Extension
It Starts With Us
Healthy Lifestyles for Bracken County Residents
Improve Health and Well Being
FCS, 4-H, Ag
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Food Preparation and Preservation
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Cook Together, Eat Together
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.
People are living longer. Kentucky’s current population of seniors (65+) is 16.4% (2019 Census Data). By 2040 it is projected that every district will see an increase in the percent of the population that is age 65 and older (Zimmerman/KY by the Numbers). As the largest and fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, older adults influence everything from consumer behavior to health-care costs (U.S. Census). While we may be adding years to life, there is concern about life quality. This is because a person’s life expectancy, the total number of years a person is expected to live, does not always match a person’s “health span”—time spent in good health (Institute of Medicine). The life expectancy of Kentuckians, 75.1 years, fluctuates as much as 9 years between counties and ranks among the bottom five states. Heavily influenced by life-long lifestyle behaviors and choices, including quality of diet, physical activity and tobacco use, the Kentuckian health span is also below national averages. Kentucky FCS can help individuals and families establish healthy lifestyle behaviors and relationships throughout the lifespan as way to positively influence optimal aging and help reduce issues such as chronic disease, obesity, opioid and alcohol abuse, and mental illness.
Today’s youth spend less time outdoors than previous generations (Clemonts, 2004; Karsten, 2005; Carver et al., 2008) and are likely able to identify a Pokémon character more easily than a native plant or animal (Balmford et al., 2002). Every five years (since 1999) the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC) conducts a survey to assess Kentuckian’s environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. According to KEEC’s 2015-2020 Environmental Education Master Plan (2015), “…the average Kentuckian is able to answer correctly slightly more than half of the environmental knowledge questions included on the survey. This result leaves ample room for improvement” (p 27). The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program strives to increase environmental literacy among youth in Kentucky. The KEEC (2018) defines environmental literacy as “…the ability to recognize the components of healthy natural and man-made systems and the actions necessary to maintain, restore, or improve them” (p. 4) and states that environmental education is a pathway to environmental literacy (KEEC, 2018).
- 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
- Identify, develop, and evaluate programs and policies that promote healthy aging in Kentucky
- Kentuckians improve health span through lifestyle choices and behaviors related to overall health and well-being
- Participants will create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle. They will improve the built and natural environment to increase active and healthy lifestyles.
- 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
- Kentuckians of all ages adapt healthy lifestyle choices, including diet, physical activity, no smoking/binge drinking.
- Kentuckians will seek health screenings and vaccines
- Older Kentuckians will prevent falls
- Participants will apply the skills learned in educational activities related to disaster preparedness, pest management, going green, energy consumption, recycling, home safety, and built environment.
- 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
- Kentuckians understand the importance of lifestyle choices and behaviors throughout their lifespan on their overall health, well-being and life quality.
- Kentuckians learn that disease prevention and early detection is important
- Kentuckians learn about resources to enhance life quality, safety and to support aging families
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: 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: Learn about prevention and how to adapt healthy lifestyles
Indicator: Total number of individuals/families reached with information to improve healthy lifestyle choices specifically related to aging/longevity
Method: Lesson Evaluations: Keys to Embracing Aging, Stand up to Falling, Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Beyond (Home Accessibility), AARP Prepare to Care, 10 Warning Signs/UAD
Timeline: Ongoing
Long Term Outcome: Families will utilize skills and practices gained to create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle. Ultimately, they will improve the built and natural environment to increase active and healthy lifestyles.
Indicator: Participants create safer homes.
Method: Surveys and Evaluations
Timeline: 2 to 3 years
Long Term Outcomes
- Youth will be environmentally literate.
- Youth will make informed decisions and take responsible action regarding natural resources conservation, protection, and restoration.
- Youth will be advocates for environmental sustainability and stewardship.
Intermediate Outcome: Individuals will adopt short, and long term strategies related to energy conservation, pest management, or other healthy home practice, resulting in increased savings
Indicator: 50% of the participants will report a change in at least one behavior resulting in savings.
Method: Evaluation
Timeline: Follow up after intermediate evaluations and then 6 months
Intermediate Outcomes
- Youth will explain the importance and role of natural resources in daily life.
- Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect natural resources.
- Youth will utilize and practice life-skills in 4-H natural resources and environmental projects and clubs, and life situations.
Outcome: Families and Individuals will increase knowledge about home safety, pest control, and recycling.
Indicator: Participants show increased knowledge.
Method: Evaluations
Timeline: 2023-2024 School Year
Audience: Community Members
Project or Activity: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches
Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families, Health Coalitions, Trail Development
Inputs: Volunteers, grant funds, faith-based organizations, community partners, key stakeholders, elected officials, Department of Transportation, Health Coalitions, Family to go bags
Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Chronic Disease Prevention
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, Cook Together Eat Together, Fit Blue, Faithful Families, Body Balance, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, WIN, Kick Kentucky Cancer, Health Partner, Keys to Embracing Aging
Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, faith-based organizations, health coalitions, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, Company Health & Wellness, Homemakers, Family to go bags
Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year
Audience: Families and Students
Project or Activity: Physical Activity
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Faithful Families, Health Coalitions, Fit Blue, WIN, Health Partners, and Keys to Embracing Aging
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, health coalitions, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, Company Health & Wellness, FBOs, Homemakers, State projects, Family to go bags
Date: Monthly Classes in School
Audience: 8th grade students
Project or Activity: Substance Abuse Awareness
Content or Curriculum; Truth and Consequences
Inputs: Volunteers, paid staff, community partners
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: All ages
Project or Activity: Adapting Healthy Lifestyles
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Embracing Aging, Stand Up to Falling, Cook Together/Eat Together, Body Balance, Health Partners, Money Habitudes, Recovering Your Finances, Smoke Free Coalition, Family to go bags, Country Closet Thrift Store, Make it Take it Try it, The Dinner Plate Project, Lessons at Artic and Tribe, 1st grade Economics
Inputs: Partner with community resources related to programs.
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: All ages
Project or Activity: Disease Prevention/Early Detection
Content or Curriculum: Alzheimer’s Association 10 Warning Signs, Stand Up to Falling, Health Partners, Community Events Booth
Inputs: Partner with community resources related to programs.
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Seniors
Project or Activity: Aging workshops, Lessons at Income Based Apartments
Content or Curriculum: Aging awareness based on community need in collaboration with local community partners (food safety/nutrition, fall prevention, caregiving, healthy lifestyles, grand parenting, finding purpose/connection, etc.) Bingocize
Inputs: Community partners related to theme
Date: Monthly Lessons with Seniors
Audience: 5th Grade
Project or Activity: Elementary Students
Content or Curriculum: Recipe for Life
Input: FCS Agent Schools
Date: Spring 2024
Project or Activity: Safe @ Home
Audience: Elementary Students
Content or Curriculum: Safe @ Home Lessons
Input: Local Schools
Date: Spring 2024
Author: Shannon Smith
Major Program: Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
With Covid stopping some of our previous programs, this year we were able to bring back Truth and Consequences for Bracken County’s 8th grade class. There still is a strong need for substance abuse prevention. Truth and Consequences is an enrichment activity designed to educate students about the impact of substance abuse, including the physical, legal, financial, and emotional consequences. The event was held at the Judicial Center in Brooksville. We invited the 8
Author: Shannon Smith
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
Since the recent rise in the popularity of growing one’s own garden and preserving their food. A series of Food Preservation classes was offered and taught in 2 different counties. The Bracken FCS agent and the Mason Co FSC program assistant collaborated to offer the classes in the 2 counties. Classes were taught on topics such as Pressure Cooker, Water Bath, Dehydration, and Freezing techniques. Teaching food preservation to adults has had a profound impact on in
Author: Holly Bowman
Major Program: Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
To follow Bracken County’s plan of work to improve health and well-being our office offered a Lunch & Learn Terrarium Workshop. This workshop was offered to everyone in the county at no cost. The goal was to bring the community and families together as it was held during spring break. A My Plate recipe was served while I went over the benefits of Horticulture Therapy before beginning the terrarium demonstration. I stated the stress relieving and mood benefits associated with horticultu
Author: Holly Bowman
Major Program: Family Development General
With parents and children engrossed in their mobile devices for hours on end, face-to-face interactions have declined, hindering relationship development. It's crucial to acknowledge how technology, among other factors, has driven a wedge between loved ones, emphasizing the problem of prioritizing meaningful relationships over technology. A hanging basket workshop was held at the Bracken County Extension Office to bring family members together to encourage the missed bonding while creat
Author: Molly Jordan
Major Program: Health
During the last few months of school, prom and graduation season is in full swing, sweeping both teens and parents into a whirlwind of dresses, tuxedos, caps, and gowns. Unfortunately, these joyous celebrations often involve alcohol, making this the most dangerous time of year for youth drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one in three alcohol-related teen traffic fatalities occur during prom season, from April to June. An estimated 20% of all a
Author: Molly Jordan
Major Program: Health
The summer solstice, marking the longest day of the year, has been designated the "Longest Day of Play." On June 20, 2024, Bracken County 4-H partnered with the Bracken County Health Department to host this event at Taylor Elementary. The event featured various groups providing health information to the community. Primary Plus doctors were on site offering school and sports physicals, car seat checks, and HPV vaccines. Additionally, there were activities promoting sunscreen awareness a
Author: Shannon Smith
Major Program: LEAP
The LEAP Literacy Eating Activity Pre-school (LEAP) program has made a significant impact on the dietary habits of young children in Bracken County. Implemented by Shannon, who has passionately taught the program seven times a month, LEAP reaches over 140 students each month throughout the nine-month school year, totaling over 1,260 student interactions annually. Young children often are hesitant to trying new foods. By offering this program we hope to change that. Designed for
