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History Of System

State Strengthening Grant

In the spring of 1997, Washington State Cooperative Extension was awarded a 5-year State Strengthening Grant from USDA Cooperative State Research Extension and Education System.

This evaluation system was created to measure the quality of programs conducted through this grant. It was felt that everyone doing youth and family programs could benefit from this evaluation system, so the process of creating a statewide life skills evaluation system was employed.

Life Skills

Life skill outcomes were chosen as measurements of quality because 4-H Youth Development programs focus their work on teaching youth and adults the life skills necessary to become capable, competent and caring citizens. The life skills model "Targeting Life Skills" (TLS) by Pat Hendricks of Iowa State University was used as a model to create this system. 

The Value of the TLS Model 

(see TLS Preview Wheel)

The Targeting Life Skills (TLS) Model consists of 35 life skills. These life skills were identified through a process of reviewing and integrating numerous life skills models. Those life skills or competencies that consistently emerged as being necessary for individuals to attain success in life were used (Hendricks, 1999).

Program Planning

Programs that incorporate the TLS Model help individuals reach their full potential through a positive approach to life skill development. The model provides a format incorporating major points of program planning:

• Delivering information and skill practice at the appropriate developmental level for the target audience
• Writing specific learning objectives for life skill development that are measurable
• Completing an instructional plan that creates experiences based on experiential learning theory to achieve life skill development
• Identifying observable/measurable indicators of change using these indicators to effectively evaluate program impact/goal. (Hendricks, 1999)

To learn more about the TLS Model and to order support materials, see the TLS Model Website.

Eight Life Skills were selected by Washington State to measure on a statewide basis. These were chosen through a consensus process with over 70 Family Living and 4-H Youth Development faculty and staff in the spring of 1999. In 2006 the Arkansas 4-H Youth Development faculty adopted these eight life skills, with the addition of the "Citizenship" life skill, to focus on evaluating for the 2007-2011 Federal Plan of Work. Also, a 4-H Club member evaluation component was added to evaluate the quality of the 4-H club experience.  Currently the life skills are: