Jefferson County CES

Title:

Making proactive choices for a healthier life

MAP:

Healthy individuals

Agents Involved:

P. Adkins, C. Hall, J. Palmer, C. Robles, and K. Smith

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Local Food Systems

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Active Living and Health Promotions General

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Local Food System Development and Mapping

Situation:

According to the 2014 Louisville Metro Health Equity Report, Jefferson County residents are experiencing chronic diseases at a higher rate than the national average. 29% of Louisville residents live in neighborhoods that experience higher death rates due to stroke compared to the US rate (41.9%). If interventions can bring these neighborhoods down to the national level, we would be able to save 33 people every year. Louisville is experiencing heart disease-related deaths at a higher level (212.4%) than the national average (194%). In fact, if we could bring these neighborhoods down to the national rate, we could save 155 people every year.

Poverty is one of the strongest social determinants of health. Louisville has a slightly higher proportion of adults in poverty (13.3%) compared to the national rate (12.4%). In Louisville, 24% of children live in poverty compared to the national average (20%) and Kentucky (25.1%).

The obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of Kentuckians. Obese individuals are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. The obesity rate in Kentucky increased 90% over the last 15 years. Thirty percent of individuals in the Commonwealth report no leisure-time physical activity. Increased consumption of unhealthy food, stress, and built environments that promote physical inactivity are largely responsible for the obesity epidemic. As a result, Kentuckians are dying from heart disease and cancer at higher rates than all Americans and they have a lower life expectancy, 75.5 years, compared to 78 years for Americans.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly.

• Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily.

• Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices.

• Practice healthy food choices, physical activity, and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns.

• Strengthen community coalitions or partnerships to address obesity, physical inactivity and chronic disease.

Initial Outcomes:

• Youth and adults will learn the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.

• Youth and adults understand the benefits of making proactive healthy choices.

• Youth and adults will gain an understanding in healthy lifestyles and the necessary skills for a healthy lifestyle.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Strengthen community coalitions or partnerships to address obesity, physical inactivity and chronic disease.
Indicator: Increase in coalitions and partnerships
Method: Extension records and observation
Timeline: After programs and coalition building

Intermediate Outcome: Youth and adults understand the benefits of making proactive healthy choices.
Indicator: Reported understanding of benefits
Method: Pre- and post-surveys
Timeline: Before and after programs

Long-term Outcome: Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily.
Indicator: Reported increase in physical activity and healthy eating
Method: Pre- and post-surveys
Timeline: Before and after programs

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Home & Commercial Producers

Project or Activity: Certification & training

Content or Curriculum: GAP training manual, Farmers Market Sampling

Certificate

Inputs: Agent, curriculum, classroom, garden site(s)

Date: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Audience: Youth & Adults

Project or Activity: Community Garden implementation; school garden

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener; Extension publications

Inputs: Master Gardener volunteers; specialists; content

curriculum

Date: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Audience: Youth & Adults

Project or Activity: Food Demonstration, Nutrition Education, Food

Preservation

Content or Curriculum: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices, Plate It Up

Inputs: CES Staff, CES Agents, Specialists, CES publications,

community partners

Date: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks, Exploring the Treasures of 4-H, My

Financial Future, Step Up to Leadership, Moneywise,

MITT, STEPS to a Healthy Teen

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding

Date: September 2024 – April 2025

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Dollars & Sense

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks, Exploring the Treasures of 4-H, My

Financial Future, Step Up to Leadership, Moneywise,

MITT, STEPS to a Healthy Teen

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding

Date: September 2024 – April 2025

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Jr. MANRRS

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks, Exploring the Treasures of 4-H, My

Financial Future, Step Up to Leadership, Moneywise,

MITT, STEPS to a Healthy Teen

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding

Date: September 2024 – April 2025

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: In-School Club

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks, Exploring the Treasures of 4-H,

My Financial Future, Step Up to Leadership,

Moneywise, MITT, STEPS to a Healthy Teen

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding

Date: September 2024- April 2025

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: SPIN Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks, Exploring the Treasures of 4-H,

My Financial Future, Step Up to Leadership,

Moneywise, MITT, STEPS to a Healthy Teen

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding

Date: September 2024 – April 2025

Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Weight Management, Food Demonstrations, and

Nutrition Education

Content or Curriculum: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices, Weight the

Reality Series

Inputs: Kentucky CES publications and resources

Date: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Audience: Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity: Economical Food Entrees

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA)

Inputs: Kentucky CES publication and resources

Date: September 2024 – May 2025

Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Cooking Matters

Content or Curriculum: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Inputs: Kentucky CES publication and resources and My Plate

Date: July 2024– June 2025

Success Stories