Extension
It Starts With Us
Decision-Making; Physical Activity; Nutrition; Substance Abuse; Safety; Securing Financial Stability
Making Positive Lifestyle Choices
Gary Druin, 4-H Agent; Greg Comer, ANR Agent; Nan Montgomery, FCS Agent
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Financial Education - General
Substance Use Recovery - FCS
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. The rate in Kentucky increased 90 percent over the last 15 years. 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 ad they have a lower life expectancy, 75.5 years, compared to 78 years for Americans. Our goal is to reverse these trends by working with various organizations, agencies, and groups to promote health and wellness.
Kentucky has the 3rd highest drug overdose mortality rate in the U.S. (HealthyAmerican.org) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that high school students in Kentucky are above the national average in their lifetime and for current 30 day use of cigarettes, current 30 day use of smokeless tobacco, lifetime inhalant use, and lifetime methamphetamine use (YBRFS, 2009). There is an increased need for awareness of the consequences and resources related to substance abuse.
Healthy living is one of three 4-H Mision mandates and encompasses: physical activity, personal safety, mental health, addiction prevention, and diversity and inclusion. In Kentucky 37% of youth 10-17 are overweight or obese, and 51% report not exercising regularly. Twenty-five percent of youth report some form of emotional or behavioral condition and suicide rate are at a record high. Vaping nearly doubled among middle and high school students with 27% of high school seniors reporting they had tried the product in 2018.
•Decrease 30 day use of substances among youth
•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
*Increased number of youth maintaining postive health habits and at a lower risk for serious disease and illness.
*Reduced number of youth reporting drug, alcohol and tobacco use.
•Decrease number of youth involved in substance abuse practices
•Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns
•Practice of physical activity in families and communities and decreased time spent on sedentary behaviors
•Strengthen community coalitions or partnerships to address obesity, physical inactivity and chronic disease
*Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle.
•Students increase knowledge about risks and harm of substance abuse
•Educate parent and community volunteers to help change attitudes towards youth substance abuse
•Increase awareness of services provided for youth/ families to prevent and end substance abuse
•Increase awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding:
-Healthy Lifestyle Choices
-Childhood and Youth Obesity
-Adult Weight Management
-Practice and Promotion of Daily Physical Activity
-Reduction of Chronic Disease
*Increase awareness of health concerns for youth and improved awareness about diversity and inclusion
*Improved understanding of the consequences of risk behaviors
Evaluation:
Long-term Outcome: Decrease number of youth involved in substance abuse practices
Indicator: Decrease number of youth involved in substance abuse practices
Method: Student Pre/Post Test and KIP Data
Timeline: Spring 2025
Evaluation:
Initial Outcome: Students increase knowledge about risks and harm of substance abuse
Indicator: Students increase knowledge about risks and harm of substance abuse
Method: Student Pre/Post Test
Timeline: Fall 2025
Intermediate Outcome: Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns
Indicator: Increase in number of healthy meals prepared at home; Increase in number of healthy lunches prepared for work/ school; Increase number of meals eaten together as a family
Method: Written and Verbal evaluations; Facebook posts by clientele
Timeline: All year
Evaluation:
Long-term Outcome: Participants adapt healthy habits to increase their longevity
Indicator: Homework assignments indicate behavior change regarding the 12 Keys to embrace aging
Method: Post program evaluation
Timeline: April 2025
Evaluation:
Long-term Outcome: Increased number of youth maintaining positive health habits and reducing the number of youth reporting drug, alcohol and tobacco use
Indicator: Number of youth who indicated the practice of positive healthy habits through 4-H, and report a decrease in drug, alcohol and tobacco usage.
Method: 4-H Common Measures Survey, Post-Program Surveys
Timeline: All Year
Audience: 8th graders
Project or Activity: Truth & Consequences: The Choice Is Yours
Content or Curriculum: Truth & Consequences: The Choice Is Yours
Inputs: FCS Agent, School Officials, District Judge, County Attorney, Defense Attorney, KY State Police, City/ County Law
Enforcement, Coroner, School Resource Officer, Emergency Medical Treatment, Hospital, Jailer, CDW, Dept. of Juvenile Justice, Board of Ed., Health Dept., Zero Tolerance, Pharmacists, Faith Based members, Counseling/ Treatment, Providers, Parent Volunteers, Ohio County Middle School, Together We Care
Date: Fall 2025
Audience: Perdue Employees
Project or Activity: Chronic Disease Prevention
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, Cook Together Eat Together, Mastering Food Choices, Dining with Diabetes, Fit Blue, Faithful Families, Body Balance, Plate It Up Kentucky Proud! Kentucky Proud Resources, WIN, Kick Kentucky Cancer, Health Partners, Bingocize, Keys to Embracing Aging.
Inputs: OC Monitor, Facebook, RN at Perdue, Local restaurants, Family Wellness Center, OC Health Coalition, GRDHD, OC Healthcare.
Date: Fall 2024/Spring 2025
Audience: First time parents
Project or Activity: Celebrate the Baby
Content or Curriculum: Community Baby Shower
Inputs: Adult Ed., Manage Care Providers, Hope for Life, Child Care Award, Homemakers, FCS Agent, Owensboro Health, Ohio County Hospital, American Red Cross, River Valley, Migrant Ed., GRDHD, State Police
Date: October 2025
Audience: Seniors
Project or Activity: Wits Workout
Content or Curriculum: Wits workout is an engaging, interactive, and educational brain health program
Inputs: Senior Adult Education, focus on brain health, aging and nutrition, Senior Centers
Date: Year-Round
Audience: Ohio County Adults
Project or Activity: Family and Consumer Sciences lessons on money management
Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes
Inputs: Adult Education, Family Resource coordinators and schools, Library
Date: Summer 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Chef Club, Cloverbud Club, 4-H Teen Club, and Elementary Classroom 4H School Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Jump into Food and Fitness, Exercise
Inputs: Extension Staff, Volunteers, Ohio County School Staff
Date: Club meetings – All year
Audience: 7th grade Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Body Walk
Content or Curriculum: Body Walk – Jump into Fun Food and Fitness, Health Rocks
Inputs: Volunteers, Community Organizations, Ohio County Schools, Extension Staff, Non-profit organizations
Date: March – April 2025
Audience: Youth and Families
Project or Activity: 4-H Garden Club
Content or Curriculum: Vegetable/Fruit - 4-H/FCS Nutrition Education
Input: Volunteers, Extension Staff
Date: All Year
Audience: Adults and Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Horticulture Judging/Identification
Content or Curriculum: Vegetable/ Fruit – Nutrition Education
Inputs: Volunteers, Extension Staff
Date: All year
Audience: Adults and Youths
Project or Activity: Youth 4-H Shooting Sports Safety Program
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Shooting Sports Curriculum
Inputs: Volunteers, Community Leaders, Extension Staff
Date: All year
