Extension
It Starts With Us
4-H Health
Promote Healthy Lifestyles
Steve Conrad, Christy Eastwood
Health 4-H Core Curriculum
Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours
Healthy living is one of three 4-H mission mandates. Components of Kentucky 4-H Health Core Curriculum include: physical activity, substance abuse, bullying, safety, and character education. Moderate physical activity can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, stress and high blood pressure. Early substance use in childhood/adolescence affects later drug use
(National Healthy Living Task Force). Almost 30% of youth in the United
States (or over 5.7 million) are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both (http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/faq/bullying.asp).
More persons aged 1-34 years die as a result of injuries than any other cause of death with motor vehicle crashes accounting for approximately half of those deaths (National 4-H Healthy Living Task Force). Individuals, their organizations and their societies effectiveness and well being depend on
character development (Charactercounts.org).
Increased number of youth maintaining positive health habits
Increased number of youth at a lower risk for serious disease and illness
Increased number of youth at a lower risk for physical and emotional distress
Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in 4-H Health programs
Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky
behavior and handling stress
Youth will identify healthy lifestyle choices
Youth will understand risky behaviors and their consequences
Youth will aspire to have higher self esteem
Youth will identify healthy ways to handle stress
Initial Outcome: Handling Stress
Indicator: fewer youth reporting getting "stressed" out
Method: observation and written survey
Timeline:3-6 week after program
Intermediate Outcome: Not Engaging in Risky Behavior
Indicator: Identifying and avoiding risky behavior
Method: observation and written survey
Timeline:6-9 months after program
Long-term Outcome: Youth Developing into Competent & Capable Young Adults
Indicator: becoming responsible and reliable young adults
Method: observation and possible written survey
Timeline: participants age of late teens/early twenties
Initial Outcome: Youth will identify healthy lifestyle choices.
Indicator: Use proper hand-washing skills in the school setting when needed.
Method: Observation by teachers and para-educators
Timeline: During school day
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will have increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices.
Indicator: At least 50% of students will demonstrate proper hand-washing techniques.
Method: Observation by teachers and para-educators
Timeline: During school day
Long-term Outcome: Increased number of youth maintaining positive health habits.
Indicator: number of days absent from school due to illnesses will decrease by 25%.
Method: written evaluation
Timeline: next school year
Audience: 9-18 year olds
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: state supported
Inputs: extension staff and resources
Date: summer
Audience: students with multiple disabilities
Project or Activity: monthly life skill classes
Content or Curriculum: state supported
Inputs: Extension staff, schools, Extension resources
Date: Oct., Nov. 2018; Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May 2019
Audience: 7th graders
Project or Activity: Truth & Consequences
Content or Curriculum: state supported
Inputs: extension staff and resources; school facilities & resources; community volunteers
Date: 2018/2019 school year at 2 middle schools, possibly more
Author: Stephen Conrad
Major Program: Health 4-H Core Curriculum
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
