Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving Physical, Health and Mental Well-Being
Health and Wellness
Nanette Banks, Crystal Smith, Shad Baker
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Food Preparation and Preservation
Health & Wellbeing
Leadership
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. Census figures show that 30.5% of the county’s population is living in poverty and 38% of the total population is obese. Citizens need information to help them live enriched lives through better nutrition and more physical activity, focusing on a foundation of overall direct health education to increase health literacy, improve mental health and ability to make healthy lifestyle choices, including creating spaces or opportunities for active living behaviors and preparing for disasters.
Letcher County families and youth enjoy better health through accessing and eating more nutritious foods, getting enough exercise and having lower doctor bills as a result.
A decrease in the number of obese and overweight youth and adults
Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity, healthy eating daily and improved mental health.
Improve food management skills and healthy eating habits
Improved mental health
Improved preparations for disasters
Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals' abilities to build healthy eating plans and patterns.
Practice of physical activity in families and communities and decrease time spent on sedentary behaviors.
Decrease tobacco/substance use.
Strengthen community coalitions or partnerships to address obesity and physical inactivity.
Plant, harvest and preserve produce.
Improved food preparation skills, food management skills, food safety and healthy eating habits.
72-Hour Disaster Kit preparation will be implemented
Increase awareness about nutritious low cost foods for families
Increase knowledge of safety equipment and proper use
Increase awareness of effects of drugs
teach the skills for individuals to properly increase physical fitnessIncrease awareness about disaster kits and emergency supplies
Outcome: Nutrition knowledge and dietary intake
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: eating 4-6 servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily; utilize the food label to make healthy food choices; choosing smaller portions.
Method: Self report surveys
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 surveys
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: Substance use
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: knowledge and skills of the resources that are available for substance use in the community as a result of Extension programming.
Method: Self-report surveys
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 surveys
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: Access to healthy lifestyles
Indicator: Number of communities, health coalitions, or organizations who reported: implemented policy, system, and/or environmental changes to promote healthy eating and active living.
Method: Self-report surveys
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: Prepared for Disasters
Indicator: Number of families reporting being prepared with 72-Hours of food, water, medicine, etc.
Method: Self-Report Surveys
Timeline: Pre-Post implementing curricula or program
Learning Opportunities
Audience: Adults, Homemakers, youth, community members, seniors
Project or Activity: Hiking for Health, WITS Workout Program, Bingocize
Content or Curriculum: FCS curriculum
Inputs: FCS agent and assistant
Date: Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Project or Activity: Super Star Chef
Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef curriculum
Inputs: FCS and 4H agents and assistants
Date: Summer 2024
Project or Activity: Senior's Nutrition Series
Content or Curriculum: FCS and NEP curriculum
Inputs: FCS agent and assistant, Senior Citizens
Date: Monthly
Project or Activity: Healthy Choices
Content or Curriculum: FCS and NEP curriculum
Inputs: FCS agent and assistant, KRCC Wellness, KRCC Solutions, MCCC and East Ky Support Services
Date: Monthly
Project or Activity: Cooking Thru the Calendar
Content or Curriculum: 2024-25 NEP Calendar and FCS Curriculum
Inputs: FCS agent and assistant
Date: Monthly
Project or Activity: 4-H Cooking Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H agent and assistant
Date: Monthly, Fall 2024
Project or Activity: Food Preservation
Content or Curriculum: FCS curriculum and 4H curriculum
Inputs: FCS and 4H agents and assistants
Date: Summer/Fall 2024
Project or Activity: Safety Days
Content or Curriculum: 4H curriculum
Inputs: 4H, ANR, FCS agents, assistants and staff
Date: Fall 2024
Project or Activity: 4H Teen Club
Content or Curriculum: 4H Curriculum
Inputs: 4H agent and assistant
Date: Bi-Weekly
Project or Activity: Sewing Classes
Content or Curriculum: FCS and 4H curriculums
Inputs: FCS and 4H agents, MCV, and assistants
Date: Quarterly
Project or Activity: Traveling the World with Extension
Content or Curriculum: FCS curriculums
Inputs: FCS Agent and assistant
Date: Bi-Monthly
Project or Activity: 4-H Global Food
Content or Curriculum: 4H backpack adventure curriculum
Inputs: 4H agents and assistant
Date: Summer-Fall 2024
Project or Activity: Disaster Prep Series
Content or Curriculum: EDEN, FCS & 4-H materials
Inputs: ANR, FCS, & 4-H Agents
Date: Fall 2024
Author: Nanette Banks
Major Program: Emergency Disaster Preparedness - FCS
Describe the Issue or Situation.Kentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occur any time and often with little warning. Disasters take many forms, and we can feel their impacts across most areas of family life. Because there is no “one-size-fits-all” disaster model, planning community outreach can be challenging, and Cooperative Extension is often involved in disaster preparation and response at the local level. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program
