Character Counts education series.

Teachers, youth counselors, and other youth service professionals have shared ideas of what has worked well in their programs. This book can also be purchase form the Josephson Institute of Ethics.

Sample Kits:

Sample kits CANNOT be copied or used for teaching content. The six pillars of character can be taught at each of the age levels with meaningful experiences designed to emphasize character trait development related to the specific age category. This program emphasizes much of the content found in workforce preparation, citizenship, Talking with T.J. I and II and may be done in conjunction with these programs or on alternating years. Please specify the age category you want to view. For ages 4-6, 6-9, 9-11, 11-13 and teens.Other resources available for loan from Research and Education Center, State 4-H Office (3 displays available), Quicksand Area Extension Office (1), Somerset Area Extension Office (1), Princeton Area Extension Office (1). Three-panel free standing exhibit with basic description of the six Pillars of Character. Fits on a six to eight foot table.

Cannot be mailed.

Available from Agriculture Communications Video Library:
Let's Get Involved Tape
Let's Teach Character Tape.

LET'S GET INVOLVED TAPE

Audience: Adult

Tapes: Cannot be copied but can be purchased from the Josephson Institute.
Josephson Institute, 4640 Admiralty Way, Suite number 1001, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292-6610

Description: * What you should know about CHARACTER COUNTS!sm

CHARACTER COUNTS!sm is a national initiative to fortify ethical values called the "Six Pillars of Character": trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

This tape features interviews with Coalition founder Michael Josephson, Coalition spokespersons Tom Selleck and Barbara Jordan, and prominent political and education leaders. Mr. Josephson answers five fundamental questions about CHARACTER COUNTS!: What is it? Who is behind it? Where did the "Six Pillars of Character" come from? Why is there a need for it? How can you get involved?

LET'S TEACH CHARACTER TAPE

Audience: Adult

Tapes: Cannot be copied but can be purchased from the Josephson Institute.
Josephson Institute, 4640 Admiralty Way, Suite number 1001, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292-6610

Description: * How to build character in children
* What you should know about the "Six Pillars of Character"
* Strategies for Ethical Decision Making

This tape is a compilation of all three in the "Let's Teach Character" series.
Part 1: Coalition founder Michael Josephson discusses how character is defined and how to help young people develop good character.
Part 2: Mr. Josephson offers tips on how to teach and reinforce the "Six Pillars of Character".
Part 3: Mr. Josephson addresses the "ins and outs" of ethical decision making, offering strategies, tests and models.

Video Tapes may also be borrowed from Ag. Video Library.

To order materials:
Because the Josephson Institute frequently adds new resources in the early stages of planning, request a current catalog from -

The basic program kits for the five age levels are about $50.00 each. Once a teacher or leader has a kit, they can copy the handouts as many times as they wish. Kits are not to be passed among teachers or leaders and the teaching outline is not to be copied.

PROGRAM DELIVERY GUIDELINES
Character Counts! is a very flexible program. The key factor to keep in mind is that the six pillar and decision making lessons should be taught as a unit. Supplemental character education information and activities should be added to each lesson.

Below are some methods used by the three pilot counties that served on the task force to plan the use of Character Counts! in Kentucky 4-H.

HOPKINS COUNTY - Sally Snyder and Cyndi Boggs
Character Counts! has been used as a special interest program in Hopkins County. It has been utilized by an elementary school guidance counselor, and teachers in pre-school and after-school programs. Other possibilities include YMCA Day Care and the Big Brothers-Big Sisters.

One elementary school organized a pilot community with five teachers leading a total of 127 students in Primary - 5th grades who will work in their group until they exit 5th grade. The enthusiasm for the program has led to a grant to expand the program to the entire school. The lead teacher transferred to another school where “Character Counts!” is taught each Monday, with a month being spent on each pillar. Programs are introduced around the school’s broad based themes and the school’s disciplinary policy.

The Hopkins County volunteer leader who served on the state task force has written a grant to fund Character Counts! for the entire Hopkins County school system.

Hopkins County Update (2000)
Character Counts has become a first priority of the Hopkins County Cooperative Extension Service. 350 youth and 55 adults have learned the value and consequences related to the six pillars of character. Information for character education was provided to teachers by the Hopkins County Cooperative Extension Service. Community leaders and city and county officials were also involved. Character Counts is changing the way people behave according to a follow-up (end of year) survey. Seventy-six percent of students use the language of the six pillars of character, 63% report increased frequency of helping each other, 58% report decreased frequency in blaming others (which translates into taking responsibility), and 52% report increased frequency of being truthful. A group of students representing all grade levels at one school went on a reward trip to the local YMCA. At the end of the event, when the teacher prepared to pay ($350), the director said, "This has been the best behaved group of youth I have ever witnessed here and I'm not going to charge you - because Character Counts!"

OLDHAM COUNTY - Ruth Ann Benedict and Carol Wilson
Character Counts! lessons are taught in Oldham County 4-H school clubs. The program is also used by the Teen Club of about 20 members. One school counselor has used the program throughout the year. The program has been taught in the PeeWee Valley Women’s Prison.

Training includes:
*Training for elementary and middle school counselors
*Training for volunteer leaders

Character Counts! - Carol Wilson (Volunteer Leader)
After attending the three day training in Denver, Carol came back and informed her community prevention group and other prevention organizations in which she works about the Character Counts! program.

She conducted a seven week training with 6 youth ages 13-16 who were working with the Court Designated Worker in a diversion program. She also had a session with their parents to explain the concepts, so that they can be reinforced at home.

She has conducted training with the Regional Prevention Network (RPN) in the Louisville area and the statewide group of Court Designated Workers.

