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 Klotz
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
