Improving Nutrition and Healthy LifestylesPlan of Work

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Woodford County CES

Title:
Improving Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles
MAP:
Health and Wellness
Agents Involved:
Elizabeth Coots, Ryan Farley, Faye Kuosman, Adam Probst
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Health
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Family and Consumer Science
Situation:

Local stakeholders have listed healthy lifestyles as an issue facing Woodford County today. It is important to address the issues of overall well-being of individuals and families throughout the county. According to the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, approximately 32% of Woodford County adults are classified as obese. In addition, approximately 11% of adults suffer from diabetes. Other lifestyle challenges facing Woodford County include cardiovascular disease, breast and prostate cancer. Within all of these areas of focus, financial stability arises as access to health care is an added area of concern.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Consumption of nutritious foods and healthier cooking practices will be increased. Rates of youth and adult obesity will decrease. Participation in life skills workshops such as cooking and food preservation will increase.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Farmer's Market and local food purchases will increase, as well as the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Clientele will increase their currrent level of physical activity.

Initial Outcomes:

Clientele will identify the benefits of buying local, seasonal foods and will develop skills for healthier food selection, cooking and preservation. Clientele will also be able to explain why physical activity is important to their daily life.

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome: Consumption of nutritious foods and healthier cooking practices will be increased. Rates of youth and adult obesity will decrease. Participation in life skills workshops such as cooking and food preservation will increase.

Indicator: Reduced rates of youth and adult obesity in Woodford County

Method: Data review from Foundation for a Healthy KY, Woodford Co Health Department

Timeline: Annually


Intermediate Outcome: Farmer's Market and local food purchases will increase, as well as the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Clientele will increase their currrent level of physical activity.

Indicator: Sales data from Woodford County Farmer's Market

Method: Collection of data from vendors, market review summary from Market Manager

Timeline: Annually


Initial Outcome: Clientele will identify the benefits of buying local, seasonal foods and will develop skills for healthier food selection, cooking and preservation. Clientele will also be able to explain why physical activity is important to their daily life.

Indicator: Workshop participation and participant feedback

Method: Post workshop interviews with participants, written evaluations

Timeline: Monthly

Learning Opportunities:

Project or Activity: Hands-on and virtual cooking workshops

Content or Curriculum: Cook Together, Eat Together

Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Health Department, Schools, Public Library

Date: Fall


Audience: 5th grade youth

Project or Activity: Hands-on and virtual cooking program

Content or Curriculum: Recipes for Life

Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Schools, SNAP-Ed, Family Resource Centers

Date: Fall


Audience: Community Residents

Project or Activity: Canning Workshops

Content or Curriculum: Food Preservation Curriculum

Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant/Intern Time, CES Publications, Commercial Kitchen, NCHFP Resources

Date: Summer


Audience: Residents Age 55+

Project or Activity: Bingocize

Content or Curriculum: WKU Bingocize Curriculum

Inputs: Agent Time, Senior Citizens Centers/Homes

Date: Fall



Audience: 8th and 10th grade students

Project or Activity: Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours

Content or Curriculum: Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours Curriculum

Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Volunteers, Community Sponsors, School Sponsors


Audience: Middle School Students

Project or Activity: Botvin Life Skills

Content or Curriculum: Botvin Life Skills Curriculum

Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Community Agencies, Middle School Guidance Counselors


Audience: Woodford County Residents

Audience: Farmer's Market Promotion events and articles

Content: per agent, UK materials

Inputs: County Office Staff and Agents

Date: spring, summer, fall, annually


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Cooking Club/Culinary Challenge

Content or Curriculum: Cooking curriculum

Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Materials

Date: September - Fall



Success Stories

Woodford County Farm Tour

Author: T. Adam Probst

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

In 2022, the Woodford Co. Extension Service collaborated with several local partners on the Annual Farm Tour.  Over 250 participants learned about production agriculture, genetically modified crops, local foods and farmers markets, and local watershed studies.  Several months after the event, a participant stated that the information they learned about genetically modified crops and local foods at the farm tour event led them to make more informed decisions about their food purchases.

Full Story

Community Yoga Partnership Develops Youth Yoga Interest and Teen Yoga Instructors

Author: Ryan Farley

Major Program: Leadership

Fostering healthy lifestyles within the youth of Woodford County has been identified as a priority within the community. As youth are inclined to spend more and more time in front of screens, providing experiences that focus on healthy habit development is one way that 4-H can distinguish itself as an effective positive youth development organization. With this in mind, Woodford County 4-H partnered with a community yoga studio, Elemental Yoga, to plan and implement a yoga workshop for youth in

Full Story
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