MONROE - After nearly two years without a family living educator, the Green County University of Wisconsin-Extension office has welcomed Monroe native Hayley Jordan to fill the post.
Jordan, only a few days into the job, said she's anxious to help develop the position that is meant to benefit families and others in both Green and Lafayette counties. Currently, she's spending her time meeting people and feeling out the needs of each county that have changed greatly over the years.
"I was looking for a job to still make a difference in people's lives," Jordan said. "I'm really excited to be home."
The Monroe High School graduate was previously an occupational therapist, mostly working in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. She said the more she learns about her new position, the more she realizes how much the two have in common.
Although she previously provided help in a therapeutic way to get people back to their daily lives, she'll now continue to help people do that through skills and education.
"The biggest part of occupational therapy was returning people to the community," Jordan said. "Here, I'm educating people to keep moving them forward with the resources available to them."
Decades ago, the position would have revolved around work in the field dubbed home economics. Though her work now is similar, the lives of families and households have greatly changed, she said. Jordan hopes to mold the position into what the counties' needs reflect.
The position's top five focuses now are mental health, the aging population, housing, food insecurity and parenting.
"It will evolve to better fit the needs of families now and households now," Jordan said of the position. "I choose to look at that as the glass is half full - we have a chance to move forward."
She hopes to work closely with community and civic groups as well as organizations in the area and has goals to foster connections when applicable.
"The people here are our greatest commodity," Jordan said. "We have some really forward-thinking people."
The family living educator position is divided between the counties, with 60 percent of her time in Green and 40 percent in Lafayette. Jordan will be in Green County on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and in Lafayette County the rest of the week. She will have an office in both places and can be reached at either.
"The biggest mission of UW-Extension is to take research and put it in the hands of the people," Jordan said, noting she hopes to do that by answering questions and passing along information.
According to the Extension website, the family living program responds to today's families with evidence-informed programs and practices as well as with local knowledge gained from living in the communities it serves. Educators help create an environment where families have information, skills and assets they need to improve their quality of life and contribute to their communities.
Jordan grew up on a dairy farm south of Monroe that her parents still operate. She was a part of Green County 4-H and FFA and served as both the Green County Dairy Queen and the Fairest of the Fair for Green County and Wisconsin. She is also the granddaughter of former longtime county board member Leonard Nuckles of Browntown, who she referred to as her best friend.
"4-H was a huge part of my life growing up, and I'm so excited to be home," Jordan said.
Jordan holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in occupational therapy. She and her husband, Matt, previously owned Jordan Implement. They have two daughters, Peyton and Mykenna. They enjoy camping, ATV riding and being outdoors, and Jordan is currently training to become a 4-H adult leader as her children get more involved. She can be reached at 608-328-9440 or by email at hayley.jordan.ces.uwex.edu.
Jordan, only a few days into the job, said she's anxious to help develop the position that is meant to benefit families and others in both Green and Lafayette counties. Currently, she's spending her time meeting people and feeling out the needs of each county that have changed greatly over the years.
"I was looking for a job to still make a difference in people's lives," Jordan said. "I'm really excited to be home."
The Monroe High School graduate was previously an occupational therapist, mostly working in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. She said the more she learns about her new position, the more she realizes how much the two have in common.
Although she previously provided help in a therapeutic way to get people back to their daily lives, she'll now continue to help people do that through skills and education.
"The biggest part of occupational therapy was returning people to the community," Jordan said. "Here, I'm educating people to keep moving them forward with the resources available to them."
Decades ago, the position would have revolved around work in the field dubbed home economics. Though her work now is similar, the lives of families and households have greatly changed, she said. Jordan hopes to mold the position into what the counties' needs reflect.
The position's top five focuses now are mental health, the aging population, housing, food insecurity and parenting.
"It will evolve to better fit the needs of families now and households now," Jordan said of the position. "I choose to look at that as the glass is half full - we have a chance to move forward."
She hopes to work closely with community and civic groups as well as organizations in the area and has goals to foster connections when applicable.
"The people here are our greatest commodity," Jordan said. "We have some really forward-thinking people."
The family living educator position is divided between the counties, with 60 percent of her time in Green and 40 percent in Lafayette. Jordan will be in Green County on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and in Lafayette County the rest of the week. She will have an office in both places and can be reached at either.
"The biggest mission of UW-Extension is to take research and put it in the hands of the people," Jordan said, noting she hopes to do that by answering questions and passing along information.
According to the Extension website, the family living program responds to today's families with evidence-informed programs and practices as well as with local knowledge gained from living in the communities it serves. Educators help create an environment where families have information, skills and assets they need to improve their quality of life and contribute to their communities.
Jordan grew up on a dairy farm south of Monroe that her parents still operate. She was a part of Green County 4-H and FFA and served as both the Green County Dairy Queen and the Fairest of the Fair for Green County and Wisconsin. She is also the granddaughter of former longtime county board member Leonard Nuckles of Browntown, who she referred to as her best friend.
"4-H was a huge part of my life growing up, and I'm so excited to be home," Jordan said.
Jordan holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in occupational therapy. She and her husband, Matt, previously owned Jordan Implement. They have two daughters, Peyton and Mykenna. They enjoy camping, ATV riding and being outdoors, and Jordan is currently training to become a 4-H adult leader as her children get more involved. She can be reached at 608-328-9440 or by email at hayley.jordan.ces.uwex.edu.