Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and CommunitiesPlan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Grayson County CES

Title:
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Communities
MAP:
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Agents Involved:
Taul, N.
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
National Dining with Diabetes
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Cook Together, Eat Together
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
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. In Grayson County 22.1% of adults reported they were in poor or fair health in 2016. Additionally, 15.3% of adults in Grayson County reported suffering from Diabetes, and 33% from obesity. CES agents are encouraged to reach diverse audiences 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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity

Intermediate Outcomes:

Generate positive attitudes toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy

Initial Outcomes:

Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy practices and improve food and nutrition related skills.

Evaluation:

Initial 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 program implementation


Intermediate Outcome: Chronic Disease Prevention

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

Method: Self report survey

Timeline: 3 months following program


Long-term Outcome: Availability/Access to healthy lifestyle choices

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

Method: Self report survey

Timeline: 6 months following program


Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Communities

Project or Activity: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches

Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families, Healthy Coalitions, Story Walk, Shared Space Arrangements, Trail Development, Active Community Toolkit, Be more Guide, resources for early care and education settings. 

Inputs: Volunteers, grant funding, faith-based organizations, community partners, key stake holders, elected officials, FCS agent, paid staff, CES resources and publications. 

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year


Audience: Families and Individuals, General Public

Project or Activity: Chronic Disease Prevention

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, Cook Together Eat Together, Mastering Food Choices, Dining with Diabetes, Fit Blue, Faithful Families, Body Balance, PIU, WIN, Kick Kentucky Cancer, Keys to Embracing Aging

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, faith-based organizations, health coalitions, healthcare providers, health department, non-profits, schools, company health and wellness, homemakers, community centers, etc. 

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year


Audience: Facebook and Social Media Users/General Public

Project or Activity: Social media posts and/or virtual programming regarding promotion of healthy lifestyles and communities

Content or Curriculum: various research based resources

Inputs: UK Specialists, paid Extension Staff, social media outlets

Date: 2021-2024




Success Stories

Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease: A Dementia Education Series

Author: Natalie Taul

Major Program: Aging-General

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable brain disease that causes a slow, progressive decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. According to the 2021 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures, over 11 million caregivers provide unpaid care for the 6+ million Americans currently living with AD. While one in nine people aged 65 and older has AD, one in three die from AD or another type of dementia. AD kills more than breast a

Full Story

Rural Mental Health and Farm Stress

Author: Natalie Taul

Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health - FCS

Mental Health is a buzz word that we are hearing more and more often. There are efforts to bring awareness to and destigmatize mental health challenges. However, according to the CDC suicide is among the top 10 leading causes of death in the US in 2020 among persons 10-64 years of age, and the second leading cause of death among adults 25-34 years of age. Rural living, farm life to be specific, while rewarding, can be incredibly stressful. Farmers and farm families have a unique set of stre

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County