Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Crystal Smith
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
The mental health in youth and young adults has been an unspeakable topic for years until of recent many in Eastern Kentucky. The past several years for the youth, young adults, and basically everyone in Eastern Kentucky has been very hard and trying to maintain a normal life. Adolescence and youth have daily struggles when things are not as confusing in the world of dealing with a pandemic and a natural disaster. In 4-H we have a great working relationship in our county schools wit
Author: Samantha Gabbard
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
Using the 4-H Health Rocks Curriculum, 18 Nelson County High School students were trained to mentor Old Kentucky Home Middle School students on substance use and prevention. The high school students went through a 3-day intensive training to plan and implement weekly sessions for the middle school students. The training consisted of learning how to work with different ages of students, try different activities from the curriculum, and work together as a team to prepare for mentoring. 10 out of t
Author: Bernita Cheirs
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
According to (NIH) the National Institute of Drug Abuse website, statistics for 2022 showed twelve percent of eighth graders, twenty-point-five percent of tenth graders, and twenty-seventy point three percent of twelfth graders reported vaping nicotine in the past year. The curriculum 4-H Health Rocks was introduced to the freshman health class in an effort to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. 4-H has worked for decades to help youth develop skills such as communicating with others, be
Author: Stephen Conrad
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
Data from the last decade (The Recovery Village) shows rates of middle school substance abuse and addiction in kids as young as 11 or 12 years old have swelled across the United States. In 2015, more than 8% of 8th graders have reported using illicit drugs. To assist in the fight to turn the tide in this area, the Boone County Cooperative Extension Service (program materials, volunteer lunch, and manpower) partnered with Boone County Schools (morning snacks, guest speakers, community volun
Author: Staci Thrasher
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
There is a strong need for continued substance abuse prevention and intervention in Fleming County. The number of diverted prescriptions and illegal drugs, overdoses, thefts, arrests, court cases, and medical/financial consequences of drug abuse continue to negatively impact a large number of families in the community. To address the variety of substance abuse issues impacting our community, the Fleming County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with other local agencies to organiz
Author: Kaitlyn Fryman
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
There is a strong need for continued substance abuse prevention and intervention in Fleming County. The number of diverted prescriptions and illegal drugs, overdoses, thefts, arrests, court cases, and medical/financial consequences of drug abuse continue to negatively impact a large number of families in the community. To address the variety of substance abuse issues impacting our community, the Fleming County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with other local agencies to organize Truth or
Author: Mackenzie Pogue
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
“KiND LiPS” Program High school teens tackle anti-bullying education in a new light. Forty high school members of STAND (Student Teaching Against Negative Decisions) partnered with KiND LiPS in the Classroom to education elementary youth on the value of the simple act, kindness. STAND members planned an elaborate educational program that reached every third-grade student in the Muhlenberg County School District. The program was designed to cultivate a k
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
Family Engagement is "a full, equal, and equitable partnership among families, educators, and community partners to promote children’s learning and development from birth through college and career.ESEA Network. Eisenhower and Kerrick Elementary, strive to provide family engagement opportunities that fit this definition! Over a 3 day weekend in April, Jefferson County 4-H partnered with the Jefferson County Public School Trauma Care Team, 4-H volunteers, Councilman Kh
Author: Paula Tarry
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
A Barren County Mother approached the 4-H Agent about wanting her daughter to participate in the 4-H program. The child is 9 years old but had the intellectual disability of a 6 year old with Autism, ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome of being non-social and non-verbal. She is Homeschooled and has no other social interaction except Church. I consulted with State Specialist and placed the child in the 4-H Cloverbud Club. Barren County is very fortunate to have fantastic Cloverbu
Author: Charles Stamper
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
According to the Centers for Disease Control (2024), suicide is the leading cause of death for ages 10-25 in Kentucky. In addition to that, one in six people in Kentucky have had a major depressive episode (MDE) since 2020. The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program has developed a plan to address the mental health concerns of the youth and families we are working with. We have a Specialist with specific responsibilities of Health & Wellbeing. Two major concepts of the overall plan are
Author: Nicolette Knuckles
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
The problem When I talked to different agents in the area at 4-H camp they mentioned it had been a while since someone had taught yoga at camp, so I was really happy to help in this way. They said the campers were asking what had happened when they saw that yoga was not an option to sign up for at camp the past couple years.The educational program responseThis activity is to help students/campers to slow down, connect with their breath and body to create movements that allows them to open a
Author: Julia Wilson
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
Mental health is a vital part of children’s overall health and well-being; it includes children’s mental, emotional, and behavioral wellness. According to the American Psychological Association, recent studies have shown that children’s mental health has been negatively affected over the past few years from social media and the Covid-19 pandemic. Learning to be mindful has had a positive effect on children’s mental health. In order to help children improve their men
