Extension
It Starts With Us
Making & adopting healthly lifestyle choices
Healthy Families, Healthy Communities
Danielle Barrett, Renata Farmer, Wayne Kirby
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (Curriculum)
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Local Food Systems
Health 4-H Core Curriculum
The obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of Kentuckians. Obese individuals are at an increased risk for many chronic health conditions. The obesity rate in Kentucky increased 90 percent over the last 15 years. Minorities and individuals residing in Appalachia bear a heavier brunt of the obesity and chronic disease burden. This epidemic also touches our youth in the state. The Centers for Disease Control found in a nationally representative survey that only 29% of high school youth participated in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on each of the seven days before the survey. Participation in physical activity decreases as we age and habits tend to carry over into adulthood. According to CDC’s County Diabetes Atlas 2012, Knox County data showed that 36.7% of adults 18 years and older were obese and 34.1% of the same sample population reports no leisure time exercise in the past month.
Another health concern is the use of drugs amount adults and youth. According to the CDC, 73% of high school students and 56% of middle school students have reporting using some form of tobacco product. Many reports consider tobacco the gateway drug to other drugs. The drug epidemic not only affects a family's physical health but also their stability.
The Knox County Extension recognized these health concerns as areas to work on for the upcoming year. They are committed in working together to help eliminate or slow these epidemics.
*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.
*Improvement in the built environment to promote physical activity and healthy eating.
*Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension.
*Increase the estimated health savings in dollars for chronic disease.
*Youth maintain positive health habits including being physically active and refraining from drugs.
*Youth are at a lower risk for serious disease and illness
*Youth are at a lower risk for physical and emotional distress
*Youth are competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H Health programs
*Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals' ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns.
*Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding and older age.
*Practice of physical activity in families and communities and decreased time spent on sedentary behaviors.
*Practice healthy lifestyle decision-making that strengthen individuals' ability to cope with normal life stressors.
Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding:
-healthy lifestyle choices
-childhood and youth obesity
-adult weight management
-healthy aging
-practice and promotion of daily physical activity
-polices that reduce the level of obesity
-reduction of chronic disease
-dangers of drug
Initial Outcome: Families will acquire and use new information on nutrition, physical activity, health screenings and prevention of at-risk behaviors.
Indicator: Individuals will attend Extension programs and put into practice appropriate behaviors.
Method: Information will be gathered through surveys, observation, pre-post tests and individual testimonials.
Timeline: Program and evaluation will be conducted throughout the year 2017
Intermediate Outcome: An increase in the number of Knox County residents that practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals' ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns.
Indicator: Increase in the amount of people making beneficial life choices including better food choices, recycling, and physical activity.
Method: Information will be gathered through surveys/pre-post tests and individual testimonials.
Timeline: Program and evaluation will be conducted throughout the year 2017-2018
Long-Term Outcome: Improve the amount of people who create natural environment to increase active and healthy lifestyles resulting in lower chronic illnesses in Knox County.
Indicator: Individuals will learn to improve their lives by choosing positive lifestyle choices.
Method: U.S. Census Bureau and other federal statistics for Knox County
Timeline: 2019-2020
Audience:General Public
Project or Activity: 4-H clubs, Homemakers clubs, Farmers Market
Content or Curriculum: 4-H publications, FCS publications, ANR publications
Inputs: Extension Agents, Local resources
Date: Throughout the year
Audience: General Public
Activity: Plate it Up
Content/Curriculum: FCS Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistant, local resources
Date: Throughout the year
Audience: Youths
Activity: Youth Nutrition Lessons (Preschool – 6th grade)
Content/Curriculum: 4-H/FCS/NEP/LEAP/Health Rocks curriculum/publications
Input: Extension Agents, Local Resources
Date: Throughout year
Audience: General Public
Activity: Food Preservation Bootcamp
Content: FCS curriculum on Food Safety, Canning, Drying and Freezing Techniques, NEP Assistant, FCS Agent, AG Agent, NEP Assistants
Date: Throughout the year 2016-2017
Activity: Adult Lessons on Nutrition (meal planning, understanding food labels, food guide pyramid, farmer's market and gardening).
Content or Curriculum: FCS, AG and 4-H agent, NEP Assistant. NEP, 4H and FCS curriculum.
Date: Throughout year
Activity: Area-Wide Cooking School
Content or Curriculum: Area FCS Agents (FCS curriculum, HEEL) /Specialists
Date: November 2017
Activity: Super Star Chef & Other 4-H Nutrition programs (like Taste of Week Spin Club & Food and Culture After-school)
Content: 4-H Curriculum, FCS Curriculum
Date: Summer 2017, Some throughout year
Activity: Truth and Consequences
Content: FCS Curriculum
Date: Spring 2018
Author: Danielle Barrett
Major Program: Keys to Embracing Aging
People are living longer. Our current population of seniors (65+) is 14.4%, a number that is expected to double in the next 40 years due to the aging Baby Boomers (post WWII babies born between 1946-1964). Approximately 25% of our population includes Boomers, who, in 2011, started turning 65. Meanwhile, babies born in 2011 are projected to live to be 75 years old (3 years younger than the national average). Whether it is the graying of America or projected changes in life expectancy, healthy agi
Author: Danielle Barrett
Major Program: Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes Program (Curriculum)
Knox County has one of the highest rates in the state for diabetes-related deaths located in the “Diabetes Belt” by the Centers of Disease Control. Due to limited resources, available in the county, Community members are often requesting information and support from the local Extension Service. Local health care providers refer patients to the Family Consumer Sciences Agent when they are needing help managing their diabetes. Diabetes is a prevalent disease in the state of Kentucky, a
Author: Danielle Barrett
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Local Farmers Markets play a key role in the local food system by providing access to fresh and nutritious fruits, vegetables, eggs, and other locally produced goods. The local markets often fill the void in low economic areas, providing these high quality items to all socioeconomic classes.Knox County Extension Office collaborated with the Knox County Farmers’ Market and Knox County Health Department providing promotion and education to seniors on the importance of fruits and vegetables i