The six county prevention coalition is considering including Character Counts! as part of a grant for teenage pregnancy prevention.

OWEN COUNTY -
Everyone in the middle school is involved with Character Counts! Because the principal and teachers feel this program meets a critical need of youth, they have supported training for the teachers/leaders to serve as instructors. Programs are conducted on the pillars throughout the year with groups of 4-Hers doing community service projects to put the Character Counts! principles into action. This reinforces the commitment of the community and puts the program into action to meet community needs.

Some ideas related to the Owen County process:

NEED:
A February, 1996 Local Needs Assessment revealed that three of the top five issues facing Owen County youth were lack of -
1. Respect for others
2. Acceptance of responsibility
3. Established values

A national survey reveals:
*2/3 of American college students cheat
*1/3 of American college students steal

VISION:
What do we want to change?
*If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.
*Teaching character does not insure character formation.
*Youth will not internalize character education until they model it after experience. They must pish the SAVE button rather than the DELETE button to store and use the experience.
*Focus on youth identified as having the greatest need. The Bowling Middle School will be our first focus youth group. The school has a population of approximately 525 people including students, teachers, cooks, janitors and administrators.
*Have teachers to model it and incorporate it into their regular class work.

LEADERSHIP:
If it is only one person’s dream, then it will die.
*Involve a partnership of people who want to improve the moral fiber of our community.
*Gain support from the 4-h Council, program leaders, business people, local officials, schools and local newspaper.

COMMITMENT:
Involve the stakeholders and leaders in implementing and evaluating as well as planning.
*Put the program on the table and ask them to support it, model it and incorporate it into their particular work or school situation.

ACTION:
Do it when and where it fits.
*Make curriculum and character inseparable.
*Model in every place.
*Model at all times.

Owen County Update (2000)
Positive values of caring, justice, integrity, honesty, responsibility and restraint were identified as part of the internal assets needed for youth to grow up healthy, competent and caring by the Search Institute. With the importance of these assets, the Owen County Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Youth Program conducted an eight-month educational Character Counts Program for 300 4th and 5th grade students. In a follow-up written evaluation one month after the program conclusion, 68% of participating students reported they were more likely to tell the truth, 90% reported they were more likely to be respectful, and 69% reported making a positive change in behavior including such things as being more responsible, respectful and trustworthy--all of which changes will result in fewer discipline problems and a reduction in classroom violence.

CHANGE:
Post assessment

The Extension Agents and volunteer leaders from these counties conducted three inservice trainings across the state. The Johnson County program is an example of a county’s program development following the training. All middle schools used the program throughout the year, as well as some elementary schools. Youth developed skits, radio spots, posters and school portfolios around the six pillars. Two annual celebrations were held for over 1000 participants to interpret what they had learned using skits, songs and poetry. The program was financed locally and additional Character Counts! programming including parental involvement is being done this year. The program included:

SCHOOL/4-H CLUBS

• Steering Committee (Plan, implement and evaluate)
• Classroom presentations - agent
• School rallies - speaker
• Awards/incentives (shirts, pencils, ribbons)
• Decorated door contest
• Hall decorations
• Room/hall bulletin boards
• PSA spots
• Grand Finale Rally - school presentations
• Large banners in all schools
• Family/Resource Center directors
• Events/activities - Communication Day, variety show, 4-H Camp
• Portfolio writings
• Project books
• Poster art
• T-shirt contest

PARENTS

• Parent rally
• Newsletter
• Target parents at all 4-H events

COMMUNITY

• Float - “4-H Character Kids” (parents & youth)
• Kiwanis Club
• Rotary Club
• Private individuals
• Billboard
• PSA spots by adults

The following statements indicate the impact of the Character Counts Program in the various counties (for 2000).

Link to 2000 County Impact Statements

The following statements indicate the impact of the Character Counts Program in the various counties (for 2001).

Link to 2001 County Impact Statements

Share Your Character Education Program, Model, Resources & Ideas With All of Extension Via the Attached Surveys

The Programs Committee Character Education Task Force of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents is collecting information on what Extension is doing to address the character deficit in this country. The goal is to create a resource for Extension Professionals that outlines what is being done in each state, what curriculum or model is being used, what resources exist, how to obtain those resources, as well as a compilation of good ideas, activities, tools, etc. that work and can be utilized in other states or programs.

There are two surveys. One is a brief summary of what is being done in the state. This should be completed by the individual in the state who is responsible for character education. The second is for sharing resources, ideas, tidbits, tools or whatever is available or happening in the state in regard to character development that may be helpful to colleagues in other states. The second form can be completed by anyone who has an idea, resource, evaluation tool, promotional tool, activity, program or tidbit to share. Individuals and states are welcome to duplicate and submit as many "Jewels" as they feel would be helpful to colleagues in other states.

Please return to Peggy Adkins via fax at: (865) 974-1628

NAE4-HA Programs Committee Character Education Task Force

Link to Summary of State Character Education Program Form

Return via fax: (865) 974-1628

NAE4-HA Programs Committee Character Education Task Force

Link to Tips, Tools & Jewels Form

Link to Character Counts Program Evaluation Packet (You must print this and then fill in the blanks)

The following Character Counts programs have been evaluated at the county level. This information may be helpful in showing program effectiveness.

Link to Program Evaluation (Magoffin County)

Link to Program Evaluation (Oldham County)

New Study Proves Character Education Works: Violence, Drug Use, Cheating Cut Sharply

Character education can alter attitudes towards violence and cut youth crime, drug use, and cheating, according to a massive new study by university researchers from the South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service/4-H (a division of the United States Department of Agriculture).

Link to the Study

last Revised: 10/23/01
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