Whitley County CES

Title:

Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities

MAP:

Building Strong Families and Communities

Agents Involved:

Moses (Fine Arts), Burgard (FCS), Jones (4-H), Prewitt (Horticulture)

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Family Development General

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Active Living and Health Promotions General

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Child Development General

Situation:

In Whitley County, family life is an extremely important part of a healthy home and family. The decisions that are made during family time can have a tremendous effect on the community as a whole. These decisions can be as simple as recycling, setting a savings goal, or doing something to be physically active together. Family dynamics have changed to where, in some cases, grandparents are raising grandchildren. According to the Kids Count Data Center, 25.9% of children in Whitley County were a part of single-parent families in 2021. Family life should be a safe haven for children. There were 229 of Child Neglect Investigations in Whitley County in 2020 according to the US Census. This is a concern for both the families and communities.

Also, children in school are dealing with bullying issues that effects their social and mental well being. The Extension Service can educate people on the importance of creating a positive household environment and give them the necessary tools to accomplish this, we will be able to see positive behavioral changes in the next generation of Whitley County residents. By encouraging families to participate in arts activities together, Whitley Extension can provide a positive resource for strong, resilient family growth.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Create strong and safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle

Improve the family environment that promotes an increase active and healthy lifestyles

Intermediate Outcomes:

Intermediate Outcomes:

Implement one or more practices that will improve:

· Disaster preparedness

· Pest management

· Going green

· Home Safety

· Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices

· Healthy Aging

· Parenting skills

- Resiliency in children

Assess the cost savings and/or benefits associated with newly adopted practices related to:

· Disaster preparedness

· Pest management

· Going green

· Home safety

· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices

· Healthy Aging

· Parenting Skills

Demonstrate skills to improve:

· Disaster preparedness

· Pest management

· Going green

· Home safety

· Money Management

· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices

· Healthy Aging

· Parenting Skills

Participate in an activity or event that improves building stronger families.

Initial Outcomes:

Initial Outcome:
Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and/or aspirations in understanding of issues related to:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home safety
· Money Management
· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting Skills

Identify one or more practices that will improve:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home safety
· Money Management
· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting Skills

Evaluation:

Long Term Outcome: Create strong and safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well being of families throughout the life cycle.
Indicator: Number of individuals who implement the practice of positive physical and mental activities in their lifestyle.
Method: Pre/Post Written evaluation. Change in the health/disease data from Kentucky County Healthcare Profile (CEDIK).
Timeline: 5-8 Years

Intermediate Evaluation:
Outcome: Demonstration of skills that would improve family issues relating to Money Management, Aging, Parenting, etc.
Indicator: Number of families attending classes related to family issues and communicating understanding of topic.
Method: Pre/Post Written Evaluations, Attendance Sheets
Timeline: 2-3 years

Initial Outcome Evaluation:
Outcome: Families identify practices that will improve health and well being of both them as individuals and as a family.
Indicator: Number of families and individuals who respond to classes offered to help implement positive lifestyle changes.
Method: Pre/Post Written Evaluation, Oral Evaluations
Timeline: Immediate at delivery of program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: grade school youth

Project or Activity: Bullying Awareness

Content or Curriculum: Mindful Me, Anti-Bulling, 

Inputs: Whitley County Health Department, agents

Date: Cloverbud Day Camp, School Enrichment Programs, Teen Club, 

Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: NEP Programs (in-person and online classes)

Content or Curriculum: Healthy Body for Everybody NEP Curriculum

Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistant(s)

Date: Continuous

Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity:  Disaster Preparedness Workshop

Content or Curriculum: "In The Face of Disaster" agent publications, "Focus on the Home: Disaster Preparedness" curriculum

Inputs: FCS Agent

Date: Fall 2024-2025

Audience: Pre-K Children and their Caregivers

Project or Activity:  Laugh and Learn Classes

Content or Curriculum: Laugh and Learn curriculum

Inputs: FCS Agent, FCS Program Assistant

Date: Ongoing bi-monthly year round

Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Focus on Home: Pest Management Workshop

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: FCS Agent, UK Extension Specialist

Date:  Spring 2025

Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Home Safety

Content or Curriculum: UK Focus on Home Publications

Inputs: FCS Agent, FCS Program Assistant

Date: Spring 2025

Audience: Whitley County Senior Residents

Project or Activity:  Wits Workouts

Content or Curriculum: Wits Workout Curriculum used in conjunction with cooking demonstrations using NEP Calendar, and various stress-relief activities

Inputs: FCS Agent, FCS Program Assistant

Date: Monthly year round

Audience: WIC voucher participants

Project or Activity: Mobile Farmer's Market

Content or Curriculum: Set up a Mobile Farmer's Market at Health Departments on days that vouchers are issued to ensure great redemption rates and get healthy food to people in the community

Inputs: Whitley County Health Department; Horticulture, Fine Arts, Family and Consumer Science, and Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents, WIC Vouchers, Kentucky Division of Public Health

Date: yearly

Audience: General Public/Families

Project or Activity: Earth Day Celebration

Content or Curriculum: UK publication, Fine Arts, KSU, SNAP, NASA, 4-H, Horticulture, Agriculture, FCS

Inputs: Community Arts Agent, Agents, Volunteers, Soil Conservation Service, Adult Education Service, Save the Children, Local Recycling organizations, schools, City Government, Farmers Market, EFNEP, Whitley County Health Department, Whitley County Bee Keepers Association, WC Master Gardeners, KY Reptile Zoo, Kentucky Department of Forestry, US Forest Service 

Date: Yearly in April