Support Wellness of Washington County Citizens and Community
Promoting Individual and Community Wellness
Cabrina Buckman, Dennis Morgeson, Melissa Richardson, Taylor Graves, and Laura Milburn, NEP
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Results from the 2023 Kentucky Extension Community Assessment identified the following issues as top priorities in Washington County: minimizing youth substance use, youth life skill training opportunities, and ensuring individuals and families have access to affordable nutritious food.
According to www.kentuckyhealthfacts.org, Washington County adult residents reported the following statistics related to wellness: 38% are in less than good health, 43% lack physical activity, and 4% consume recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. Individuals who lack healthy lifestyles are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers.
Increase in the practice of healthy lifestyle choices to prevent chronic diseases and promote optimal health
Increased awareness in sustainable living, including limiting environmental impact, gardening, and healthy eating
Increase in self-care practices to promote emotional and mental health
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 wellness and chronic disease.
Increased gardening and growing your own produce.
Increased adoption of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle
Clientele will utilize Extension programs and resources to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices, healthy aging, promotion of daily physical activity, and reduction and management of chronic disease.
Initial Outcome: Clientele will utilize Extension programs and resources to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices, healthy aging, promotion of daily physical activity, and reduction and management of chronic disease.
Indicator: Number of individuals who report changes in health indicators and practices
Method: Evaluations, data collection, and participant's assessments
Timeline: continuous, based on programs
Intermediate Outcome: Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns.
Indicator: participant's feedback in SNAP-Ed programming
Method: Evaluation and data collection
Timeline: continuous
Long-term Outcome: Increase in the practice of healthy lifestyle choices to prevent chronic diseases and promote optimal health
Indicator: Number of individuals who report changes in knowledge and behaviors regarding healthy lifestyle choices
Method: Evaluation
Timeline: continuous
Audience: Community
Project or Activity: SNAP-Ed Programming
Content or Curriculum: SNAP-Ed Curriculum
Inputs: SNAP-Ed and Extension Resources and staff
Date: continuous throughout FY 2025
Audience: High School Students
Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours
Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences research based curriculum
Inputs: Cooperative Extension resources and staff, and other community professionals including school personnel, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, parents, and volunteers; materials and WC Judicial Center
Date: Fall 2024
Audience: Community
Project or Activity: Diabetes Prevention Program
Content or Curriculum: CDC research based curriculum and Extension materials
Inputs: Cooperative Extension materials, DPP curriculum, Extension staff, UK FCS specialists and Barnstable Brown partners
Date: finishing cohort from August 2023 to August 2024
Author: Cabrina Buckman
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) continues to be a public health epidemic across Kentucky. According to America’s Health Rankings, 14.8% of the adult population in Kentucky have diagnosed diabetes, which is higher than the national average at 11.5%. In addition, 1 in 3 adults have diagnosed or undiagnosed prediabetes, which equals approximately 1.1 million Kentucky adults at greater risk of developing T2D.Fortunately, support programs and education that focus on preparing healthy meals, living an act