Extension
It Starts With Us
Health & Wellness throughout the Life Span
Health and Wellness
Paul Sizemore, Carissa Miske, Rosa Smith
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Substance Use Recovery - FCS
Cook Together, Eat Together
Active Living and Health Promotions 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. Obese individuals are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. In 2020, 27% of adults ages 20 and over reported no leisure time physical activity (2020 County Health Rankings). According to Kentucky Health Facts 66% of Owsley County adults have hypertension, 56% are obese, and 18% have diabetes. The estimated food insecurity rate for Owsley County is 21.7%, compared to 15.5% for the state (Map the Meal Gap). As a result, Kentuckians are dying from heart disease and cancer at higher rates than all Americans and they have a lower life expectancy, 71 years, compared to 78.6 years for Americans. 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. . According to the 2010 Census, Owsley County's population is 4,755 with 39.2% children living in poverty and 30.4% of seniors age 65 & over also living in poverty. In 2018, 1,742 individuals received SNAP benefits.
The recent statewide needs assessment identified substance use prevention and recovery as the most urgent priority for Cooperative Extension. Taken together, youth KIP survey data and data from the CES needs assessment demonstrate the need to address substance use prevention, recovery, stigma, and impact on families and communities.
A foundation of nutrition knowledge, skills and competencies in topics such as food safety, handling and preparation, cooking methods and techniques, feeding practices, food science, and food systems are essential to changing dietary behaviors. Focusing on a foundation of overall direct health education to increase health literacy, help individuals and families establish healthy lifestyle behaviors and relationships throughout the lifespan as a way to positively influence optimal aging and help reduce issues such as chronic disease, obesity, opioid and alcohol abuse, and mental illness.
*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.
*The prevention and/or reduction of substance use and its related consequences.
*Changed public perception of substance use via stigma reduction.
*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.
*Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity.
*Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work, and play.
*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).
*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 food via local farmers markets, food retailers, and/or home gardens.
*Improve self-efficacy in physical activity, movement, and active routes to destinations.
*Decrease tobacco/substance use.
*Adapt healthy lifestyle choices, including diet, physical activity, no smoking/binge drinking.
*More Kentucky households prepare for caregiving.
*Kentuckians will seek health screenings and vaccines.
*Older Kentuckians will prevent falls.
*Kentuckians will address mental health.
*Increased Opioid stewardship (less rx’ing by doctors, appropriate RX disposal, drug takebacks, etc.)
*Delayed age of first use among Kentucky youth.
*Increase awareness about relationships between food and nutrition practices, lifestyle choices, and chronic disease.
*Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. gardening, preparation and preservation techniques, safe food handling, and food resource management).
*Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy eating and lifestyle practices.
*Increase motivation to be active.
*Increase motivation to access and prepare healthier foods.
*Increase awareness of accessible safe places for activity.
*Increased knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and recovery.
*Improved social skills and/or self-efficacy in KY youth.
*Understand the importance of lifestyle choices and behaviors throughout their lifespan on their overall health, well-being and life quality.
*Understand the importance of caregiver preparation.
*Understand the importance of disease prevention and early detection.
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
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: Substance Use
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: gained knowledge of the resources that are available for substance use in the community as a result of Extension programming
Method: Self-report survey
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: Chronic Disease Prevention
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: 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 curricula or program
Outcome: Adopt healthy lifestyles related to aging and longevity
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported knowledge and skills gained about healthy lifestyle choices related to aging/longevity, the total number of individuals who adapted their behavior
Method: Self-report survey; specific curricula or program evaluations
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Audience: Low Income Families
Project or Activity: Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program
Content or Curriculum: EFNEP Curriculum, Literacy, Eating & Activity for Pre-schoolers (LEAP), & Organwise
Inputs: EFNEP Assistant
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: Head Start, School Aged Youth & Families
Project or Activity: Supplemental Nutrition Education Program
Content or Curriculum: SNAP-ed Curriculum, Wellness in KY (WIN), Professor Popcorn, & Literacy, Eating & Activity for Pre-schoolers (LEAP)
Inputs: SNAP-Ed Assistant
Date: FY 2024-2025
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Physical Activity
Content or Curriculum: Health Coalitions, Fit Blue, Keys to Embracing Aging, Virtual 5K's
Inputs: FCS Agent, Community partners
Date: Periodically throughout 2024-2025
Audience: Families, Individuals, Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Content or Curriculum: Health Bulletins, Monthly Lunch-N-Learns, Weight the Reality Series
Inputs: FCS Agent, Community partners
Date: Periodically throughout 2024-2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Super Star Chef
Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent, 4-H Agent, EFNEP Assistant, SNAP-Ed Assistant, Community Partners
Date: FY 2024-2025
Audience: Youth & Adults
Project or Activity: Substance Abuse Prevention Activities
Content or Curriculum: Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours, Recovering Your Finances, Other CES Substance Abuse Resources
Inputs: FCS Agent, 4-H Agent, Community Partners
Date: Fall/Winter 2024-2025
Audience: Families & Individuals
Project or Activity: Farmer's Market Food Sampling, Grocery Store Sampling & 4-H Taste of the Month
Content or Curriculum: Plate It up Resources
Inputs: FCS Agent, 4-H Agent, EFNEP Assistant, SNAP-Ed Assistant
Date: FY 2024-2025
Audience: Families & Individuals
Project or Activity: Food Preservation Workshops
Content or Curriculum: UK publications
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: Spring/Summer 2025
Audience: All ages
Project or Activity: Adapting Healthy Lifestyles
Content or Curriculum: Cook Together/Eat Together,
Inputs: FCS Agent, Community Partners
Date: Spring 2025
Audience: All ages
Project or Activity: Disease Prevention/Early Detection
Content or Curriculum: Alzheimer’s Association 10 Warning Signs, Stand Up to Falling, Cancer Screening Awareness
Inputs: FCS Agent, Cancer Coalition, Community Partners
Date: Multiple events throughout 2024-2025
Author: Rosa Smith
Major Program: Child Development General
Describe the Issue or Situation.In Owsley County, Kentucky, access to early childhood daycare options is limited, posing a significant challenge for families with young children. Many parents face difficulties in finding affordable, quality daycare, which can delay essential early learning experiences. This lack of availability also impacts kindergarten readiness, as children may enter school without having developed the foundational social, emotional, and academic skills needed to succeed. The
Author: Carissa Miske
Major Program: Agriculture
In the fall of 2023, Owsley County 4-H embarked on an exciting journey with the 4th graders at Owsley County Elementary. Each month, we introduced STEM-based lessons designed to engage students and foster a deeper understanding of science and agriculture. One standout lesson focused on the lifecycle of a pumpkin, featuring a special guest: "Jack," the class pumpkin.This hands-on experience began with the class receiving their very own pumpkin, which they affectionately named Jack. This
