Extension
It Starts With Us
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Improve Physical and Mental Health
Shane Bogle, Rhonda Jewell, Ashley Board
Health
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Providing educational opportunities to encourage healthy lifestyle choices is one of the major initiatives of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and encompasses physical activity, nutrition, personal safety, mental health, and substance use prevention and recovery. In Caldwell County, 30% of the population are obese, and 30.6% report no leisure time physical activity. Kentucky adults rank among the 10th highest for poor consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Also in Kentucky, 25% of youth report some form of emotional or behavioral condition. Suicide rates are at record high with Kentucky being the 10th highest in the nation. 35-54 age group had highest rate in KY
Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health disease can affect anyone, with 1,160 reported opioid-involved deaths in Kentucky. Vaping nearly doubled among middle and high school students. 27% of high school seniors report they had tried the product in 2018.
It is evident programs related to physical activity, proper nutrition, substance use prevention and recovery, and personal safety are needed in Caldwell County.
*New community strategies to address Substance Use Disorder and and Mental Health Disorder.
*Prevention and/or reduction of substance use and its related consequences
*Changed public perception of substance use via stigma reduction.
*Individuals routine meet 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.
*Individuals will live longer, healthier lives.
*Youth are at a lower risk for serious disease and illness.
*Youth are competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H Health programs.
*Generate positive attitude toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy.
*Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods.
*Decrease tobacco/substance use.
*Reduced stigma from local community members.
*Delayed age of first use among youth.
*Youth adopt healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behaviors and handling stress.
*Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease
*Increase motivation to be physically active.
*Increased knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and recovery
*Increased ability to use destigmatized language.
*Partners will recognize the need for community social, environmental, and policy systems to address efforts toward improving healthier lifestyles.
*Youth will be aware of the health issues related to smoking or using tobacco products.
*The number of youth making healthy lifestyle choices.
Initial Outcome: Nutrition knowledge, Physical activity knowledge, Substance use knowledge
Indicator: Number of individuals who report increased knowledge of importance of fruit/vegetable intake and physical activity; increase knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and recovery.
Method: self-report survey
Timeline: pre-post survey
Intermediate Outcome: Dietary Intake, Physical Activity
Indicator: Number of individuals who report increased fruit/vegetable intake and physical activity
Method: self-report survey
Timeline:pre-post survey
Long-term Outcome: Dietary Intake, Physical Activity, Substance Use
Indicator: Number of individuals meeting physical activity and dietary recommendations; Rate of chronic disease and obesity; Number of Substance Use consequences
Method: Kentucky Health Facts; Community Needs Assessment
Timeline: ongoing
Audience: Community Members, Social Media followers
Project or Activity: Cooking demonstration (in-person/virtually)
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up Kentucky Proud; NEP
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: 2022-2023
Audience: 9th Grade
Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences
Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences
Inputs: FRYSC, Pennyroyal, DJJ, Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Audience: Preschoolers
Project or Activity: LEAP @ preschools
Content or Curriculum: LEAP
Inputs: Headstart/Preschool, Extension Agents
Date: September 2022- May 2023
Audience: Community Members, Farmers Market clientele, Senior Adults, Public Library patrons
Project or Activity: Food Sampling
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up Kentucky Proud, Nutrition Education Program recipes
Inputs: Farmers Market, Extension Agents, George Coon Public Library
Date: 2022-2023
Project or Activity: 4-H Teens Against Tobacco Use
Content or Curriculum: American Lung Association
Inputs: FRYSC, Extension Agents
Date: 2022-2023
Audience: Preschoolers and Families
Project or Activity: Laugh and Learn Playdates
Content or Curriculum: LEAP, Extension resources; developmental stages
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: 2022-2023
Audience: Preschoolers and Families
Project or Activity: Stories, Songs, Stretches
Content or Curriculum: Stories, Songs, Stretches
Inputs: Library, Extension Agents
Date: 2022-2023
Project or Activity: Health Rocks
Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Audience: Community Members
Project or Actvity: Dining with Diabetes
Content or Curriculum: Dining with Diabetes
Inputs: Health First, Health Department, Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Audience: Families with Children
Project or Activity: Cook Together, Eat Together
Content or Curriculum: Cook Together, Eat Together
Inputs: Extension Agents, NEP Assistant
Date: TBD
Audience: Community Members
Project or Activity: FitBlue
Content or Curriculum: FitBlue
Input: UK Specialists, APP, Extension Agents
Date: Fall 2022
Audience: Community Members
Project or Activity: Faithful Families
Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families
Inputs: Faith based organizations, Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Audience: Drug Court Participants
Project or Activity: Making Healthy Choices
Content or Curriculum: NEP curriculum
Inputs: Drug Court, Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Audience: Senior Adults, Homemakers, Community Members
Project or Activity: Bingocize
Content or Curriculum: Bingocize
Inputs: UK Specialists, Extension Agents, George Coon Public Library
Date: Fall 2022
Author: Ashley Board
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 37% of adults over the age of 65 are inactive. This increases as individuals age with approximately 42% of adults age 75 – 84 and approximately 57% of adults age 85 and older who are inactive. Physical inactivity leads to muscle weakness, as well as loss of flexibility and balance. Research shows that older adults who practice strength building exercises can increase muscle strength. Increased muscle stren
Author: Ashley Board
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that individuals consume fruits and vegetables for a variety of reasons, including reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Consuming fruits and vegetables during adolescents is important not only for healthy growth, but also because health behaviors may continue into adulthood. The US Department of Agriculture recommends that adolescents between the ages of 14-18 consume 1.5 – 2 cups of fruit and
Author: Ashley Board
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Low levels of physical activity, unhealthy nutrition, and poor mental health are all determinants of several chronic diseases. These behaviors are now considered major public health concerns and require effective behavior change interventions. FitBlue is a community-based campaign to increase physical activity and health awareness in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As participants use the FitBlue app, they have tools to transition to a more active lifestyle focusing on eating healthier, movi
