Extension
It Starts With Us
Improve Physical and Mental Health 2025
Health and Wellness
Kristi Shive, Julie Brown, Janet Turley, Joanna Coles and Kristin Hildabrand
Health & Wellbeing
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Family Development General
With the increased trend of chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky, individuals, families, and communities need tools and environments that support healthy and active lifestyle choices. CES agents are encouraged to reach diverse audiences to help combat chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky communities. Focusing on a foundation of overall direct health education to increase health literacy and ability to make healthy lifestyle choices. Including, creating spaces or opportunities for active living and health behaviors.
- Routinely meeting physical activity and dietary recommendations that promote health and wellness (e.g. 150 minutes a week of moderate activity and consuming recommended daily fruits and vegetables)
- Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work, and play
- Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity
- Generate positive attitudes toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy
- Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods
- Improve self-efficacy in physical activity, movement, and active routes to destinations
- Decrease tobacco/ substance use
- Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease (e.g. tobacco use, poor nutrition, & lack of physical activity)
- Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy practices
- Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. preparation techniques, safe food handling)
- Increase motivation to be active
- Increase awareness of accessible safe places for activity
Outcome: Nutrition knowledge and dietary intake
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: eating 4-6 servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily; utilize the food label to make healthy food choices; choosing smaller portions; # of youth who indicated they learned about healthy food choices through 4-H; # of youth who indicated they increased their daily number of servings of fruits and vegetables as a result of 4-H programs.
Method: Self-report surveys
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curriculum or program
Outcome: Physical Activity knowledge, skills, and competencies
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: knowledge and skills gained about the benefits of physical activity; adoption of physical activity practices; increase in physical activity levels; # of youth who were educated on health and well-being through 4-H programs.
Method: Self-report survey
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: Substance Use and Mental Health
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: gained knowledge of the resources that are available for substance use in the community as a result of Extension programming; # of youth who indicated they made healthy lifestyle choices as a result of what they learned through 4-H programming
Method: Self-report survey
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: Chronic Disease Prevention
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: participants who had one or more health indicator (cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose) improved.
Method: Self-report survey
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: Availability / Access to healthy lifestyle choices
Indicator: Number of communities, health coalitions, or organizations who reported: implemented policy, system, and/or environmental changes to promote healthy eating and active living
Method: Self-report survey
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade
Project or Activity: Nutrition Education and Physical Activity
Content or Curriculum: Professor Popcorn
Inputs: Schools, program materials, food samples
Date: September 2024-May 2025
Audience: Community Members
Project or Activity: QPR
Content or Curriculum: Mental Health Resources
Inputs: Agent and Volunteer Time, location, catering, vendors
Date: Summer & Fall 2023
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Are You Well
Content or Curriculum: MyPlate, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, National Sleep Foundation Publications, CDC, Mind Body Connection Curriculum, Money Habitudes, Fit Blue
Inputs: Agent’s time, Staff Assistant’s time, facilities, Speakers from Medical Center, Health Department, materials WBKO
Date: Fall 2025
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Dinner Table Project
Content or Curriculum: Healthy Choices for Everybody,
Inputs: Agent’s time, staff assistant’s time, WBKO, Health Department, Medical Center, health coalitions, homemakers, Community Centers, Community Partners, and Senior Center
Date: Fall 2025
Audience: Families and Children (Preschool and Elementary)
Content or Curriculum: Disability Awareness Children's Books
Inputs: Agent's Time, Planning with Community Partners and Specialists, Staff Assistant's Time, Materials, Media Promotion
Date: Spring 2024 - Fall 2025
