Extension
It Starts With Us
Healthy Living Lifestyles for Youth, Families & Community
Thriving Individuals, Strong Families
LDM, VW
Health
Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
Family and Consumer Science
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Healthy living is one of three 4-H mission mandates and encompasses: physical activity, personal safety, mental health, addiction prevention, and diversity and inclusion. In Kentucky 37% of youth 10-17 are overweight or obese, and 51% report not exercising regularly. 25% of youth report some form of emotional or behavioral condition and suicide rates are at record high (KY suicides per 100,000 people: 15.3, 10th highest in nation). Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health disease can affect anyone, with 1,160 reported opioid-involved deaths (a rate of 27.9 deaths per 100,000 persons) in Kentucky and Vaping nearly doubled among middle and high school students — with 27% of high school seniors reporting they had tried the product in 2018.
The ever changing landscape of the family and the consumer highlights the need for a responsive and innovative FCS program while also providing the basic needs that all families have as they navigate lives many challenges. Kentucky 4-H Seeks to meet these needs through working with youth and families in a variety of situations to increase their consumer awareness, financial management, nutrition, culinary arts, textiles, housing, and human development.
A foundation of nutrition knowledge, skills and competencies in topics such as food safety, handling and preparation, cooking methods and techniques, feeding practices, foods science, and food systems are essential to changing dietary behaviors. With the increased trend of chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky, individuals, families and communities need tools and environments that support healthful dietary decisions. CES agents are encouraged to reach diverse audiences to help combat chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky communities.
Due to increased need of programming for kinship care families, an ongoing series of Parenting a Second Time Around (PASTA) will be implemented in Marshall County. Engaging families experiencing life changes, and connecting them to local professionals who are trained to be a valuable part of a support system during this time, will assist them in solving everyday problems and create an outreach that may have been unknown to them previously.
- Reduced fatalities.
- Reduced number of children in foster care.
- Reduced incarceration.
- Increased number of youth maintaining positive health habits.
- Increased number of youth at a lower risk for serious disease and illness.
- Increased number of youth at a lower risk for physical and emotional distress.
- Reduce the number of youth reporting drug, alcohol, and tobacco use.
- Participants be responsible and contributing individuals and family members
- Participants contribute to a safe and healthy home and community.
- Routinely employ healthy dietary practices that promote health and wellness (e.g. consume recommended daily fruits and vegetables and improve food management skills
- Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity
- Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle.
- New coalitions developed to address Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health.
- Improved access and utilization of resources.
- Improved perceived stress and ability to cope.
- Youth will contribute to their communities.
- Youth will practice refusal skills.
- Youth & adults will intervene to prevent use/abuse.
- Youth utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations
- Youth project a positive image and self-confidence
- Youth & families practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making
- Youth & families practice healthy eating choices
- Participants make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results.
- Generate positive attitudes toward changing dietary decisions to be more healthful.
- Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods.
- Decrease intake of solid fats, added sugars and sodium
- Employ healthful cooking methods, feeding practices and food preservation techniques
- Increased access to healthy doos via local farmers markets, food retailers and/or home gardens
- Improved in awareness of health concerns for youth.
- Improved education about Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health disease.
- Improved education about Diversity and Inclusion.
- Reduced stigma of individuals with Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health disease.
- Improved understanding of the consequences of risk behaviors.
- Promote optimal physical, social and emotional health habits.
- Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects and programs
- Understand the decision-making process
- Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action
- Learn to read and follow instructions
- Increase awareness about relationships between food and nutrition practices and chronic disease.
- Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. gardening, preparation and preservation techniques, safe food handling, food resource management)
- Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy eating practices
- Increase motivation to access and prepare healthier foods
Initial Outcome: Nutrition knowledge, skills, and competencies
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: use knowledge and skills to improve food-shopping management; utilize the food label to make healthy food choices; choosing smaller portions; increased food preservation knowledge; demonstrated recommended food preservation practices
Method: Self-report surveys' specific curricula or program evaluations
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program; ongoing
Intermediate Outcome: Dietary intake
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: eating 4-6 servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily
Method: Self-report surveys about fruit and vegetable intake or other dietary improvements; specific curricula or program evaluations
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program; ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Preparing and preserving food
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: preparing more home-cooked meals; modifying ingredients and/or preparation techniques to improve nutrition
Method: Self-report survey; specific curricula or program evaluations
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program; ongoing
4-H Youth Development Health Items
- Outcome to be Evaluated
- Number of youth who indicated they learned about healthy food choices through 4-H
- Method of Evaluation
- Number of youth who were educated on health and well-being through 4-H programs? (KOSA)
- Number of youth who indicated they made healthy lifestyle choices as are result of what they learned through 4-H programming? (PRACTICE)
- Number of youth who indicated they increased their daily number of servings of fruits and vegetables eaten as a result of 4-H programs? (PRACTICE) Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself?” (SEEC)
- Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader?” (SEEC)
Evaluation of 4-H FCS Specific Items
- Outcome to be Evaluated
- Youth who engage in FCS project Work
- Indicator of Success for Outcome
- Youth complete a FCS Project
- Method of Evaluation
- 4-H Common Measures Universal Survey
Audience: Marshall County Youth (Ages 9-14)
Project or Activity: Residential Summer 4-H Camp -- Campers learn daily skills such as responsibility for their own items, cleaning skills, and engage in physical activity.
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Core Curriculum
Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, Marshall County 4-H Teen & Adult Camp Counselors
Date: Summer 2024
Audience: Marshall County, Community 4-H Clubs & CFS/NCCA Club Members/Students
Project or Activity: 4-H Club Lessons & Workshops
Content or Curriculum: NEP Programs/4-H Foods
Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, Marshall County 4-H Teen volunteers, UK CES Publications
Date: 2023-24 Club Year
Audience: Marshall County 4th Grade Students
Project or Activity: Marshall County Youth Ag Field Day -- Gardening & Nutrition
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Agriculture & Natural Resources Curriculums on Gardening; NEP Victory Garden Resources
Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agents for 4-H Youth Development & ANR, Extension Assistant, Marshall County Master Gardeners, and Marshall County 4-H Teen volunteers.
Date: March/April 2024
Audience: General Public, Students & Parents, Needline & Marcella's Kitchen Clients
Project or Activity: School & Community Health Fairs / Displays / Publications
Content or Curriculum: NEP Materials & Curriculums
Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agents for ANR & 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, Marshall County 4-H Volunteers, Master Gardeners, UK Publications
Date: 2023-24 as scheduled
Audience: Marshall County, Community 4-H Clubs & CFS/NCCA Club Members/Students
Project or Activity: 4-H Club Lesson(s)
Content or Curriculum: Building Character and Social-Emotional Learning, Mindful Me, and Centering on Me Based Lessons
Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, and Marshall County 4-H Teen volunteers.
Date: 2023-24
Audience: Marshall County 8th Grade Students
Project or Activity: Middle School Enrichment Programs
Content or Curriculum: Truth & Consequences
Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Marshall County Health Department, Community Leaders, YSC Coordinator, and middle school life skills/enrichment/health teachers. Assistance from Marshall County Extension Agent for FCS and Extension Assistant.
Date: Winter/Spring 2024
Audience: Marshall County 5th Grade Students
Project or Activity: Farm & Home Safety Day
Content or Curriculum: UK CES Food Safety Guidelines/NEP Curriculum
Inputs: Marshall County Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent, Extension Assistant, NRCS, Marshall County Conservation District, and participating agencies/organizations.
Date: Fall 2023
Audience: Marshall County 4-H Sharp Shooter Members
Project or Activity: 4-H Sharp Shooters Safety & Range Training
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports Program & Materials/Project Book developed by Marshall County Certified Shooting Sport Coaches
Inputs: Marshall County 4-H Shooting Sports Coaches & Coordinator, Calvert City Gun Club volunteers, and Marshall County Extension Agents for 4-H Youth Development & ANR.
