Extension
It Starts With Us
Beneficial Lifestyle Choices
Beneficial Lifestyle Choices
Heather Cheek, Macy Fawns, Mary Jane Little
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
According to KY Health Facts, in comparison to Kentucky as a whole, Mason Countians are statistically more unhealthy. The average amount of adults in Mason County with diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and heart disease is equal to and higher than the average amount for Kentuckians. The average amount of overweight and obese adults is also higher than the state average.
To decrease the number of obese and overweight youth and adults
To improve the mental health and well-being of residents of Mason County
To manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension
To decrease the number of accidents on farms and in homes.
To increase physical activity in families and communities and decrease time spent on sedentary behaviors
To have community members advocate for policy changes related to unhealthy choices
To strengthen community coalitions and/or partnerships to address unhealthy choices
To increase the practice of daily physical activity
To increase the choice of healthy foods
Initial Outcome: To increase the practice of daily physical activity and choice of healthy foods
Indicator: Immediate feedback from participants on knowledge of physical activity and healthy foods
Method: Word of mouth from participants
Timeline: During program
Intermediate Outcome: To strengthen community coalitions and/or partnerships to address unhealthy choices
Indicator: More participation at coalition meetings and from advisory councils
Method: Observation of participation and PSE changes
Timeline: quarterly
Long-term Outcome: To decrease the number of obese and overweight youth and adults
Indicator: Lower statistical rates
Method: Observe date changes
Timeline: annually
Audience: 8th grade students
Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences
Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent, community partners, Extension homemakers, MCMS
Date: Every October
Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: Health Fair
Content or Curriculum: Various health topics
Inputs: FCS Agent, Meadowview Regional Hospital, Extension Homemakers, community partners
Date: Every April/May
Audience: Adults and youth
Project or Activity: Growing to Cook series
Content or Curriculum: Participants will learn to grow and cook with fruits and vegetables
Inputs: Horticulture Agent, EFNEP Assistant, Master Gardeners
Date: Every Summer/Fall
Audience: 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students
Project or Activity: Dance Fit
Content or Curriculum: Dance Fit curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent, MCIS PE teacher
Date: Every school year
Author: Mary Jane Little
Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
The focus of all 4-H programs is the development of youth as individuals and as responsible and productive citizens. The National 4-H Shooting Sports Program stands out as an example. Youth learn marksmanship, the safe and responsible use of firearms, the principles of hunting and archery, and much more. The activities of the program and the support of caring adult leaders provide young people with opportunities to develop life skills, self-worth, and conservation ethics. (National 4-H Shooting
Author: Heather Cheek
Major Program: Cook Together, Eat Together
Eating more fruits and vegetables is a critical behavior for health promotion and disease prevention. Despite the importance of eating more produce, it is also one of the most difficult eating behaviors to change. It has been reported that cooking more meals at home is related to increased fruit and vegetable consumption.A program to promote more health, home-cooked family meals, Cook Together, Eat Together, was offered at the Mason County Cooperative Extension Office with 5 adults and 9 youth p
Author: Mary Jane Little
Major Program: 4-H Health Core Curriculum
The GEM curriculum (Get Experience in Mindfulness) is national 4-H curriculum that provides tools for educators to enable students with stress and coping mechanisms. Mason County 4-H hosted a 6 week program at St. Patrick's school for 7th and 8th graders. The lessons entail stress recognition and management, anxiety recognition and grounding techniques, how to identify stress triggers, and personality tests to get to know how others may experience stress. Students worked through individual a
Author: Heather Cheek
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In 2018, the State of Obesity Organization stated the combined rate for overweight and obese adolescents is 33.5% making Kentucky fall among the highest 15 states for overweight and obese children. Kentucky Health Facts stated that 40% of adults in Mason County are obese compared to the 35% in Kentucky as a whole. According to the CDC, around 49.7% and 43.2% of adolescents in Kentucky report consuming fruits and vegetables, respectively, less than one time a day. In an effort to increase the fru
Author: Heather Cheek
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
With the COVID-19 pandemic taking the world by surprise, the Governor of Kentucky has requested that people stay at home unless absolutely necessary. A large population reached by Mason County Family and Consumer Sciences include the 306 Extension Homemaker members. The majority of these members are over the age of 60 and deemed high risk for contracting the coronavirus. A fear of the stay at home order includes a feeling of isolation which can lead to depression. In an effort to combat the feel
Author: Heather Cheek
Major Program: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Time together as a family was hard to find before the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has given families a blessing in disguise as they now are spending a lot of time together. During the healthy at home period, many holidays passed including St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, and even Mother’s and Father’s Day. In an effort to support families during Mother’s and Father’s Day, the Mason County FCS Agent put together Programs On The Go to promote family time at home. The Mo
Author: Heather Cheek
Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, families and individuals were encouraged to stay Healthy At Home. This meant that traditional Extension programming had to change. In an effort to still reach clientele and provide them with research based information and hands on activities to support that information and encourage a better understanding of it for those who may not be visual learners, the Mason County FCS Agent and program assistant worked together to provide different Programs On The Go to the c
