Family & Consumer Sciences Education; Food Preparation, Preservation & NutritionPlan of Work

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Nelson County CES

Title:
Family & Consumer Sciences Education; Food Preparation, Preservation & Nutrition
MAP:
Family & Consumer Sciences Education: Food Preparation, Preservation & Nutrition
Agents Involved:
Hagler, Howard
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Financial Education - General
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Family Development General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Situation:

The Aging Community was one of the issues brought forward by Extension volunteers and survey participants of all ages. According to the latest census information almost 25% of the Nelson County population is 55 or over. In addition, Nelson County residents have expressed a want for programs relating to family mealtime promotion, child care trainings and support for the National Guard and Reserve families we have in the county. 

The Kentucky Extension Homemaker Assocation provides Nelson County Homemakers with a sense of belonging and inclusion.  The programs provided to the Homemaker Membership include a variety of relatable topics based in research and include nutrition, health and safety topics.  Moreover, monthly and special meetings encourage members to be socially connected and volunteer opportunities in schools, extension offices, and community centers drive are intended to drive personal purpose and growth. 

Obesity, and lack of exercise all contribute to the poor health of Nelson County residents. Currently, Nelson County residents average 6.5 unhealthy days a month. Currently, 30% get no exercise and 26% are overweight. Over 8,000 residents reported having poor health. The goal of Promoting Positive Lifestyles and Tapping into Local Food Systems is to work with at-risk groups to begin incorporating healthy eating behavior and physical activity into their daily lives/routines, therefore reducing the risk of obesity and susceptibility to the diseases associated. In addition, it is a goal to utilize local food systems to not only provide more fruits and vegetables to citizens of Nelson County, but also to support community producers, stimulating the local food economy.  

Long-Term Outcomes:

1.Decrease the number of overweight and obese residents within the community. 

2.Increase community knowledge, skill and awareness of  physical activity & financial security.

3.Improve overall family and community mental, physical and social/emotional wellness. 

4.Increase fruit and vegetable residents consumption within the community. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

1. Positive changes in knowledge, attitudes, skill or ability as they relate to obesity, physical activity and healthy eating. 

2.Practice of physical activity & use of financial literacy tools and techniques, either personally, or within the family unit.  

3.Recognition or behavior change in the realm of mental, emotional or social health & wellness; and/or mental health improvement.

4.Positive personal or family unit decision-making change when considering fruit and vegetable consumption.

Initial Outcomes:

1.Awareness of community-wide overweight and obesity, and where to access resources to encourage a healthier community. 

2.Knowledge of physical activity & financial literacy opportunities. 

3.Awareness of mental, social or emotional health and possible resources to improve each, personally and/or as a family unit. 

4.Awareness of access to more fruits and vegetables, knowledge of ways to prepare them

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased awareness of clientele/community members regarding where to find resources for food and nutrition, recovering finances, and increasing overall well-being

Indicator: Quantitative data from social media platforms and/or marketing campaigns for extension.  Qualitative data from participants within extension programs indicating knowledge or awareness of extension programs and community resources. 

Method: Community forums, in-program discussions, post-program discussions, social media and marketing platform surveys.  

Timeline: 1 Year/On-going


Intermediate Outcome: Participants in extension programs or from other community programs indicate knowledge increase or skill attainment in culinary arts, fruit & vegetable access and attainment, and/or financial capabilities. 

Indicator: Quantitative data from pre/post surveys from pre-packaged curriculums produced from research-based entities.  

Method: Pre/post surveys

Timeline:On-going


Long-term Outcome:

Indicator: Community-wide decrease the number of overweight and obese residents and an increase community knowledge, skill and awareness of  physical activity & financial security.Improve overall family and community mental, physical and social/emotional wellness. 

Method: Census data, reports from federal, state and local levels.  Qualitative and Quantitative data collected through extension programs.  

Timeline: On-going

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Nelson County Homemakers 

Project or Activity: Leader Lesson Trainings, Cultural Arts Engagement 

Content or Curriculum: Stand Up to Falling, FitBlue, SNAP, 

Inputs: Agents, CES publications and resources, FCS Program Sponsored Curriculum, Homemakers 

Date: Late Summer to Early Spring 


 Audience: Communities

Project or Activity:  Farmers Market Outreach

Content or Curriculum: Cooking programs, marketing, increased access (e.g. location, hours, EBT), Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud resources, Farmers Market Toolkit, Super Star Chef

Inputs: Nutrition Education Program (NEP), paid staff, grant funds, facilities, Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Date: April – October/Growing seasons


Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity:  Food Preparation for Better Health

Content or Curriculum: Cook Together Eat Together, Mastering Food Choices, Dining with Diabetes, Super Star Chef, Champion Food Volunteer, Faithful Families, Body Balance, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, plans for prenatal- and infant/toddler-specific curriculum, resources for early care and education settings

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, faith-based organizations, health coalitions

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year

 

Project or Activity:  Food Preservation

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Trainings, Home-Based Micro-Processing Training, Champion Food Volunteers

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, programmatic materials, NEP

Date: July – September for adults and youth

Project or Activity: Physical, Mental and Socio/Emotional Wellness Promotion 

Content or Curriculum: Blue To YouFitBlueKY, LEAP, SNAP/NEP 

Inputs: Agents, CES publications and resources, FCS Program Sponsored Curriculum 

 Health Department, Community CollaborationSchools 

Date: Year-Round 



Success Stories

Aging in Nelson County Senior Resource Fair

Author: Marsha Hagler

Major Program: Aging-General

Aging in Nelson County Senior Resource Fair

The population of Nelson County, like many other counties within Nelson County is trending older.  According to the Kentucky By the Number County data sheet, "As baby boomers are entering retirement, between 2010 and 2025 the population ages 65 and over in Nelson County are projected to increase by 82.5% compared to 51.9% for the state as a whole."  As a result, services related to aging are in greater demand for seniors and their caregivers.  Danielle Hagler, Nelson Cou

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Food Preservation Series

Author: Marsha Hagler

Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation

Food Preservation Series

Nelson County Cooperative Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, Danielle Hagler identified a need for food preservation education in her community.   With an increase of home gardening, more members of the community concerned about supply chain disruptions and families with a desire to control the ingredients in their preserved food, the interest level in this education was great. Throughout a series of educational sessions 33 clients participated in food preservation workshops

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Increasing Access to the Bardstown Farmers Market

Author: Marsha Hagler

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

Increasing Access to the Bardstown Farmers Market

The Nelson County Cooperative Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in collaboration with the Nelson County Cooperative Extension Nutrition education assistant and the Bardstown Farmers Market Board identified a need to increase vendors knowledge of how to increase the consumption of fresh produce by low income and youth audiences. The group worked closely to create connections with the farmer's market vendors to provide education about how to accept senior and WIC vouchers for th

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Super Star Chef

Author: Marsha Hagler

Major Program: Super Star Chef

Super Star Chef

Nelson County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent collaborated with the Nelson County 4-H Agent, Nelson County Nutrition Education Program Assistant and the Nelson County Homemakers  to offer the Superstar Chef Camp program to 18 youth ages 9-12. As described in the curriculum, "Superstar Chef is a three-day hands-on cooking and nutrition Cooperative Extension program originally created by Dr. Sandra Bastin. The program was designed to empower limited-resource youths with basi

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