Date: Spring/Summer 2024
Audience: Marshall County 4-H Trailblazer Members
Project or Activity: 4-H Trailblazer Club Lessons & District 7 Horse Related Programs
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Horse Program & UK Specialist's Presentations -- Safety Around Horses/Equine Nutrition/Proper Horsemanship & Showmanship Skill Development / D7 4-H Horse Judging & Show Clinics
Inputs: Marshall County 4-H Certified Horse Volunteers, W1 & W2 4-H & ANR Agents, UK Equine Specialists
Date: 2023-24 Club Year -- Continually working to recruit a Marshall County Certified Horse Volunteer as of 4/24/23
Audience: Marshall County Youth
Project or Activity: County 4-H Dog Club
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Dog Certification Program Materials & Training
Inputs: Marshall County 4-H Certified Dog Leader (Following up with potential volunteer as of 4/24/23), Kentucky 4-H Specialist, and W1 & W2 Area 4-H Contact Agent for Dog.
Date: 2023-24 Club Year
Audience: Communities
Project or Activity: Community 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 cooking camp
Inputs: FCS agent, Extension Assistant, Nutrition Education Program (NEP), paid staff, grant funds, facilities, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Date: April--October/growing seasons
Audience: Families & 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, Plate it Up!-Kentucky Proud, National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) resources, resources for early care and education settings
Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, faith-based organizations
Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year
Project or Activity: Food Preservation
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Trainings, Home-based Micro-Processing training
Inputs: FCS agent, Extension Assistant, Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, programmatic materials, NEP resources
Date: Year-round
Audience: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association/Volunteers
Project or Activity: Promoting Nutrition with Volunteers
Content or Curriculum: Champion Food Volunteers, Mastering Food Choices, International Cuisine publications, Food preservation workshops, Monthly leader lessons, Maker Monday
Inputs: FCS agent, Extension Assistant, Volunteers, paid staff, community partners
Date: Year-round
Audience: Kinship Care Families
Project or Activity: All in the Family workshops
Content or Curriculum: Parenting the Second Time Around (PASTA), supporting Extension publications
Inputs: FCS Agent, Youth Service Center coordinators, County Attorney, School counselors, Library staff, County Park staff
Date: Year-round
Author: Vicki Wynn
Major Program: Child Development General
According to Kentucky’s 2023 Early Childhood Profile, children in Marshall County continue to need interventions so they are ready for kindergarten. Children who start kindergarten with delayed development and fewer assets are far more likely to repeat grades, get tracked into lower-tier classes and dropout of high school than more advantaged children. The Marshall County Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) hosts in-person Laugh & Learn playdates at thr
Author: Vicki Wynn
Major Program: Family Development General
According to Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky, 96,000 Kentucky kids live in kinship care. Kinship care may be informal or may involve the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). In many cases, grandparents and even great-grandparents have stepped up to help raise children when they cannot remain safely with their parents.The Marshall County Family & Consumer Sciences agent, Family Resource Youth Services Center directors and the Marshall County Resiliency Center are working tog
Author: Vicki Wynn
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Spring into Green: Pride of Kentucky was hosted by the Purchase Area Family and Consumer Sciences agents at the McCracken County Extension Office. Speakers at the event discussed topics related to Kentucky resources. Topics discussed focused on local plants, foods, and pollinators. Speakers included Dava Hayden, horticulture instructor and arboretum manager at Murray State University; LaToya Drake, coordinator for the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Nutrition Education Program; and
Author: Lena Mallory
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership – 4-H Youth Development
What do you do in 4-H? Do the kids do anything? Is it just cows and cookies? All questions asked over the years, but a standard form of measuring the Communications, Leadership, and Civic Engagement impact of Kentucky 4-H programming has not been available. For the 2023-24 program year, Kentucky 4-H has made evaluation tools available with counties able to add their spin as needed. Marshall County 4-H Youth Development Agent implemented these evaluation tools at the
