Substance Abuse and Mental HealthPlan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Nelson County CES

Title:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
MAP:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Agents Involved:
Hagler, Klotz, Smith
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Health & Wellbeing
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Substance Use Recovery - FCS
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
Situation:

Currently of the 47,000 people in Nelson County, over 11% live below the poverty line. That rate is higher with youth which is 14.7% in 2022. All of the public schools in the Bardstown and Nelson County Schools districts have at least 50% or more youth who are eligible to receive assistance through the schools free or reduced lunch programs.. A large majority of Nelson County residents aged 25 and older have high school diplomas (92%) with  22% have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. 

Obesity, drugs and lack of exercise all contribute to the poor health of Nelson County residents. Currently, Nelson County residents average 6.5 unhealthy days a month. Currently, 30% get no exercise and 26% are overweight. Over 8,000 residents reported having poor health. The goal of Promoting Positive Lifestyles and Tapping into Local Food Systems is to work with at-risk groups to begin incorporating healthy eating behavior and physical activity into their daily lives/routines, therefore reducing the risk of obesity and susceptibility to the diseases associated. In addition, it is a goal to utilize local food systems to not only provide more fruits and vegetables to citizens of Nelson County, but also to support community producers, stimulating the local food economy. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

1. Reduce the poverty rate for Nelson County residents and families through financial literacy and drug use prevention programs.  

2. Improve the overall quality of life for Nelson County residents and families.  

3. Decrease the number of drug-related mental illnesses. 

4. Increase in the number of fruits and vegetables residents consume. 

5. Increase the number of producer/growers of local fruits and vegetables, while encouraging gardening and horticulture as a low-risk, high-reward outdoor therapy. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

1.Resident participants show monetary or fiscal benefits after receiving extension resources or programs regarding financial literacy, substance use prevention, or both.  

2.Participants increase physical activityincluding outdoor gardening or horticulture activities, by at least 10 minutes per day 

3.Participants show that they have increased fruit and vegetable consumption by at least 2 servings per day. 

4.Participants in mental health awareness, financial literacy, or substance use prevention programs (separate or in conjunction) indicate a decrease in anxiety and/or depression, poverty and/or drug use. 

5. Number of local growers/producers increases by 10%. 

Initial Outcomes:

1.Program participants recognize stigma in the realm of mental illness and substance use and recognizand identify options to treat mental illness or habitual drug use. 

2.Knowledge of physical activity opportunities outside the normincluding outdoor gardening and horticulture therapy. 

3.Awareness of MyPlate, gained resources regarding in-season fruit and vegetables as well as balanced/healthy recipes. 

4.Knowledge of the benefits of buying or selling local produce. Knowledge of where to access local, healthy, foods. 

5.Awareness of community issues regarding food insecurity. Recognition, on behalf of growers, of the need to provide sustainable food access to all residents, including limited-resource audiences. 

6. Knowledge, skill or ability in managing a budget.  

7. Knowledge, skill or ability to access resources that assist in reducing debt, stopping habitual drug use, or encouraging treatment for mental illness.  

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Participant or clientele recognition of social stigmas surrounding substance use and the hardship it can provide community, family and individuals for body, mind and/or finances. 

Indicator: Qualitative data from peer, community or neighbor-led discussions; open dialogues surrounding substance use is happening and recognizable.  Quantitative data indicates recognition of change or questioning of initial opinion regarding substance use and its effects on body, mind and/or finances. 

Method: Open ended discussion as a part of programs linked below; conversations led by community leaders/agents.  Pre/Post test for pre-packaged curriculum and research-based publications. 

Timeline: 1 Year/Ongoing


Intermediate Outcome:

Indicator: Participants/clientele/community not only recognize stigmas and dangers of substance use to family, mind, body and finances, but are able to identify and actively use strategies to help themselves or others recover. 

Method: Qualitative data from extension programs indicate participants/community members are actively participating in strategies to help themselves or others who may be struggling with substance use disorders.  Quantitative data indicates strategies regarding recovering from substance use and substance use disorders, and its effects on body, mind and/or finances are being used daily for an individual or someone an individual knows or cares for. 

Timeline: Ongoing


Long-term Outcome: Drug related mental illness and poverty in the community decrease and community members' wellness levels and overall physical health increases. 

Indicator: Census data, reports from federal, state and local levels.  Qualitative and Quantitative data collected through extension programs.  

Method: Pre/Post Tests, Longitudinal data from federal, state and local levels. 

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Limited Resource Adults, Youth, and Families (County SNAP-Ed Programming). 

Project or Activity: Hands On SNAP-Ed Activities and Evidence-Based Information provided by Federal SNAP-Ed Program through the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.  

Content or Curriculum: LEAP, and other NEP curriculums and programs

Inputs: Curriculum, SNAP Grant Funding, Agents, SNAP-Ed Assistant, Volunteers, Teachers, Local Schools, Local Food Banks (St. Vincent DePaul Client Choice). 

Date: On-Going 

 

Audience: FRYSC Families, Limited Resource Families, Judicial System, Food Pantry Clientele 

Project or Activity:  Small Steps to Health & Wellness, Mental Health First Aid 

Inputs: Agents, SNAP Assistant, Community Leaders 

Date: Year long 

 

Audience: School Enrichment, Homemaker Leader Trainings, Food Pantry, Nazareth. 

Project or Activity: Substance Abuse Prevention, education and recovery , homemaker lessons- Coping with Trauma after a natural Disaster, Emergency Health Information Cards, Self Care, and Understanding and Preventing Suicide

Content or Curriculum: . 4-H Health & Health Rocks & GEMS Curriculum, Recovery Gardening, In the Face of Disaster , Mindfulness Trail

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Youth Volunteers, Grant Funding, CES Resources. 

Date: On-Going 

 

Audience: Farmers Market. 

Project or Activity: Local Food Growing, Farmers Market Tastings & Educational Activities. 

Content or Curriculum: Local Office Collaboration. 

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, CES Resources, Local Volunteer Growing Plots. 

Date: On-Going 


Audience: Nelson County Middle School Students

Project or Activity: Health Rocks Mentorship Program

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks Curricula

Inputs: Trained high school students, schools, teachers, agents

Date: Begins in Sept. and ends in May

 

Back to Plans for the County