4-H Health
Promote Healthy Lifestyles
Cathy Fellows, Rusty Wolf
Family and Consumer Science
Health & Wellbeing
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.
- Reduced fatalities
- 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
- Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle
- 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 will intervene to prevent use/abuse
- Improved in awareness of health concerns for youth
- Improved education about diversity and Inclusion
- Improved understanding of the consequences of risk behaviors
- Promote optimal physical, social and emotional health habits
Oral or Common Measures Universal Survey at conclusion of learning activity
- Number of youth who indicated they learned about healthy food choices through 4-H
- 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)
- Eating Healthy
- 4-H Foods/SNAP material, MyPlate (Oct 24-May 25,)
- Nutrition Education with Preschool Students (Sept. 2024-April 2025)
- Nutrition Education with Kindergarten Students (Sept. 2024-April 2025)
- Nutrition Education with children with special needs (Sept. 24-May 25,)
Author: Laila El-Amin
Major Program: Health & Wellbeing
Describe the Issue or Situation.There are families in Northern Kentucky who need assistance with getting school supplies for their children. On Saturday, August 11, 2024, a back to school event was held by the F.I.E.S.T.A. (Family, Inclusion, Education, Society, Tradition, and Access) organization at the Boone County Enrichment Center. They gave away backpacks and partnered with local organizations to give away school supplies to Northern Kentucky Hispanic families to help children succeed. In a