Nutrition Education and Food AvailabilityPlan of Work

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Carter County CES

Title:
Nutrition Education and Food Availability
MAP:
Accessing Nutritious Foods
Agents Involved:
Rebecca Konopka, Rebecca Hayes, Whitney Morrow
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Super Star Chef
Situation:

Nutrition Education Programs help families gain access to food and stretch food dollars; communities to decrease hunger; and local food assistance programs to educate recipients on healthy and safe food preparation methods. Agents, paraprofessionals and volunteers are pivotal in influencing policies, systems, and environments and in training consumers and producers to maximize local access to food products from farm to table. In Carter County 17.6% of seniors and 27.1% of families with children are below the poverty level. With limited grocery stores in Carter County, many families have little access to nutritious foods.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Carter County population will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day

Carter Countians improve food management skills and healthy eating habits

People accessing emergency food sources will select from nutrient dense items

Intermediate Outcomes:

Participants will: 


Initial Outcomes:

Understand the importance of sustainable local agriculture to individual health and financial well-being

Understand the importance of consuming 5 or more fruits and vegetables a day

Learn to grow, prepare and preserve food

Increase knowledge and understanding of healthy eating, food safety and food resource management

Learn about community support services to increase food security

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Understand the importance of consuming 5 or more fruits and vegetables a day

Indicator: Number of children who can identify fruits and vegetables

Method: pre and post test

Timeline: Monthly


Intermediate Outcome: Redeem WIC & Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program benefits.

Indicator: Number of Vouchers redeemed

Method: Report from KDA

Timeline: June-October 


Long-term Outcome: Carter County population will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported eating more healthy foods

Method: Formal Evaluation

Timeline: 4 years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Limited resource individuals, families, and farmers markets, Super Star Chef

Project or Activity: Increase access to fruits and vegetables, Home Gardening Program, Berry Plant Orders, Rootstock Orders, Grafting Demos 

Content or Curriculum: Farmers Market, NEP program, Plate It Up KY proud, FMNP certification, Food Preservation publications, WIC Farmer's Market FIs, Super Star Chef

Inputs: Agents, NEP Paraprofessional, volunteers, UK resources, KDA, USDA, NEP, local food banks

Date: Summer


Audience: Seniors and WIC recipients

Project or Activity: FMNP Vendor Training and Senior Voucher Distribution, Double Dollars Program

Content or Curriculum: State Health Department, KY Department of Agriculture, Community Farm Alliance 

Inputs: Agents, State and Federal Partners, Health Department, Northeast Community Action Agency, Community Farm Alliance, KDMC Sponsorship 

Date: Summer


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Playdate Program, School Programs

Content or Curriculum: LEAP, WIN, Professor Popcorn

Inputs: Staff, Volunteers NEP paraprofessional, Schools

Date: January - December 


Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: Farmer' Market Kids Days 

Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef

Inputs: Staff, Farmer's Market Vendors, Anthem Sponsorship 

Date: July 





Success Stories

Farmer’s Market Adapts to SrFMNP Changes

Author: Rebecca Konopka

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Farmer’s Market Adapts to SrFMNP Changes

The Carter County Extension Office receives over $20,000 each year through KDA’s Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program for distribution to low-income senior citizens.    Previously vouchers were distributed as paper coupons that Farmer’s Market vendors cashed like checks at their local banks.    However, in 2022 the state issued vouchers on debit-type cards that had to be processed by the market vendors with a cell phone app called SoliMarket systems. &nb

Full Story

Carter County Kids Learn to Cook!

Author: Whitney Morrow

Major Program: Super Star Chef

Carter County Kids Learn to Cook!

Kentucky Youth rank among the highest in the US for obesity.  In fact, in 2020 only 6% of Carter County youth consumed the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. Involving children in food preparation has been proven to successfully increase the consumption of nutritious food in children.  The Carter County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Agents partnered together to offer Super Star Chef.The three- day program was offered twice in the summer to forty-three youth a

Full Story
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