Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities
Building Strong Families and Communities
Daniels, Coffey, Dengel, Moses, Robinson
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
Embracing Life as We Age (general)
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Nurturing Families (general)
In Whitley County, family life is an extremely important part of a healthy home and family. The decisions that are made during family time can have a tremendous effect on the community as a whole. These decisions can be as simple as recycling, setting a savings goal, or doing something to be physically active together. Family dynamics have changed to where, in some cases, grandparents are raising grandchildren. According to the Kids Count Data Center, 35% of children in Whitley County were a part of single-parent families in 2009-2013. Family life should be a safe haven for children. There were 44% of Child Neglect Investigations in Whitley County in 2013. This is a concern for both the families and communities.
Also, children in school are dealing with bullying issues that effects their social and mental well being. The Extension Service can educate people on the importance of creating a positive household environment and give them the necessary tools to accomplish this, we will be able to see positive behavioral changes in the next generation of Whitley County residents. By encouraging families to participate in arts activities together, Whitley Extension can provide a positive resource for strong, resilient family growth.
Create strong and safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle
Improve the family environment that promotes an increase active and healthy lifestyles
Intermediate Outcomes:
Implement one or more practices that will improve:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home Safety
· Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting skills
Resiliancy in children
Assess the cost savings and/or benefits associated with newly adopted practices related to:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home safety
· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting Skills
Demonstrate skills to improve:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home safety
· Money Management
· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting Skills
Participate in an activity or event that improves building stronger families.
Initial Outcome:
Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and/or aspirations in understanding of issues related to:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home safety
· Money Management
· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting Skills
Identify one or more practices that will improve:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home safety
· Money Management
· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting Skills
Long Term Outcome: Create strong and safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well being of families throughout the life cycle.
Indicator: Number of individuals who implement the practice of positive physical and mental activities in their lifestyle.
Method: Pre/Post Written evaluation. Change in the health/disease data from Kentucky County Healthcare Profile (CEDIK).
Timeline: 5-8 Years
Intermediate Evaluation:
Outcome: Demonstration of skills that would improve family issues relating to Money Management, Aging, Parenting, etc.
Indicator: Number of families attending classes related to family issues and communicating understanding of topic.
Method: Pre/Post Written Evaluations, Attendance Sheets
Timeline: 2-3 years
Initial Outcome Evaluation:
Outcome: Families identify practices that will improve health and well being of both them as individuals and as a family.
Indicator: Number of families and individuals who respond to classes offered to help implement positive lifestyle changes.
Method: Pre/Post Written Evaluation, Oral Evaluations
Timeline: Immediate at delivery of program
Audience: Grade schoolers
Project or Activity: Bullying Awareness
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs:
Date:
Audience: Families
Project or Activity: Master Gardener’s
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener program
Inputs: Workbooks
Date: 2016 in Laurel County and 2018 in Whitley County
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Newspaper Articles
Content or Curriculum: Exclusives Offered by University of Kentucky Extension, Agent Created Articles
Inputs: Daniels, Robinson, Coffey, Moses, Dengel
Date: 2016-2020
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: NEP Programs
Content or Curriculum: NEP Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistant(s)
Date: 2016-2020
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Small Steps to Health and Wealth
Content or Curriculum: Small Steps to Health and Wealth
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: Jan-Feb 2016-2020
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Get Moving (Walking Program)
Content or Curriculum: Get Moving Kentucky
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: April- May 2016-2020
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: NEP Programs
Content or Curriculum: NEP Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistant(s)
Date: 2016-2020
Audience: Families and Children
Project or Activity: Early Childhood Development through Creativity
Content or Curriculum: Art to the Heart-KET
Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Whitley County HEalth Department, UK, Volunteers
Date: 2016-2020
Audience:
Project or Activity: Parent Child Art Classes
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs:
Date:
Audience: All Ages
Project or Activity: Master Homesteader
Content or Curriculum: A curriculum composed from all program areas
Inputs: All Agents
Date: 2017
Audience: New and expectant mothers and fathers
Project or Activity: "Natural" parenting
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: Horticulture, Fine Arts Agents
Date: 2018
Audience: Whitley County Families
Project or Activity: After School Art Classes
Content or Curriculum: Extension Fine Arts
Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Artists
Date: 2016-2020
Audience: WIC voucher participants
Project or Activity: Mobile Farmer's Market
Content or Curriculum: Set up a Mobile Farmer's Market at Health Departments on days that vouchers are issued to ensure great redemption rates and get healthy food to people in the community
Inputs: Whitley County Health Department; Horticulture, Fine Arts, Family and Consumer Science, and Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents, WIC Vouchers, Kentucky Division of Public Health
Date: 2016-2020
Author: Paul Dengel
Major Program: Master Gardener
In 2016, Horticulture agent, Paul Dengel was approached by the First Baptist Church in Corbin to get advice on starting a community garden. The church had four Master Gardener's in their congregation that Mr. Dengel worked closely with them to solicit volunteers from the church as well as plan, build, and grow the garden. In 2017, First Baptist Church received a Grow Appalachia grant to expand the garden and they expanded to 24 beds. From these 24 vegetable beds we made the follow
Author: Matti Coffey
Major Program: Nurturing Families (general)
Limited income and resources brings overwhelming stress to many individuals and families throughout the year and especially at the holiday season. For the second year, Knox and Whitley FCS Agents partnered to present a special workshop for the holidays. This workshop included presentations on: traditional, inexpensive recipes made healthier; holiday food safety; inexpensive gifts to make; and decorations made with things on hand. 40 people attended, and the holiday workshop was deemed a huge suc
Author: Matti Coffey
Major Program: Blue To You
According to the American Psychological Association, Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability for ages 15-44 in the United States. It effects 14.8 million Americans with the average onset age of 32 years old. Specifically to Whitley County, the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System shows Whitley Countians reported having 5 days out of 30 of poor mental health, which is higher than the state average of 4 days. Because of these staggering statistics, the Whitley County
Author: Matti Coffey
Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
According to research by the University of Waterloo in Canada, we are more likely to have long-term memory recall for items that we have drawn than we are for items we have written. Written text enters our short-term memory, which has a smaller amount of storage space in our brains, thus making it easier to forget. Using this logic, the Family and Consumer Sciences agent started combining lessons dealing with nutrition and gardening information with painting projects. Each month a canvas paintin
Author: Garrard Coffey
Major Program: Food Preparation
Iron is a mineral in our body that is vital to health and wellness. It helps our blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. One simple way to get iron in your body is through your diet. Most people do not realize that using cast iron cookware can help your intake of this essential mineral.Whitley County Cooperative Extension Agents for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Family and Consumer Sciences Education partnered together to do a program using cast iron cookware over an open fire to p