Healthy Lifestyles for Bracken County ResidentsPlan of Work

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Bracken County CES

Title:
Healthy Lifestyles for Bracken County Residents
MAP:
Improve Health and Well Being
Agents Involved:
FCS, 4-H, Ag
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Food Preparation and Preservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Cook Together, Eat Together
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. 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.


People are living longer. Kentucky’s current population of seniors (65+) is 16.4% (2019 Census Data). By 2040 it is projected that every district will see an increase in the percent of the population that is age 65 and older (Zimmerman/KY by the Numbers). As the largest and fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, older adults influence everything from consumer behavior to health-care costs (U.S. Census). While we may be adding years to life, there is concern about life quality. This is because a person’s life expectancy, the total number of years a person is expected to live, does not always match a person’s “health span”—time spent in good health (Institute of Medicine). The life expectancy of Kentuckians, 75.1 years, fluctuates as much as 9 years between counties and ranks among the bottom five states. Heavily influenced by life-long lifestyle behaviors and choices, including quality of diet, physical activity and tobacco use, the Kentuckian health span is also below national averages. Kentucky FCS can help individuals and families establish healthy lifestyle behaviors and relationships throughout the lifespan as way to positively influence optimal aging and help reduce issues such as chronic disease, obesity, opioid and alcohol abuse, and mental illness.

Today’s youth spend less time outdoors than previous generations (Clemonts, 2004; Karsten, 2005; Carver et al., 2008) and are likely able to identify a Pokémon character more easily than a native plant or animal (Balmford et al., 2002). Every five years (since 1999) the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC) conducts a survey to assess Kentuckian’s environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. According to KEEC’s 2015-2020 Environmental Education Master Plan (2015), “…the average Kentuckian is able to answer correctly slightly more than half of the environmental knowledge questions included on the survey. This result leaves ample room for improvement” (p 27). The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program strives to increase environmental literacy among youth in Kentucky. The KEEC (2018) defines environmental literacy as “…the ability to recognize the components of healthy natural and man-made systems and the actions necessary to maintain, restore, or improve them” (p. 4) and states that environmental education is a pathway to environmental literacy (KEEC, 2018).

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:


Initial Outcomes:
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:  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


Outcome:  Learn about prevention and how to adapt healthy lifestyles

Indicator:  Total number of individuals/families reached with information to improve healthy lifestyle choices specifically related to aging/longevity

Method:  Lesson Evaluations: Keys to Embracing Aging, Stand up to Falling, Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Beyond (Home Accessibility), AARP Prepare to Care, 10 Warning Signs/UAD  

Timeline:  Ongoing


Long Term Outcome:  Families will utilize skills and practices gained to create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle. Ultimately, they will improve the built and natural environment to increase active and healthy lifestyles.

Indicator: Participants create safer homes.

Method: Surveys and Evaluations

Timeline:  2 to 3 years


Long Term Outcomes

Intermediate Outcome:  Individuals will adopt short, and long term strategies related to energy conservation, pest management, or other healthy home practice, resulting in increased savings

Indicator:  50% of the participants will report a change in at least one behavior resulting in savings.

Method:  Evaluation

Timeline:  Follow up after intermediate evaluations and then 6 months


Intermediate Outcomes

Outcome: Families and Individuals will increase knowledge about home safety, pest control, and recycling.

Indicator: Participants show increased knowledge. 

Method:  Evaluations

Timeline:  2022-2023 School Year

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:  Community Members

Project or Activity:  Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches

Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families, Health Coalitions, Trail Development

Inputs: Volunteers, grant funds, faith-based organizations, community partners, key stakeholders, elected officials, Department of Transportation, Health Coalitions, Family to go bags

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year


Audience:  Families and Individuals

Project or Activity:  Chronic Disease Prevention

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, Cook Together Eat Together, Fit Blue, Faithful Families, Body Balance, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, WIN, Kick Kentucky Cancer, Health Partner, 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 & Wellness, Homemakers, Family to go bags

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year



Audience: Families and Students 

Project or Activity:  Physical Activity

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Faithful Families, Health Coalitions, Fit Blue, WIN, Health Partners, and Keys to Embracing Aging

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, health coalitions, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, Company Health & Wellness, FBOs, Homemakers, State projects, Family to go bags

