Active Living, Health Promotions and Substance Abuse Prevention
Improve Physical and Mental Health
Bell, Blankenship, Branstetter
Local Food Systems
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Health
Family and Consumer Science
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.
- Routinely meeting physical activity and dietary recommendations that promote health and wellness (e.g. 150 minutes a week of moderate activity and consuming recommended daily fruits and vegetables)
- Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work, and play
- Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity
- 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 abuse prevention
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 indicator (cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose) improved.
Method: Self-report survey, comparison of aggregated chronic disease prevalence data
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: Physical Activity knowledge and skills
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 curriculr or program
Audience: Communities
Project or Activity: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches
Content or Curriculum: Shared Space Agreements, Active Community Toolkit, Be More Guide, resources for early care and education settings, NEP Farmers Market Toolkit, gardening and food preservation curriculum materials, PBPT, Home-based processor and microprocessor certifications.
Inputs: Volunteers, grant funds, community partners, key stakeholders, elected officials, public school staff, Head Start staff, Employee Health and Wellness, SNAP-Ed program assistant and specialists, WIC &SFMNP Voucher State Staff, FCS Extension Agent, Farmers Market,
Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Chronic Disease Prevention
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, LEAPS, Food Preservation, Gardening, Cook Together Eat Together, Mastering Food Choices, Fit Blue, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, WIN, Kick Kentucky Cancer, 4 – H Health Core Curriculum
Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, Healthcare Providers, Library, Head Start, Farmers Market, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, 21st Century, Company Health & Wellness, Homemakers, Community Centers, etc.
Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year
Project or Activity: Physical Activity
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Shared Space Agreements, LEAPS, Be More, Fit Blue, WIN, Health Partner curriculum, FitBlue, Min/ Body Exercise, Stories, Songs and Stretches, NEP curriculum, 4 – H Health Core curriculum, Farm Fitness Day
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Library, Schools, 21st Century, Head Start, Company Health & Wellness, Homemakers, Community Centers, Homemakers
Date: Periodically each year
Project or Activity: Worksite Wellness: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, Blue to You, Mind/body Connection, Related published research, PIUKYP recipes, Farmers Market tool kit, NEP curriculum
Inputs: Volunteers, paid staff, community partners
Date: Series of 8 – 9 sessions annually
Audience: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association/Volunteers
Project or Activity: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Content or Curriculum: Master Health Volunteers, Health Bulletins, Monthly Leader Lessons, NEP curriculum, Food Preservation and gardening curriculum/publications
Inputs: Volunteers, paid staff, community partners, Farmers Market, WIC & Sr. Farmers Mkt Voucher program resources, Library, Schools, Head Start, local industry, Homemakers
Date: 9 annual Leader trainings
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Health and Fitness, Farm Fitness
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Teachers
Date: August-May
Author: Amy Branstetter
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
According to our recent County Extension Community Assessment, “issues related to drugs and substance abuse in Metcalfe County”. There has been a large number of youth that have started vaping at an early age. This is a gateway to other abuse issues. There is a strong need for continued substance abuse prevention and intervention in Metcalfe County. Substance use/abuse issues continue to negatively impact a number of families in our local community. To address the variety of sub
Author: Lynn Blankenship
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
The problemYouth in our public schools have reported increased stress and anxiety. Physical activity opportunities provided for many Elementary school aged youth focus on strength and endurance, with less emphasis on balance and flexibility. Extension support staff requested educational sessions at the 2023 Chi Epsilon Sigma annual meeting, to address stress reduction/management. The educational program responseThe Mind Body Connection - Yoga based simple stretching, balance, deep br
Author: Lynn Blankenship
Major Program: Family Development General
The problemMetcalfe County is a small, rural agricultural community in south central Kentucky. Due to the geography of the Appalachian foothills in our community, there are many families living in isolated areas. The poverty rate in Metcalfe County is 19.8%. According to the most recently available annual report on child fatality and near fatality by the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s External Review Panel, a contributing factor is a lack of community collaborative services