Focus Area: Enhanced Life Skill Development of Florida's Youth
Target Audience: Youth, K-12 enrolled in 4-H programs
Skill Goals Targeted: 

 

Relationship Skills

 

Rationale and Evidence of Need/Issue:

Developing and maintaining positive relationships with others is an intricate part of our personal and social lives (Polk, 2003). As youth transition toward adolescence and adulthood, relationships with others become increasingly important. The social interaction skills necessary to maintain positive relationships is also dependent upon other abilities like communication skills and decision-making.

Communication Skills Being able to effectively communicate has been found to result in positive outcomes such as improved family , peer and group relationships. Interpersonal Competence [learning to be empathetic, sensitive and have friendship making skills ] and interpersonal communication skills [abilities to express oneself, listen, or resolve conflicts] are among the life skills and assets that youth need to succeed. The development of skills to resolve conflicts is considered to be a key to a youth’s social development. Communication skills are highly correlated to problem solving and conflict resolutions skills. Young people who can communicate successfully and resolve conflicts are more likely to be accepted by their peers and develop friendships (child trends).
Leadership Skills

The ability to grow through experiences of service and leadership can be captured in the recently defined competency of social responsibility. This broader definition, previously limited to citizenship and civic education, additionally includes concepts of volunteerism, community service, service learning, human rights and respect for others, being active and responsible members of a larger social and political community (Polk, 2003) Youniss, McLellan and Yates (1997) report that youth participation in 4-H, Scouts and YMCA increased the likelihood of membership and leadership positions as adult in community and civic organizations. Programs are needed to allow young people to practice various adult roles, thus developing leadership, communication and social skills to make meaningful contributions to their families, communities and other human beings.

County Program Objectives Best Practices/Essential Experiences: Indictors and Evaluation Tools
For 45 club officers to learn and demonstrate two or more leadership skills.
Skill Goal Targeted: 

 

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

 

Target Audience: 
Rationale and Evidence of Need/Issue:

 

 

County Program Objectives:

 

 

 

 

Decrease in health related issues( obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, personal injuries, etc)

Increase in health and safety practices (seatbelt safety use, bicycle helmets, personal fitness) as measured by:
     - youth year-end assessments

Improved nutritional knowledge, skills and practices of youth,.as measured by:
       -  Skillathon pre-post assessments

Return to Mainpage