Date: Monthly Classes in School


Audience:   8th grade students

Project or Activity:  Substance Abuse Awareness

Content or Curriculum; Truth and Consequences

Inputs: Volunteers, paid staff, community partners

Date: Spring 2023


Audience: All ages

           Project or Activity:   Adapting Healthy Lifestyles

           Content or Curriculum: Keys to Embracing Aging, Stand Up to Falling, Cook Together/Eat Together, Body Balance, Health Partners, Money Habitudes, Recovering Your Finances, Smoke Free Coalition, Family to go bags, Country Closet Thrift Store, Make it Take it Try it, The Dinner Plate Project, Lessons at Artic and Tribe, 1st grade Economics

           Inputs: Partner with community resources related to programs.

           Date: Spring 2023


Audience: All ages

Project or Activity:  Disease Prevention/Early Detection

           Content or Curriculum: Alzheimer’s Association 10 Warning Signs, Stand Up to Falling, Health Partners, Community Events Booth

           Inputs: Partner with community resources related to programs.

           Date: Spring 2023


 Audience: Seniors

Project or Activity:  Aging workshops, Lessons at Income Based Apartments

           Content or Curriculum: Aging awareness based on community need in collaboration with local community partners (food safety/nutrition, fall prevention, caregiving, healthy lifestyles, grand parenting, finding purpose/connection, etc.) Bingocize

           Inputs: Community partners related to theme

            Date: Monthly Lessons with Seniors


Audience:  5th Grade

                        Project or Activity: Elementary Students

                        Content or Curriculum: Recipe for Life

                        Input: FCS Agent Schools

                      Date: Spring 2023


Project or Activity: Safe @ Home

Audience: Elementary Students

Content or Curriculum: Safe @ Home Lessons

 Input:  Local Schools

  Date: Spring 2023




            



Success Stories

Wally Cat's Story Trail

Author: Shannon Smith

Major Program: Family Development General

The Bracken County Cooperative Extension Office Family and Consumer Science Agent partnered with the Bracken County Family Youth Resource Service to host the first Story Trail in Bracken County.  The FCS Agent and FRYSC Coordinator visited businesses in the Brooksville city to see how many would participate.  We had 20 businesses participate.  The starting point was the Post Office where Wally stood with the maps and a cover of the book.  Participants that visited the storybo

Full Story

Cyberbullying--Opening the eyes of 5th Graders

Author: Molly Jordan

Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development

Cyberbullying--Opening the eyes of 5th Graders

According to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by the CDC 18% of students in Kentucky have been a victim of cyberbullying. The Bracken County 4-H teamed up with School Resource Officer to provide 5th grade students a better understanding of cyberbullying. The SRO reported that the majority of issues he deals with in the middle school stem from cyberbullying. Therefore, we approached 5th grade teachers with the idea that this lesson will better prepare the students for the transition

Full Story

Babysitting Skills

Author: Shannon Smith

Major Program: Family Development General

The Bracken County Family and Consumer Science Agent along with the 4-H Agent offered a 4 part babysitting class for students.  We partnered with our local Family Youth Resource Service Center with this program.   The classes were offered to 5th grade and up.  The students would ride the bus to the Extension Office after school.  The four different sessions consisted of:  The business of Babysitting, basic care of infants and children, the different ages and stages of ch

Full Story

Meals Made Easy

Author: Shannon Smith

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

Over the program year 2022-2023, the Bracken FCS Agent and Mason FCS Program Assistant partnered up to offer a program to both Bracken and Mason on Meals Made Easy.  This is a popular topic and usually well attended.   By partnering it help to provide programs in Mason County in the absence of an agent.  The 6 part series was offered from the Fall of 2022 to Spring of 2023.  The average class attendance was 15.  Sessions varied from Casseroles, Salads, Slow Cooker, Elect

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Safety Day

Author: Molly Jordan

Major Program: Health

The ending of school for the summer means kids are ready to be active outside! The need to be safety aware is heightened during summer break. The Bracken County 4-H, Bracken County Soil Conservation District, and the Bracken County FRYSC recognized this and developed Safety Day. Through this event students in grades 2nd-9th visited stations that encountered a variety of safety areas kids need to be aware of. Lawnmower/lawncare safety, outdoor/ATV safety, and seat belt safety were just a few of t

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