Extension
It Starts With Us
Promote Health and Wellness
Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Shonda Johnston, David Davis, Brandy Calvert, Shannon Farrell, Clay Stamm
Local Food Systems
Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
4-H Leadership Core Curriculum
The obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of Kentuckians. Obese individuals are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. The obesity rate in Kentucky increased 90 percent over the last 15 years. Thirty percent of individuals in the Commonwealth report no leisure-time physical activity. Increased consumption of unhealthy food, increase abuse of legal and illegal substances, stress, and built environments that promote physical inactivity are largely responsible for the obesity epidemic. As a result, Kentuckians are dying from heart disease and cancer at higher rates than all Americans and they have a lower life expectancy, 75.5 years, compared at 78 years for Americans. Minorities and individuals residing in Appalachia bear a heavier brunt of the obesity and chronic disease burden. The goal of the Healthy Lifestyle Choices Initiative is to reverse these trends by working with various organizations, agencies and groups to promote the health and wellness of all Clark Countians.
-Increase in practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily
-Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension
-Decrease in the number of obese and overweight youth, adults and elderly
-Decrease in overdoses and crimes related to substance abuse
Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns, practice physical activity in families and communities an decreased time spent on sedentary behaviors, practice healthy lifestyle decision making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors, knowledge of where to access help related to substance abuse, understanding of legal, emotional and financial impact of substance abuse
Change awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding weight management, reduction of chronic disease, practice promotion of daily physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices, increased knowledge and understanding of the consequences associated with substance abuse
Outcome: Understanding of the consequences associated with substance abuse
Indicator: Increased knowledge of the consequences associated with substance abuse as indicated in post evaluation
Method: Post Evaluation of Programs
Timeline: Annually
Outcome: Change awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding weight management, reduction of chronic disease, practice promotion of daily physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices
Indicator: Increase of youth and adults engaging in physical activity, ability to create a healthy meal plan
Method: Post Evaluation of Programs
Timeline: Annually
Audience: 4-H Age Youth (K-4th grade)
Project or Activity: 4-H School Enrichment
Content or Curriculum: LEAP, Professor Popcorn, Health Rocks, Take a Stand, Learn, Grow Eat Jr Master Gardner
Inputs: 4-H Extension Staff
Date: 2018-19
Audience: 9th Graders
Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences
Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences Curriculum
Inputs: Clark County Cooperative Extension Staff, High School Personnel, Community volunteers and agencies
Date: Spring 2019
Audience: Families, & Adults
Project or Activity: Farmers Market/Community Festivals & Events
Content or Curriculum: Benefits of Beef Consumption
Inputs: Kentucky Beef Council promotional material and staff, UK Specialist, UK Publications, Clark County Cattlemen’s Association.
Date: Summer/Fall 2018
Audience: youth, families and adults
Project or Activity: UK Health Bulletins
Content or Curriculum: UK Health Bulletins
Inputs: UK Health Bulletins, 4-H/ANR/FCS Newsletters, publication racks
Date: monthly
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Gardening Classes and Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Gardening Care workshops
Inputs: UK Publications, Master Gardeners, Community Garden, Community Garden Plots
Date: Summer/Fall 2018
Audience: Adults & Families
Project or Activity: Media Outreach (Newspaper/Radio)
Content or Curriculum: Health Benefits of Gardening, and Consuming Fruits and Vegetables
Inputs: UK Publications, E-Xtension, Winchester Sun,
Date: Quarterly
Audience: Families
Project or Activity: Farmers Market
Content or Curriculum: Plate it Up Recipes
Inputs: Master Gardeners, Clark County Cattlemen’s Association, Community Volunteers, Clark County Extension Staff
Date: Summer 2018-19
Audience: 9-18 year Olds
Project or Activity: Fitness Club
Content or Curriculum: 4H Core Content
Inputs: Parks & Rec, 4H Staff, Certified Volunteers
Date: Monthly
Audience: Adults & Families
Project or Activity:worksite lunch and learn series
Content or Curriculum:UK curriculum
Inputs: Clark Co FCS
Date:monthly
Audience: Adults & Families
Project or Activity:Senior Citizens/elderly housing
Content or Curriculum:UK Curriculum
Inputs Clark Co FCS
Date:Annually
Author: Shonda Johnston
Major Program: Super Star Chef
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one third of in the US are overweight or obese. Data in 2017 for Kentucky shows the obesity rate for children ages 10-17 was nearly 20%, placing Kentucky at third highest in the nation for childhood obesity rates in this age group. This is a concerning statistic and the Clark County Extension Council recognized this concern, encouraging the Extension office to implement programming that targeted this issue.There are many
Author: Shonda Johnston
Major Program: Fit Blue/Get Moving KY
Fit Blue Kentucky ChallengeLow levels of physical activity, unhealthy nutrition, and poor mental health are all determinants of several chronic diseases. These behaviors are now considered major public health concerns and require effective behavior change interventions. Fit Blue is a community-based campaign to increase physical activity and health awareness in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Building physical activity into the day does not require special equipment or a certain location. As parti
