Extension
It Starts With Us
Improve Physical and Mental Health
Health and Wellness
Bailey West (FCS), Anna Meador (4-H), Adam Huber (ANR)
Food Preparation and Preservation
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Child Development General
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. Particularly in Allen County, the obesity rate is higher than the state average, 41% and 35%, respectively (kentuckyhealthfacts.org). The percentage of diabetic Medicare enrollees ages 65-75 actively monitoring HgbA1c was 76% in 2018, which is below the state rate of 86% (County Health Rankings 2014). In recent years, a higher percentage of the population now has access to outdoor physical activity opportunities after the opening of walking trails at Dugas Community Park. However, 24% of adults age 20+ report participating in no leisure time physical activity (County Health Rankings 2014). With several locations to be physically activity available to the public, the next step is motivating residents to take advantage of opportunities in the built environment to achieve health benefits. With 21.8% of the population living in poverty (in 2017) and 28% of children living in poverty in 2018 (census.gov), and only 6.3% of Kentuckians consuming recommended fruits and vegetables daily, the need for change is apparent. Allen County is the county that is currently the top vegetable producer (according to the 2017 Agriculture Census) in the state, so educating individuals on affordable and healthy food purchasing and preparation techniques will ultimately improve consumption of fruits and vegetables and improve health indicators by reducing incidence of chronic disease. The focus will be on direct health education to increase health literacy and ability to make healthy lifestyle choices.
- 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 offers safe locations to be active and promotes healthy opportunities where people live, learn, work, and play
- Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity
- Reduce the rate of stress and depression
- Adults will be able to provide and prepare nutritious foods for themselves and their children
- Reduced drug usage as a result of drug prevention knowledge
- Generate positive attitudes toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy
- Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods that may be new to the diet
- Experiment with a new activity to increase physical fitness
- Apply one or more stress management techniques
- Practice food safety and preparation techniques
- Apply stress reducing and emotional health techniques as an alternative for unhealthy/drug usage habits
- Program participants are able to name the MyPlate Food Groups and foods within those categories.
- Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease (e.g. tobacco use, poor nutrition, & lack of physical activity)
- Increase confidence and motivation to be physically active
- Increase awareness of accessible safe places for activity
- Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. preparation techniques, safe food handling)
- Program participants will identify stressors and at least one stress management technique
- Youth can identify 3 or more stress relieving activities and/or methods to prevent peer influence.
Initial Outcome: Increase 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 FitBlue, CHAT Team events, Botvin drug prevention life skills
Intermediate Outcome: Improve nutrition knowledge and quality of 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 Cook Together, Eat Together, CookWild, Super Star Chef, Dining with Diabetes, Botvin drug prevention life skills
Long-term Outcome: Increase the practice of making 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 Smarter Lunchrooms changes in schools, Botvin drug prevention life skills
Long Term Outcome: Chronic Disease Prevention
Indicator: Number of participants who had one or more health indicator (cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose) improved
Method: Self-report survey
Timeline: Pre-post implementing Dining with Diabetes or Faithful families or FitBlue,
Audience: Preschool and Early Elementary Children
Project or Activity: Movement, Mindfulness, early development
Content or Curriculum: Stories, Songs, and Stretches
Inputs: FCS Agent, Volunteers, local Head start and preschools, Allen Logan Simpson CECC, Health Department, Boys and Girls Club
Date: Fall 2024, ongoing
Project or Activity: Cook Together, Eat Together
Content or Curriculum: Cook Together, Eat Together
Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistant, Champion Food Volunteer, food supplies and cooking equipment
Date: Fall-Spring annually
Audience: School Age Children
Project or Activity: Youth Fishing Day
Content or Curriculum: Hook to Cook, Food Preparation, Food Safety, CookWild Kentucky
Inputs: Agent time, KDFWR, Barren River Lake State Park, Army Corps of Engineers, Boys and Girls Club and FRYSC Allen County Scottsville, fishing and grilling equipment
Date: Summer 2024
Project or Activity: Botvin Life skills with seventh grade and Strengthening Families Program 10 to 14
Content or Curriculum: Botvin Life skills, SFP 10-14
Inputs: Agent time, Partner with FRYSC, Purchase of supplies, training, 6 programs, partner with Faith Coalition, apply for state FCS grant
Date: Fall 2023, Spring 2024
Audience: Adults and Older Adults
Project or Activity: Chronic Disease Prevention
Content or Curriculum: Dining with Diabetes
Inputs: Programmatic materials (Dining with Diabetes and Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes), FCS Agent, Local Dietitians (Health Department and Medical Center), Healthcare Providers and pharmacies
Date: Annual, Fall/Winter
Project or Activity: Encourage Physical Activity
Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families, Fit Blue
Inputs: FCS Agent, local churches, Allen County KEHA Members, Dugas Park, Local businesses, The CORE of Scottsville, Health Department
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Communities
Project or Activity: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches
Content or Curriculum: Smarter Lunchrooms, Faithful Families
Inputs: Community partners (In Community Hunger Action Team), School Board and School System, local farmers, NEP Assistant, FCS Agent
Date: Spring 2024, ongoing
Author: Anna Meador
Major Program: Health
According to the CDC, approximately 20 youth deaths occur each day as a result of unintentional injury. To combat youth safety concerns and to education children in our community on safe practices (at home, farm or ranch), the Allen County Extension Services partnered various community partners to address youth safety. With the help of the Allen County Scottsville High School FFA department, Allen County 4-H Teens and Allen County Farm Bureau Federation, we were able to host the Pro
