Extension
It Starts With Us
Promoting Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Financial Wellness
Promoting Community Wellness
Brittany Thomas
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Financial Education - General
Substance Use and Mental Health - FCS
Active Living and Health Promotions General
It is important for the citizens of Marion County to focus on a holistic approach to wellness. Therefore, the goal for the next four years to approach not only physical wellness but also mental, emotional, and financial. Both the County Extension Council and the Family and Consumer Sciences Advisory Council identified these areas during their needs assessments. When it come to accessing nutritious foods, the obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of all Kentuckians. When it comes to making healthy lifestyle choices, obese individuals are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions. The obesity rate in Kentucky increased 90 percent over the last 15 years. When it comes to nurturing families, healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. Co-habiting, same-sex, divorced, widowed, and single households are the new majority. In 2009, 26% of Kentucky children lived in poverty, ranking Kentucky 48th in the nation. Children who start kindergarten with delayed development and fewer assets are by far more likely to repeat grades, get tracked into lower-tier classes, and drop out of high school than more advantaged children. When it comes to financial security, Kentucky consistently lags behind other areas of the United States in household income indicators, including personal income, population living below the poverty line, unemployment, and revolving debt loads. When it comes to accessing nutritious foods, nutrition education programs help families gain access to food and stretch food dollars. By taking care of all aspects of ones health their is an overall wellness and decreased risk for preventable diseases.
-Kentucky population will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day.
-Youth will be food secure when school is not in session.
-Individuals and families are increasing their income as well as maximizing income resources consumption.
-Improve the quality of life for Kentuckians resulting in stronger families.
-Build personal strengths and self-control, interpersonal communication, life skills including wise decision making
-Foster the optimal development of children and youth
-Decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, and adults
-Improvement in the built environment to promote physical activity and healthy eating
-Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and hypertension
-Increase the estimated health savings in dollars for chronic disease
-Decrease the use of alcohol and substance abuse throughout the county
-Apply improved food preparation skills, food management skills, food safety, and healthy eating habits.
-Access more local foods
-Adopt short, mid, and long term financial planning strategies.
-Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings or investments.
-Ate family meals four or more times a week
-Practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships
-Identified realistic expectations for child's tasks
-Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals' ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns
-Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life
-Practice of physical activity in families and communities and decreased time spent on sedentary behaviors
-Increase Knowledge and understanding of healthy eating, food safety, and food resource management.
-Learn to incorporate unfamiliar food or foods not currently eaten into a healthy diet.
-Youth and adults will show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial resources.
-Increase financial literacy related to savings and investments.
-Intends to manage stress, make time for self, listen, talk, bond with family members, read with children daily, teach responsibility in use of money, etc.
-Verbalizes realistic behavior expectations
-Describes child's developmental levels relative to averages
-Change awareness, knowledge, and opinions to make informed decisions regarding childhood and youth obesity, adult weight management, healthy aging, reduction of chronic disease, etc.
-Youth will be informed on consequences of drug and alcohol abuse
Initial Outcome: Participants will gain knowledge of the importance of physical, mental, and emotional wellness.
Indicator: Increased awareness of keys to wellness and use of extension resources.
Method: Follow Up Survey
Timeline: Up to 3 months after the program.
Intermediate Outcome:Participants will use strategies to budget money, make healthier food choices, actively pursue health lifestyle choices, and nurture family relationships.
Indicator: Families will be more financially stable, cook healthier foods, exercise, and will spend quality family time together.
Method: Survey
Timeline: 6 to 12 months after the program.
Long-term Outcome: Participants will have decreased their chances for preventative health problems by focusing on a holistic wellness approach.
Indicator: Decreased diagnosis of preventable illnesses
Method: Statistical Data
Timeline: 3 to 5 years after the program.
Audience: Preschool Youth
Project or Activity: Nutrition, Exercise, Hygiene, and Financial Lessons
Content or Curriculum: Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary
Inputs: Family and Consumer Sciences Agent
Date: August 2023-May 2024, Once a month with each class
Audience: Senior Citizens
Project or Activity: Nutrition, Financial, Healthy Homes, Aging, and Healthy Lifestyle Choices Lessons
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Embracing Aging, Bingocize, supplemental programming for each specific lesson
Inputs: Family and Consumer Sciences Agent
Date: August 2023 - May 2024, Once a Month
Audience: Low Income Housing Residents
Project or Activity: Wellness Lessons on Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyle Choices, and Financial Wellness
Content or Curriculum: Cook Together, Eat Together, Healthy Choices for Every Body, Cooking Through the Calendar
Inputs: Family and Consumer Sciences Agent
Date: August 2023 - May 2024, Once a month
Audience: Marion County Residents
Project or Activity: Food Demonstrations at the Lebanon Farmer's Market
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up Kentucky Proud
Inputs: Family and Consumer Sciences Agent
Date: May 2023 - October 2024
Audience: Middle School Youth
Project or Activity: Financial Literacy Lessons
Content or Curriculum: Building a Healthy, Wealthy Future
Inputs: Family and Consumer Sciences Agent
Date: Two to Three Lessons Each Nine Weeks During School 2023-2024
Audience: School Age Parents
Project or Activity: Lessons on Parenting
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting
Inputs: Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, FRYSC
Date: Each Nine Weeks 2023-2024
Author: Rachel Mattingly
Major Program: Child Development General
Kentucky has reported that only 44% of children attending kindergarten in Marion County are prepared and equipped to succeed. In many Kentucky counties, limited resources or the environment may hinder healthy lifestyle choices related to early childhood development and physical activity.As an innovative strategy to improve early childhood development skills and increase kindergarten readiness with Marion County residents, the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with Marion County
