Extension
It Starts With Us
Active Living and Health Promotion
Improve Physical and Mental Health
Moses (Fine Arts), Burgard (FCS), Jones (4-H), White (ANR), Prewitt (Horticulture)
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Health
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Arts and Community Health
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. Cooperative Extension thrives on reaching diverse audiences to help combat chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky communities by focusing on direct health education to increase literacy and ability to make improved lifestyle choices. According to the University of Kentucky Community Needs Assessment information, 32% of Whitley Countians are obese and over 15% have Diabetes. Whitley county is higher than the state average for food insecurity, meaning over 17% our citizens may not know where their next meal is coming from compared to the state average of 15%.
· Include more programming and awareness of mental health and positivity
· Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work, and play
· Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity by promoting dietary and physical activity recommendations
Intermediate Outcomes:
· Generate positive attitudes toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy
· Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods
· Improve self-efficacy in physical activity, movement, and active routes to destinations
· Decrease tobacco/ substance use
· Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease (e.g. tobacco use, poor nutrition, & lack of physical activity)
· Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy practices
· Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. preparation techniques, safe food handling)
· Increase motivation to be active
· Increase awareness of accessible safe places for activity
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: Substance Use
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: gained knowledge of the resources that are available for substance use in the community as a result of Extension programming
Method: Self-report survey
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: Chronic Disease Prevention
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: participants who had one or more health indicators (cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose) improved.
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
Audience: Communities
Project or Activity: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches
Content or Curriculum: Health Coalitions, Advisory Councils
Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, grant funds, faith-based organizations, community partners, key stakeholders, elected officials, Department of Transportation, Health Coalitions, Employee Health and Wellness, SNAP-Ed Toolkit
Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Chronic Disease Prevention, Newsletter and Program bags
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, social media posts
Inputs: UK Specialist, FCS Agent
Date: Quarterly newsletters for FCS and monthly program bags
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Chronic Disease Prevention, (Some Virtual Classes)
Content or Curriculum: Dining with Diabetes, Fit Blue
Inputs: UK Specialist, FCS Agent, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, Company Health & Wellness, Homemakers, Community Centers, etc.
Date: March 2022
Audience: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association/Volunteers
Project or Activity: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Content or Curriculum: Health Bulletins, Monthly Leader Lessons, Body Balance
Inputs: UK Specialist, FCS Agent
Date: August-May yearly
Audience: Whitley County ResidentsProject or Activity: Nutritional Programming, (some virtual classes and program bags)
Content or Curriculum: NEP and SNAP Ed Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistants
Date: Every month
Audience: Whitley County residents: youth and adults.
Project or Activity: Hiking program
Content or Curriculum: Get Moving Ky, FITBLUE App And SNAP Ed. Curriculum
Inputs: FCS agent and assistants
Date: Spring and Fall 2023
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Self (talk) Portrait
Content or Curriculum: CEDIK Arts Extension
Inputs: Fine Arts
Date: Fall and Winter 2022-2024
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Hort/Art Hiking program
Content or Curriculum: UK, books
Inputs: Fine Arts, FCS, 4-H, Ag, Hort
Date: Summer-Fall 2022
Audience: General Public/Families
Project or Activity: Dance Classes: Line Dancing, Belly Dancing, Choreography
Content or Curriculum: Artist Curriculum, KET Dance toolkit
Inputs: Fine Arts, Volunteers, Artists
Date: Yearly/ongoing Fall and Winter 2022-2024
Audience: General Public/Families
Project or Activity: Arts Wellness Hike
Content or Curriculum: UK physical activity publications, Horticulture Publications
Inputs: Fine Arts, Hort, 4-H, Ag, FCS
Date: Spring-Summer-Fall- monthly 2022
Audience: General Public, Youth and Families, Farmers
Project or Activity: Extension Arts Corner at the Whitley County Farmers Markets
Content or Curriculum: Art activities, Artist Demonstrations, Educational materials, SNAP
Inputs: Artists, Volunteers, Fine Arts, FCS, KSU
Date: Summer-Tuesdays and Thursdays, bi-Weekly, April-August
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Yoga/ Chair Yoga
Content or Curriculum: Healthy Activities, SNAP
Inputs: Qualified Community teachers, Agents
Date: 6-8 weeks series twice a year starting back 2022
Audience: Preschool, K, 1st, and 2nd grade youth
Project or Activity: 15-30 minute sessions weekly for 14-20 weeks
Content or Curriculum: MP Saurus or Organ Andy via in person class time or virtual learning delivered to the classroom setting
Inputs: Agents
Date: 2020-2024
Audience: 3-4 grade youth
Project or Activity: Farm to Cafeteria; School gardens
Content or Curriculum: Eat, Grow, Go Curriculum focuses on using the school garden as a learning/mobile classroom. Also encourages fresh food consumption at school meals as part of our South Eastern Region Farm to Cafeteria Initiative.
