Making Healthy Lifestyle ChoicesPlan of Work
Caldwell County CES
Title:
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
MAP:
Improve Physical and Mental Health
Agents Involved:
Shane Bogle, Rhonda Jewell, Ashley Board
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Health & Wellbeing
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Substance Use Recovery - FCS
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Situation:
Providing educational opportunities to encourage healthy lifestyle choices is one of the major initiatives of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and encompasses physical activity, nutrition, personal safety, mental health, and substance use prevention and recovery. In Caldwell County, 30% of the population are obese, and 30.6% report no leisure time physical activity. Kentucky adults rank among the 10th highest for poor consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Also in Kentucky, 25% of youth report some form of emotional or behavioral condition. Suicide rates are at record high with Kentucky being the 10th highest in the nation. 35-54 age group had highest rate in KY
Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health disease can affect anyone, with 1,160 reported opioid-involved deaths in Kentucky. Vaping nearly doubled among middle and high school students. 27% of high school seniors report they had tried the product in 2018.
It is evident programs related to physical activity, proper nutrition, substance use prevention and recovery, and personal safety are needed in Caldwell County.
Long-Term Outcomes:
*New community strategies to address Substance Use Disorder and and Mental Health Disorder.
*Prevention and/or reduction of substance use and its related consequences
*Changed public perception of substance use via stigma reduction.
*Individuals routine meet physical activity and dietary recommendations that promote health and wellness.
*Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work, and play.
*Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity.
*Individuals will live longer, healthier lives.
*Youth are at a lower risk for serious disease and illness.
*Youth are competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H Health programs.
Intermediate Outcomes:
*Generate positive attitude toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy.
*Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods.
*Decrease tobacco/substance use.
*Reduced stigma from local community members.
*Delayed age of first use among youth.
*Youth adopt healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behaviors and handling stress.
Initial Outcomes:
*Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease
*Increase motivation to be physically active.
*Increased knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and recovery
*Increased ability to use destigmatized language.
*Partners will recognize the need for community social, environmental, and policy systems to address efforts toward improving healthier lifestyles.
*Youth will be aware of the health issues related to smoking or using tobacco products.
*The number of youth making healthy lifestyle choices.
Evaluation:
Initial Outcome: Nutrition knowledge, Physical activity knowledge, Substance use knowledge
Indicator: Number of individuals who report increased knowledge of importance of fruit/vegetable intake and physical activity; increase knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and recovery.
Method: self-report survey
Timeline: pre-post survey
Intermediate Outcome: Dietary Intake, Physical Activity
Indicator: Number of individuals who report increased fruit/vegetable intake and physical activity
Method: self-report survey
Timeline:pre-post survey
Long-term Outcome: Dietary Intake, Physical Activity, Substance Use
Indicator: Number of individuals meeting physical activity and dietary recommendations; Rate of chronic disease and obesity; Number of Substance Use consequences
Method: Kentucky Health Facts; Community Needs Assessment
Timeline: ongoing
Learning Opportunities:
Audience: Community Members, Social Media followers
Project or Activity: Cooking demonstration (in-person/virtually)
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up Kentucky Proud; NEP
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: 9th Grade
Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences
Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences
Inputs: FRYSC, Pennyroyal, DJJ, Extension Agents
Date: Spring 2025
Audience: Preschoolers
Project or Activity: LEAP @ preschools
Content or Curriculum: LEAP
Inputs: Headstart/Preschool, Extension Agents
Date: September 2024- May 2025
Audience: Community Members, Farmers Market clientele, Senior Adults, Public Library patrons
Project or Activity: Food Sampling
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up Kentucky Proud, Nutrition Education Program recipes
Inputs: Farmers Market, Extension Agents, George Coon Public Library
Date: 2024-2025
Project or Activity: 4-H Teens Against Tobacco Use
Content or Curriculum: American Lung Association
Inputs: FRYSC, Extension Agents
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: Preschoolers and Families
Project or Activity: Laugh and Learn Playdates
Content or Curriculum: LEAP, Extension resources; developmental stages
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: Preschoolers and Families
Project or Activity: Stories, Songs, Stretches
Content or Curriculum: Stories, Songs, Stretches
Inputs: Library, Extension Agents
Date: 2024-2025
Project or Activity: Health Rocks
Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Audience: Community Members
Project or Actvity: Dining with Diabetes
Content or Curriculum: Dining with Diabetes
Inputs: Health First, Health Department, Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Audience: Families with Children
Project or Activity: Cook Together, Eat Together
Content or Curriculum: Cook Together, Eat Together
Inputs: Extension Agents, NEP Assistant
Date: TBD
Audience: Community Members
Project or Activity: Faithful Families
Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families
Inputs: Faith based organizations, Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Audience: Senior Adults, Homemakers, Community Members
Project or Activity: Bingocize
Content or Curriculum: Bingocize
Inputs: UK Specialists, Extension Agents, George Coon Public Library
Date: Fall 2024
Success Stories
Caldwell Plays Bingocize
Author: Ashley Board
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 37% of adults over the age of 65 are inactive. This increases as individuals age with approximately 42% of adults age 75 – 84 and approximately 57% of adults age 85 and older who are inactive. Physical inactivity leads to muscle weakness, as well as loss of flexibility and balance. Research shows that older adults who practice strength building exercises can increase muscle strength. Increased muscle stren
Full Story
Kentucky 4-H Poultry Program BBQ Chicken Camp
Author: Rhonda Jewell
Major Program: Health & Wellbeing
Kentucky 4-H Poultry Program BBQ Chicken CampThis summer, Kentucky 4-H Poultry Program partnered with 4-H programs from Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston and Lyon counties to host a highly successful BBQ Chicken Camp. Aimed at empowering youth with essential cooking skills, the camp attracted 16 young participants who gained hands-on experience in grilling and food safety.According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, developing cooking skills early
Full Story
Caldwell Cans Confidently
Author: Ashley Board
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
With rising food costs and growing interest in sustainable living, food preservation has made a comeback. To meet this need, the Caldwell County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent hosted a hands-on Home Canning Bootcamp. Twenty participants gained hands-on skills in safely preserving fruits and vegetables—tools they can use at home to cut costs, reduce food waste, and build kitchen confidence.100% reported increased knowledge about safe canning practices100% felt confident usin
Full Story
Walk Your Way: Inspiring Health Through Movement
Author: Ashley Board
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Low physical activity levels, poor nutrition, and mental health challenges are known contributors to chronic diseases—and they continue to be major public health concerns. According to America’s Health Rankings, Kentucky ranks among the least physically active states.In response, Family and Consumer Sciences Agents in the Pennyrile Area launched Walk Your Way, a 12-week walking challenge aimed at boosting physical activity and encouraging healthier lifestyles among local residents.Fo
Full Story
Move Your Way
Author: Ashley Board
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Physical activity plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and greatly supports both physical and mental well-being. In Kentucky, there's an ongoing need to encourage more active lifestyles among families. According to the CDC, 29.7% of Kentucky adults reported no physical activity in the previous month, and only 21.4% of children and teens were active for at least 60 minutes daily during the week prior to the survey.To help address this need, the Caldwell County Family & Consume
Full Story
- Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
- S107 Ag. Science Center North
- Lexington, KY 40546-0091
- +1 (859) 257-4302
© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment