Financial Security for All (Roosevelt County)

* Within 6 months of completing the Foot in the Door program, 85% of its 166 participants reported that they were more aware of how to successfully complete a job application, over 40% have actively searched for employment using techniques and tools developed in the program, and 20% have obtained employment.
* Ten percent (10%) of participants who partook in a craft, sewing, or quilting class from the Lea County Extension Service, exhibited their projects at the Lea County Fair or the local quilt shows
* Among the 36 participants of “Knowing Your Credit” at the Clovis Community College Professional Improvement Training, 25% of the participants acknowledged that they have recently obtained their credit report and approximately 50% replied that they plan to get a report based on information presented in this program.
* Five percent (5%) of Going Green Workshop participants in Lea County have begun to implement small energy saving techniques in their homes and businesses.
* As a result of the holiday craft workshops in Lea County, 20% of the workshop participants completed additional crafts as a gift for family and friends, 10% enrolled in additional extension service programs, and 20% of the participants have begun to improve their crafts skills and move onto more difficult items/projects.
* After various beginner quilting classes in Lea County, 80% of their participants would recognize the equipment necessary to complete the project on their own, 30% purchased additional supplies to duplicate the craft at home, and 90% completed the craft item during class time to show off to other classmates as well as family and friends.
* From a Knowing Your Credit Reports and Credit Reports seminar to 69 adults at the Retired Teachers Association, 30% of its participants acknowledged that they have recently obtained their credit report and approximately 50 % replied that they plan to get a report based on information presented in this program.
* Twenty five percent of the participants in the sewing, quilting and craft programs provided by Lea County Extension Service are exhibiting their completed items in the county fair and local quilt shows.

* After completing the Foot in the Door program, over 75% of its 166 participants reported a greater understanding and awareness of the programs available to assist job seekers, 85% had developed a professional resume and summary statement, over 90% reported that they had improved their interviewing techniques and had “greatly” benefited from the mock interviewing experience, and over 95% had set a goal regarding their financial behaviors.
* Dollar Decisions programs in Doña Ana county saw 80% of participants increased their knowledge and awareness related to money management.

A monthly newsletter is compiled by the home economist. This newsletter has relevant articles on Nutrition, Health, Diabetes, Money Management and other consumer issues. It is distributed to a mail list of 260 homes from Roosevelt Co. and surrounding areas, an electronic version is also emailed to a list of 180 families. Positive comments are constantly made about the usefulness of the newsletter to the home economist.

Agent’s annual holiday program “Simply Joyful” was presented to 373 men and women from Roosevelt, Curry, DeBaca, Quay and Chaves Counties as well as Austin, Muleshoe, Farwell, Earth, Vega, and Lubbock, Texas. These participants were given a book that included recipes and gift making and presenting instructions. Many of the gift and decorating ideas were made from items that had been used in other ways before; they were just refreshed and used in different ways. Simple money saving gifts and decorations were displayed and demonstrated.
Participants responded that they learned simple ways to decorate for the holidays, prepare recipes and make gifts. One participant reported she enjoyed getting back to the basics. Another reported that she learned new ways to use items she already had on hand. One participant reported she learned “the importance of keeping it simple and recycling, really creative ideas.” A participant stated she learned the importance of making memories with your family and friends.
Simple gift and decorating ideas were presented on a segment of Creative Living KENW TV. This segment featured items that are quick and easy to make for gifts and decorations all year through. Home economist receives comments continuously about items that clients made from this program or request for information about items shown. Creative Living is a syndicated PBS show and shows across the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico.

An annual holiday program in November 2006 was presented to over 350 participants. This program called “A Christmas To Remember” was based on collecting, preserving and protecting family memories. Many different items were made, displayed and demonstrated during the program, many could be used as gifts. These gifts can save the participants money and also provide meaningful gifts. Many of the participants have reported using the ideas they learned at this program to prepare gifts and items for their families. They say it has also helped them to realize the importance of saving these family keepsakes and memories. One segment was also about learning your Family Health History; it stressed the importance of finding out this information and compiling it into a usable format for all of your family members.