Whitley County CES

Title:

Active Living and Health Promotion

MAP:

Improve Physical and Mental Health

Agents Involved:

FCS, Fine Arts, ANR, 4H

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Active Living and Health Promotions General

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Health

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Nutrition and Food Systems General

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Arts and Community 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. Cooperative Extension thrives on reaching diverse audiences to help combat chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky communities by focusing on direct health education to increase literacy and ability to make improved lifestyle choices. According to the University of Kentucky Community Needs Assessment information, 32% of Whitley Countians are obese and over 15% have Diabetes. Whitley county is higher than the state average for food insecurity, meaning over 17% our citizens may not know where their next meal is coming from compared to the state average of 15%.

Long-Term Outcomes:

·   Include more programming and awareness of mental health and positivity

·   Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work, and play 

·   Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity by promoting dietary and physical activity recommendations

Intermediate Outcomes:

Intermediate Outcomes: 

·   Generate positive attitudes toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy 

·   Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods 

·   Improve self-efficacy in physical activity, movement, and active routes to destinations 

·   Decrease tobacco/ substance use 

Initial Outcomes:

·   Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease (e.g. tobacco use, poor nutrition, & lack of physical activity) 

·   Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy practices 

·   Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. preparation techniques, safe food handling) 

·  Increase motivation to be active 

·  Increase awareness of accessible safe places for activity 

Evaluation:

Outcome:  Nutrition knowledge and dietary intake 

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported: eating 4-6 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-post implementing curricula or program 

  

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 in physical activity levels 

Method: Self-report survey 

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program 

  

Outcome:  Substance Use 

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported: gained knowledge of the resources that are available for substance use in the community as a result of Extension programming 

Method: Self-report survey 

Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program 

  

Outcome: Chronic Disease Prevention 

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

Method: Self-report survey 

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program 

  

Outcome:  Availability / Access to healthy lifestyle choices 

Indicator:  Number of communities, health coalitions, or organizations who reported: implemented policy, system, and/or environmental changes to promote healthy eating and active living 

Method: Self-report survey 

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Communities 

Project or Activity:  Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches 

Content or Curriculum:  Health Coalitions, Advisory Councils

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, grant funds, faith-based organizations, community partners, key stakeholders, elected officials, Department of Transportation, Health Coalitions, Employee Health and Wellness, SNAP-Ed Toolkit 

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year 

  

Audience: Families and Individuals  

Project or Activity:  Chronic Disease Prevention, Newsletter and Program bags

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, social media posts

Inputs: UK Specialist, FCS Agent

Date: Quarterly newsletters for FCS and monthly program bags

Audience: Families and Individuals  

Project or Activity:  Chronic Disease Prevention, (Some Virtual Classes)

Content or Curriculum: Dining with Diabetes, Fit Blue

Inputs: UK Specialist, FCS Agent, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, Company Health & Wellness, Homemakers, Community Centers, etc. 

Date: March 2022

  

Audience: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association/Volunteers 

Project or Activity:  Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices 

Content or Curriculum: Health Bulletins, Monthly Leader Lessons, Body Balance

Inputs: UK Specialist, FCS Agent

Date: August-May yearly

 
Audience: Whitley County Residents 

Project or Activity: Nutritional Programming, (some virtual classes and program bags)

Content or Curriculum: NEP and SNAP Ed Curriculum 

Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistants 

Date: Every month

 

Audience:  Whitley County residents:  youth and adults. 

Project or Activity:  Hiking program

Content or Curriculum:  Get Moving Ky, FITBLUE App And SNAP Ed. Curriculum

Inputs:  FCS agent and assistants 

Date:  Spring and Fall 2023

 

Audience: Whitley County Residents 

Project or Activity: Self (talk) Portrait 

Content or Curriculum: CEDIK Arts Extension 

Inputs: Fine Arts 

Date: Fall and Winter 2022-2024

 

Audience: Whitley County Residents 

Project or Activity: Hike and Sketch 

Content or Curriculum: UK, books 

Inputs: Fine Arts, FCS, 4-H, Ag 

Date: Summer 

 

Audience: General Public/Families 

Project or Activity: Dance Classes: Line Dancing, Belly Dancing, Choreography  

Content or Curriculum: Artist Curriculum, KET Dance toolkit 

Inputs: Fine Arts, Volunteers, Artists 

Date: Yearly/ongoing Fall and Winter 2022-2024

 

 Audience: General Public/Families 

Project or Activity: Arts Wellness Hike 

Content or Curriculum: UK physical activity publications, Horticulture Publications 

Inputs: Fine Arts, Hort, 4-H, Ag, FCS 

Date: Spring-Summer-Fall- monthly 2022

 

Audience: General Public, Youth and Families, Farmers 

Project or Activity: Extension Arts Corner at the Whitley County Farmers Markets 

Content or Curriculum: Art activities, Artist Demonstrations, Educational materials, SNAP 

Inputs: Artists, Volunteers, Fine Arts, FCS, KSU 

Date: Summer-Tuesdays and Thursdays, bi-Weekly, April-August 

 

Audience: General Public 

Project or Activity: Yoga/ Chair Yoga 

Content or Curriculum: Healthy Activities, SNAP 

Inputs: Qualified Community teachers, Agents

Date: 6-8 weeks series twice a year starting back 2022

Audience: Preschool, K, 1st, and 2nd grade youth 

Project or Activity:  15-30 minute sessions weekly for 14-20 weeks 

Content or Curriculum: MP Saurus or Organ Andy via in person class time or virtual learning delivered to the classroom setting 

Inputs: Agents 

Date: 2020-2024 

  

Audience: 3-4 grade youth 

Project or Activity:  Farm to Cafeteria; School gardens 

Content or Curriculum: Eat, Grow, Go Curriculum focuses on using the school garden as a learning/mobile classroom. Also encourages fresh food consumption at school meals as part of our South Eastern Region Farm to Cafeteria Initiative. 

Inputs: Agents 

Date: 2020-2024 

  

Audience: 6-12 Youth 

Project or Activity:  Rookie Cooking Camp 

Content or Curriculum: Teen Cuisine based curriculum delivered as a camp, after school/school program, or club 

Inputs: NEP Assistant, KSU Assistant, FCS Agent, NEP Staff

Date: Summer 2022, 2023

 

Success Stories