Setting Really Good Family Goals

It was a goal of the 4-H and Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) staffs to organize a second incredible "Strengthening Families" program. Guess what? We did it again. We had our first program Thursday night and enjoyed five families getting to know each other.

Strengthening Families is a program that involves families with youth between the ages of 10 and 14. Each week we have a new theme, with lessons that build on each other. The first week has to do with setting goals. After eating together we split the adults and youth. Christy Strickland and Janice Fields, FCS Extension Agents, work with the adults while Shea Ann DeJarnette and Aggie Rogers with the 4-H Staff work with the youth. The adults go over multimedia lessons and activities and have the opportunity to share issues they are facing. The youth work on hands on lessons and learn how to communicate and help relate better to their parents. After sessions apart the families come together to work on activities that build on what they learned in their separate sessions. For example, the youth worked setting goals and learning what it takes to make those goals reality. As part of this they created a collage that shows their goals for their future professions, health, friends and family, and hobbies and leisure. After creating their collages, the parents had to figure out which on belonged to their child. After identifying the correct masterpiece, they began a conversation learning what it will take to help their child achieve their goals, and the youth asked their parents questions like; what were your goals when you were my age? It allowed them to learn more about each other.

This group will meet each week through March. As part of the program parents and youth will gain skills to deal with tough subjects like drugs, bullying, smoking and other risky behaviors. If you would like more information about this program, please contact Christy Strickland, Family Consumer Sciences Extension Agent at (910) 671-3276 or Christy_Strickland@ncsu.edu.