Health and Wellness-NEWPlan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Pulaski County CES

Title:
Health and Wellness-NEW
MAP:
Health and Wellness
Agents Involved:
Ag, FCS, Hort, 4-H
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Health
Situation:

With the increased trend of chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky, individuals, families and communities need tools and environments that support healthy and active lifestyle choices.  CES Agents are encouraged to reach diverse audience to help combat chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky communities.  Focusing on a foundation of overall direct health education to increase health literacy and ability to make healthy lifestyle choices.  Including creating spaces or opportunities for active living and health behaviors.

4-H

Healthy living is one of three 4-H mission mandates and encompasses: physical activity, personal safety, mental health, addiction prevention, and diversity and inclusion.  In Kentucky 37% of youth 10-17 are overweight or obese, and 51% report not exercising regularly. 25% of youth report some form of emotional or behavioral condition and suicide rates are at record high (KY suicides per 100,000 people: 15.3, 10th highest in nation). Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health disease can affect anyone, with 1,160 reported opioid-involved deaths (a rate of 27.9 deaths per 100,000 persons) in Kentucky and Vaping nearly doubled among middle and high school students — with 27% of high school seniors reporting they had tried the product in 2018.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Routinely meeting physical activity and dietary recommendations that promote health and wellness.  Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work and play.  Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity.

4-H


Intermediate Outcomes:

These tend to be behavior or practice changes which logically produce the long term outcomes identified above.  In other words, what must people do differently to produce the desired changes.

4-H


Initial Outcomes:

Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease, such as tobacco use, poor nutrition, and lack of physical activity  Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy practices.  Improve food and nutrition related skills with as preparation techniques and safe food handling.  Increase motivation to be active and increase awareness of accessible safe place for activity.

4-H


Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Nutrition knowledge and dietary intake.

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported eating 4 to 6 servings of fruits and or vegetables daily; utilize the food label to make healthy food choices; choosing smaller portions.

Method: Self report surveys

Timeline: Pre and post implementing curricula or program

Intermediate Outcome:  Physical Activity, Knowledge, skills and competencies

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported; knowledge and skills gained about the benefits of physical activity; adoption of physical activity practices; increase physical activity levels.

Method: Self report survey

Timeline: Ongoing

Long-term Outcome:  Chronic Disease Prevention

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported; participants who had one or more health indicators,  such as cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose improved.

Timeline:  On going


4-H

Initial Outcome: Promote optimal physical, social and emotional health habits 

Indicator: More youth participate in activities that improve physical, social and emotional habits 

Method: Common Measures

Timeline: School Year, September - May

Intermediate Outcome: Improved perceived stress and ability to cope

Indicator: Youth will use coping skills to destress and will improve mental health

Method: Common Measures (Same as above).

Timeline: On-Going, Sept. - May

Long-Term: Decrease in chronic diseases in youth, decrease risk in youth for physical and emotional abuse

Indicator: Youth will have an overall higher quality of and more positive outlook on their life.

Method: Common Measures Survey (Same as above), Observation

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:  Pulaski Community

Project or Activity: Policy, Systems and Environmental Approaches 

Content or Curriculum: Health Coalitions, Diabetes Coalition

Inputs: Volunteers, community partners, key state holders, elected officials, Health Coalitions, SNAP Ed Toolkit

Date: On going


Audience:  Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Chronic Disease Prevention

Content or Curriculum: Publications, health bulletins, Fit Blue, Dining with Diabetes, Plate It Up, Kentucky Proud Resources, Keys to Embracing Aging

Inputs: Programmatic materials, community partners, health coalitions, Health Department SNAP, Schools, Homemakers

Date: On Going


Audience:  KEHA

Content or Curriculum:  Monthly Lessons

Inputs: FCS Agents, community partners

Date:  On going


4-H:

Audience: Youth- Cloverbuds

Project Activity: Mental Health

Content or Curriculum: Mindful Me

Inputs: 4-H volunteers, teen volunteers, agent

Date: Club meetings Sept-May


Audience: Youth in schools

Project Activity: fruit tasting- try a new fruit/vegetable each month

Content or Curriculum: 

Inputs: Agents, teachers, SNAP-Ed assistant 

Date: school year


Audience: Middle & High School Youth

Project Activity: Addiction Prevention

Content Curriculum: Health Rocks!

Inputs: 4-H Agent, trainings, specialists, volunteers

Date: Sept-May



Success Stories

Raised Beds with Sunrise: A Total Office Effort

Author: Bethany Wilson

Major Program: Agriculture

It is no secret that gardening and other home horticulture activities can serve as a great outlet for individuals with disabilities, mental health difficulties and behavioral issues.  The Sunrise Children’s Program Cumberland Adventure Program (CAP), is located in Bronston, KY.  The Cumberland Adventure Program uses therapeutic outdoor adventures experiences and clinical intervention to assist boys who suffer from behavioral or emotional issues. Many of the boys come from backgro

Full Story

Sample of Somerset

Author: Bethany Wilson

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

 Pulaski County Extension joined in with 21 others nonprofit organizations and 18 Food Vendors at the “Sample of Somerset” an evening event that was attended by more than 1,000 people.  Attendees received educational information about the services provided by the Pulaski Extension Service while sampling delicious foods from the local food suppliers and restaurants.  Extension Agents had the opportunity to share with the participants the different programs offered by th

Full Story

Projects in a Box: A New Way to Experience 4-H

Author: Jennifer Cole

Major Program: Health

Like most agents across the bluegrass and country, we had to think outside the box when developing programs for this year.  The need for parents to provide educational resources and activities for their distance learners was high.  With the help of the Washington County 4-H agent, “Projects in a Box” were developed to not only enhance a child’s at-home learning experience, but to expose and introduce them to 4-H.  Three different themes were offered: S.E.T., Embr

Full Story

Virtual Success in Horticulture Programming Using Kits and Zoom

Author: Bethany Wilson

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

     With the nation at a standstill for most of 2020 and 2021, all in-person Extension programs were cancelled or postponed. To stay relevant, the Pulaski County Horticulture Agent developed 9 Grab N Go curbside pickup programs and continued to add to a YouTube channel.      Grab n Go programs included a fall Victory Garden kit (in collaboration with the SNAP-Ed assistant), Grow Mushrooms on Logs kits, Scary Plant kits (in collaboration with the 4-H agent), Ca

Full Story

Recovery Gardens at Sky Hope

Author: Bethany Wilson

Major Program: Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy

In Pulaski County's 2018 Community Assessment, substance abuse treatment ranked as important to very important to the 609 respondents. Sky Hope Rehabilitation Center is a 100-bed facility for women with drug addictions.  Pulaski County has a large drug abuse problem. Gardening has been shown to have many positive effects on humans. There are physical, cognitive, social, and psychological benefits such as improvement in self-esteem, alleviation of depression, increased strength and stami

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County