Embracing a Healthy Lifestyle Plan of Work

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Russell County CES

Title:
Embracing a Healthy Lifestyle
MAP:
Embracing a Healthy Lifestyle
Agents Involved:
4-H, FCS, ANR, assistant(s)
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Health
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Family and Consumer Science
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Food Preparation and Preservation
Situation:

Healthy living encompasses many aspects including physical activity, personal safety, mental health, and addiction prevention.  Russell County’s data profile shows that we exceed state and national incidence rates in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, substance abuse, and overall healthy days (Kentucky Health Facts).  Implementation of savings and retirement planning can also lead to overall life satisfaction and reduce stress in the family.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Outcome:  adoption of healthy lifestyle and stress coping practices

Indicator:  1/3 of participants implement some aspect of healthy living and stress reduction

Method:  self-evaluation and observation

Timeline:  post-program


Outcome:  adoption of safety practices

Indicator:  1/3 of participants implement knowledge gained on personal, farm, and internet safety

Method:  observation, self-evaluation

Timeline:  post-program


Outcome:  gain skills in food preparation and food preservation

Indicator:  1/3 of participants learn and/or implement skills to prepare food for home consumption

Method:  observation; self-evaluation

Timeline:  post-program


Outcome:  personal and family savings plans are implemented

Indicator:  1/3 of participants implement a financial management plan

Method:  self-evaluation

Timeline:  throughout and after the program


Outcome:  substance abuse decreases

Indicator:  reduction in drug and alcohol usage rates

Method:  analysis of KIP data

Timeline:  over many years


Outcome: Youth practice safety procedures and environmental stewardship

Indicator: Accident and environmental measures

Method: Observation, verbal and written evaluations

Timeline: Yearly

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Activity/Project: Youth cooking programs

Content/Curriculum: KSF recipes; 4-H Cooking curricula

Inputs: volunteer leader, curricula, meeting space and cooking materials

Date: throughout program year (evenings and day camps)

 

Activity/Project: Youth nutrition education

Content/Curriculum: 4-H core curricula

Inputs: volunteers, curricula, materials, snack items

Date: September - February

 

Activity/Project: Resiliency and mindfulness

Content/Curriculum: 4-H health and fitness curricula; Mind Matters resources

Inputs: participants, meeting space, curriculum

 Date: throughout program year

 

Activity/Project: physical activity

Content/Curriculum: 4-H health core curriculum

Inputs: participants, meeting space, curriculum

Date: throughout program year

 

Activity/Project: money management

Content/Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H and FCS financial management resources

Inputs: participants, meeting space, curriculum

Date: as requested

 

Activity/Project: hygiene

Content/Curriculum: 4-H Health curricula

Inputs: participants, meeting space, curriculum

Date: during school year

 

Activity/Project:  Substance Abuse Education

Content/Curriculum: Health Rocks curriculum

Inputs: participants, volunteer leaders, curriculum

Date: school year and/or summer day camp

 

          Activity/Project: Farm Safety Day

          Content/Curriculum: Various Topics

          Inputs: Participants, volunteers and Progressive Ag Foundation

          Date: Fall Yearly

 

Audience: Adult and Youth

Activity/Project: Family Fitness Program

Content/Curriculum: Couch Potato Program or Get Moving KY

Inputs: participants, curriculum, incentive items

Date: TBD by FCS agent

 

Activity/Project: Substance Abuse education

Content/Curriculum: FCS specialist information

Inputs: participants, curriculum, flyers, meeting space

Date: TBD by FCS Agent

   

 



Success Stories

LEAP for New Vegetables

Author: Megan Gullett

Major Program: LEAP

According to the 2022 Kentucky Kids Count data, Russell County ranks 93 of 170 in school district rankings for kindergarteners’ readiness to learn and 77 of 120 in having children in poverty. These statistics directly reflect students in Head Start, which is a program geared towards providing kindergarten preparedness to low-income families.Russell County Family and Consumer Science Agent, Megan Gullett, in partnership with Russell Springs Head Start, Jamestown Head Start, and Elevated Chi

Full Story

I Pledge … My Health to Better Living

Author: Christina A. Martin

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

Nutrition education and healthy lifestyles were identified by local leadership councils to be an educational priority for youth to help combat obesity crisis in the state.  According to the Trust for America’s Healthy Survey and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kentucky’s obesity rate for children ages 10-17 has increased to over 21%.  Instructing children with the aspects of healthy nutritional choices at a young age is critical to addressing issues of weight.  The

Full Story

The Party Favorite: Making Charcuterie Boards and Summer Sausage

Author: Megan Gullett

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

Charcuterie boards became popular in 2020 with popularity increasing in 2021 and continuing into 2022 and 2023. The popular charcuterie board commonly contains an appealing spread of cheeses, meats, fruits, vegetables, and dips. The word “charcuterie” is derived from a French word referring to a delicatessen specializing in dressed meats and meat dishes or the products sold in such a shop. The charcuterie boards that are currently popular have deviated from both the historical meanin

Full Story

Russell County Farm Safety Day

Author: Jonathan Oakes

Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR

The Russell County landscape is home to an assortment of terrains.  The county is home to large amounts of farmland, woodlands, streams, rivers and a large lake.  Russell County Extension Office held its annual Progressive Farm Safety Day in conjunction with the Progressive Ag Foundation and hosted approximately 220, 3rd grade students from the county.  The farm safety day was also attended by approximately 40 teachers, and community volunteers to help make the day a success.This

Full Story

The Party Favorite: Making Charcuterie Boards and Summer Sausage

Author: Jonathan Oakes

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

Charcuterie boards became popular in 2020 with popularity increasing in 2021 and continuing into 2022 and 2023. The popular charcuterie board commonly contains an appealing spread of cheeses, meats, fruits, vegetables, and dips. The word “charcuterie” is derived from a French word referring to a delicatessen specializing in dressed meats and meat dishes or the products sold in such a shop. The charcuterie boards that are currently popular have deviated from both the historical meanin

Full Story

Sun Safety @ Farm Safety Day

Author: Megan Gullett

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

The Russell County landscape is home to an assortment of terrains.  The county is home to farmland, woodlands, streams, rivers, and a large lake.  Russell County Extension Office held its annual Progressive Farm Safety Day in conjunction with the Progressive Ag Foundation and hosted approximately 220, 3rd-grade students from the county.  The Farm Safety Day was also attended by approximately 40 teachers, and community volunteers to help make the day a success.This year at the safe

Full Story

Canning Success: Joint County Canning Classes Teach Proper Canning Techniques

Author: Megan Gullett

Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation

Canning Success: Joint County Canning Classes Teach Proper Canning Techniques

In Kentucky, 12.9 million acres are utilized in formal farm operations (nass.usda.gov), with a growing usage of smaller properties being used to grow farm commodities. Rural counties, such as Green, Adair, and Russell, have a growing population that utilizes property to grow their crops, then processes the crops for personal consumption. Canning, a method of food preservation, was taught by the Russell, Adair, and Green County Family and Consumer Science Agents to instruct on proper food safety

Full Story

Growing a Garden Improves Physical and Mental Health

Author: Megan Gullett

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health in 2021, 23.05% of people in Kentucky report a mental illness of any kind in the past year (defined as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, other than a developmental or substance use disorder). 4 in 10 adults in the US have at least one chronic disease, and 6 in 10 have two or more chronic diseases according to the CDC. Some of the key lifestyle risks for chronic disease are lack of physical activity and poor nut

Full Story
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