Inputs: Agents
Date: 2020-2024
Audience: 6-12 Youth
Project or Activity: Rookie Cooking Camp
Content or Curriculum: Teen Cuisine based curriculum delivered as a camp, after school/school program, or club
Inputs: NEP Assistant, KSU Assistant, FCS Agent, NEP Staff
Date: Summer 2022, 2023
Audience: 9-19 Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Line Dancing
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Camp Line Dances
Inputs: 4-H
Date: Summer 2022, 2023
Audience: 9-19
Project or Activity: Outdoor Cooking
Content or Curriculum: SNAP-ED,
Inputs: NEP Assistant, KSU Assistant, 4-H Agent, NEP Staff
Date: Summer/Fall 2022, 2023
Author: Lisa Jones
Major Program: Cook Together, Eat Together
Whitley County works with 21st Century Clubs at various schools. We began a healthy eating adventure with this after school group. They youth learned knife safety, how to build their plate with the My Plate layout, and got to cook the delicious Stuffed Bell Peppers recipe (https://www.myplate.gov/recipes/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/stuffed-bell-peppers). The Healthy Eating Index Score shows that Americans do not align their eating choices with the Dietary Guidelines, the score
Author: Benjamin Prewitt
Major Program: Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
The Whitley County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Hiking Club is an active group of individuals who love to enjoy the beautiful aspects of Horticulture in the outdoors. We welcome anyone and everyone to join us on our monthly adventure. The Horticulture Hiking Club began in May, 2022 as a way for the Horticulture and Fine Arts programs to interact with each other. The goal was to introduce folks of our community to popular hiking destinations in o
Author: Cortney Moses
Major Program: Arts and Community Health
Whitley County is a hidden gem of natural beauty, nestled at the foothills of the majestic Appalachian Mountains. Its diverse landscape boasts a plethora of plant and animal species, and stunning topography featuring sandstone cliffs, caves, and a world-renowned waterfall. However, even with its breathtaking attractions, many members of the community were unaware of the treasures that lie within their own backyard.Determined to showcase the beauty of their county, the Horticulture and Community
Author: Linda Burgard
Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)
Learn to Sew workshop courses were offered at the Whitley County Extension Office to equip adult students with the fundamental skills necessary to explore their creativity through fabric and thread. Sewing has proven health benefits that enhance well-being. Sewing encourages mindfulness and reduces stress and anxiety; improves hand-eye coordination; requires creativity which improves the brain’s ability to grow new brain cells; increases dopamine in the brain which makes us fee
Author: Linda Burgard
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
To help participants learn and use health information focused on COVID-19 immunization and prevention, the FCS Agent in Whitley County taught Bingocize® to 18 participants twice a week for 6 weeks. Bingocize® is a socially engaging group-based game created by Dr. Jason Crandall, Associate Professor of Exercise Science & Kinesiology and Co-Director of the Center for Applied Science in Health and Aging in the WKU College of Health and Human Services. This evidence based sen
