Todd County CES

Title:

Accessing Nutritious Foods

MAP:

Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Agents Involved:

Jill Harris, Curt Judy

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Food Preservation

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Food Preparation

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Local Food Systems

Situation:

Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, including the Nutrition Education Program, helps families gain access to food and to stretch food dollars; communities to decrease hunger; and local food assistance programs to educate recipients on healthy and safe food preparation methods. Family and Consumer Sciences agents and paraprofessionals are pivotal in training consumers and producers to maximize local access to farm-to-table food products.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kentucky adult obesity rates rank among the 10 highest in the US; and, Kentucky youth rank among the 10 highest for obesity in the US. Thirty percent of Kentucky adults report not participating in any physical activity. The CDC also reports Kentucky adults rank in the 10 highest for poor consumption of fruits and vegetables in the US. In addition to these health indicators, according to the US Census, approximately 19% of Kentucky’s total population is living in poverty; and, approximately 27% percent of children and youth under the age of 18 live in poverty.

SNAP-Education programs help limited resource families increase access to affordable nutritious food, stretch food dollars, develop food preparation skills and improve food safety practices. SNAP-Education efforts also help communities address nutrition and obesity prevention issues related to the social, environmental, and policy work which supports limited resource individuals in making healthy lifestyle changes.

Locally, 64.1% of children in the Todd County School system participate in the free and reduced lunch program. Two churches, a community center, and one community organization provide assistance to individuals and families with emergency food supplies. The county also has four summer feeding program sites located in communities with high concentrations of children. USDA identified North Todd as a food desert, a lower income area where citizens have lower access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The Family Resource/Youth Service Center parent surveys revealed 230 parents said purchasing food for their family was an issue. In a survey conducted by Todd County Extension Family & Consumer Sciences, 94% of the respondents identified “access to food for children during the summer and weekends” the most important issue faced by families, while 78% recognized “improving access to fresh fruits and vegetables” as a priority. The Todd County Extension Council also identified Access to Nutritious Foods as a primary concern for local people.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Individuals will reduce their risk for nutrition-related health problems.

Individuals will maintain a healthy weight.

Individuals will prepare meals at home 5 or more times a week.

The instance of food insecurity will decline in the community.

Individuals will increase their physical stamina.

Individuals will increase food availability by accessing additional healthy foods via community systems and personal productivity.

Community social, environmental, and policy systems will reinforce healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Individuals will adopt one recommendation from the dietary guidelines.

Individuals demonstrate food preparation skills.

Individuals adopt one food resource management practice.

Individuals utilize community support systems (farmers market, community gardens, WIC, food pantry, etc.) that provide access to healthy foods.

Individuals will grow, care for, produce and preserve foods from personal gardens and orchards to gain access to healthy foods.

Community social, environmental, and policy systems will design opportunities to support individuals toward living a healthier lifestyle.

Initial Outcomes:

Individuals will be able to identify the components of a healthy diet as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Individuals will describe food preparation techniques.

Individuals will identify food resource management practices.

Individuals will locate community support systems (farmers market, WIC, food pantry, etc.) that provide access to healthy foods.

Individuals will develop skills and knowledge to grow their own garden and/or orchard.

Partners will recognize the need for community social, environmental, and policy systems to address efforts toward improving healthier lifestyles.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Individuals will describe food preparation techniques.

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting an increase in knowledge related to food preparation techniques.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports.

Timeline:

Intermediate Outcome: Individuals demonstrate food preparation skills.

Indicator: Number of individuals who implemented food preparation practices and behaviors.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports.

Timeline:

Long-term Outcome: Individuals will prepare meals at home 5 or more times a week.

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting preparing meals 5 more times a week.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluation.

Timeline: Fall

Initial Outcome: Individuals will locate community support systems (farmers market, WIC, food pantry, etc.) that provide access to healthy foods.

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting knowledge of community systems (farmers market, WIC, food pantry, etc.) that provide for food security.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports.

Timeline:

Intermediate Outcome: Individuals utilize community systems (farmers market, WIC, food pantry, etc.) that provide access to healthy foods.

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting utilization of community systems that provide access to healthy foods.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports.

Timeline:

Long-term Outcome: Individuals will have improved food security.

Indicator: A decrease in the number of individuals reporting hunger.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports. Change in food security data from the Kentucky County Agriculture and Food Profiles (CEDIK).

Timeline: Year-round

Short Term: Individuals will learn how to grow, care for, produce and preserve foods from personal gardens and orchards to gain access to healthy foods.

Indicator: Number of individual reporting growing, producing, and preserving fruits and vegetables.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports. Garden Survey.

Timeline:

Intermediate Outcome: Individuals will grow, care for, produce and preserve foods from personal gardens and orchards to gain access to healthy foods.

Indicator: Number of individual reporting growing, producing, and preserving fruits and vegetables.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports. Garden Survey.

Timeline:

Long-term Outcome: Individuals will increase food availability by growing, caring for, producing and preserving foods from personal gardens and orchards to gain access to healthy foods.

Indicator: Number of individual reporting growing, producing, and preserving fruits and vegetables.

Indicator: Food insecurity decreases.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports. Change in food security data from the Kentucky County Agriculture and Food Profiles (CEDIK).

Timeline:

Initial Outcome: Partners will recognize the need for community social, environmental, and policy systems to address efforts toward improving healthier lifestyles.

Indicator: Number of partners aspiring to address policy, systems, and environmental changes to support a healthier lifestyle.

Method: Community surveillance for increased partnerships.

Timeline:

Intermediate Outcome: Community social, environmental, and policy systems will design opportunities to support individuals toward living a healthier lifestyle.

Indicator: Number of community social, environmental, and policy systems implemented for the purpose of addressing healthier lifestyles for limited resource and SNAP-eligible individuals.

Method: Community surveillance to report number of systems changes as a result of partnership efforts.

Timeline:

Long-term Outcome: Community social, environmental, and policy systems will promote a healthier lifestyle.

Indicator: Increase in the number of social, environmental, and policy changes implemented to support healthier lifestyles.

Method: Community surveillance. Changes in Kentucky County Healthcare Profile Data related to recreational facilities in the physical environment (CEDIK).

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Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Elementary, Middle and High School Limited Resource Students

Project or Activity: Backpack project

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistant, Community Partners, Volunteers

Date: School Year

Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Food Preservation

Content or Curriculum: FCS

Inputs: FCS Agent, Community Partners

Date: Summer

Audience: Families & Individuals

Project or Activity: Plate it Up KY Prous

Content or Curriculum: FCS, Plate It Up

Inputs: FCS Agent, Health Department, Community Partners

Date: Summer

Audience: Adults, Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity: German Heritage and Foods

Content or Curriculum: FCS

Inputs: FCS Agent, Extension Homemaker Members

Date: October

Audience: Adults,Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity: Hosting a Smarter Potluck

Content or Curriculum: FCS

Inputs: FCS Agent, Extension Homemaker Members

Date: January

Audience: Adults,Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity: Simple Succulents

Content or Curriculum: FCS

Inputs: FCS Agent, Extension Homemaker Members

Date: April

Audience: SNAP-eligible adults

Project or Activity: Container Gardening

Content or Curriculum: UK Gardening materials

Inputs: ANR Agent time

Date: Growing season

Success Stories