Promoting Physical and Mental Health Plan of Work

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Scott County CES

Title:
Promoting Physical and Mental Health
MAP:
Healthy Individuals, Families, and Communities
Agents Involved:
Brewer, Faris, Flynt, Adkins
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Health & Wellbeing
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Building Healthy Coalitions
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
Situation:

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 cancer. The obesity rate is currently 34.3%.  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. While minorities and individuals residing in Appalachia bear a heavier brunt of the obesity and chronic disease burden, the epidemic can be noted statewide. The goal of the Extension's focus on healthy lifestyle choices is to reverse these trends by working with various organizations, agencies, and groups to promote the health and wellness in all Kentuckians.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate-intensity level activity for 2.5 hours each week can reduce the risk for obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, depression, colon cancer and premature death. The CDC considers gardening a moderate-intensity level activity and can help individuals to achieve that 2.5-hour goal each week. Additionally, those that choose gardening as their moderate-intensity exercise are more likely to exercise 40-50 minutes longer on average than those that choose activities like walking or biking. By venturing outdoors to private and community gardens, individuals assist in keeping their community vital, as well as improving their own health and well-being.


Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:

Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding:

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Individuals will become more aware of skills needed to make informed choices regarding health.

Indicator: Distribution of knowledge

Method: newsletters, social media posts, workshops, training

Timeline: year round


Intermediate Outcome: Clients will become more physically active.

Indicator: participation in physical activity and grow their own fruit and vegetables

Method: promoting local opportunities for physical activity and community gardening.

Timeline: year round


Long-term Outcome: Clients will have improved their overall health.

Indicator: reduced instances of obesity, reduced chronic disease occurrences, more physical activity participation

Method: newsletters, social media posts, publications, trainings and workshops.

Timeline: Year round

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Recipes for Life

Content or Curriculum: myplate, Recipes for Life curriculum. 

Inputs: materials, staff, curriculum, partners

Date: Fall


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: KY Explorers 

Content or Curriculum: Natural Resources Curriculum, Master Naturalist program  

Inputs: Curriculum, State Parks, National Parks, County Agent, Department of Forestry, Department of Fish & Wildlife

Date: Monthly


Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Gardening

Content or Curriculum: Basic Gardening, Master Gardener Curriculum, Community Gardens

Inputs: Staff, Curriculum, Materials

Date: Spring, Summer, and Fall  


Audience: Farmers 

Project or Activity: Farm Dinner Theater 

Content or Curriculum: Mental Health Curriculum 

Inputs: Staff, Curriculum, Materials

Date: Winter 


Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Community Garden

Content or Curriculum: Basic Gardening, Master Gardener Curriculum

Inputs: Staff, Curriculum, Materials

Date: Spring, Summer, Fall  


Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: Wellness with Chronic Illness 

Content: Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)/FCS Curriculum and Food as Health 

Inputs: Staff, FCS resources, grants, UK Health Care, etc.

Date: Year Round 


Audience: Adults, Youth

Activity:  Rehabilitation Garden Program 

Content or Curriculum:  Recovery Garden Toolkit; grant money, SNAP-Ed  and UK - CAFE publications, staff, equipment, volunteers

Date:  Year Round 


Audience: Farmers 

Project or Activity: Raising Hope, KDA

Content:  Promoting mental health and awareness in the Ag Industry

Inputs: Staff, materials, publications

Date: Year Round 


Audience: Farmers 

Project or Activity: Farm Estate Planning 

Content: Estate planning information, grief information

Inputs: Staff, materials, publications

Date: Fall

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