Harlan County CES

County Emphasis:

Building a Resilient Harlan County

Concentration 1:

Family and Youth Development

Concentration 2:

Substance Use Prevention and Recovery

Concentration 3:

Sustainability, Natural Resources and Wildlife Management, and Environment

Situation:

Family and Youth Development programming is essential for fostering healthy, supportive environments where both children and adults can thrive. By offering structured activities and educational workshops, UK Extension aims to build strong family bonds equipping young people and older adults with critical life skills. 

Though substance use and substance use disorder have been pressing social problems for decades, the public health burden and consequence associated with substance use has rapidly worsened in recent years. Kentucky youth fare worse than their US counterparts in terms of numerous indicators of drug use and drug-related harm including cigarette and smokeless tobacco use, vaping, alcohol use, and illicit drug use such as opioid and methamphetamine use. Accordingly, the recent University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Needs Assessment (2023) indicated substance use prevention is the primary concern among most Kentucky counties. 

Kentucky is blessed with a rich array of natural resources, including vast forests, abundant waterways, and wildlife. Kentuckians in both rural and urban areas all derive benefits from woodlands.  Educating youth about natural resources and environmental sciences is crucial for our future, as it empowers them to become proactive stewards of our planet. 

County Situation:

Harlan County is a community deeply rooted in strong family values and enriched by its abundant natural resources. Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, the county’s forests, rivers, and wildlife habitats are not only central to its identity but also vital to its ecological health. However, Harlan County continues to face significant challenges that impact the well-being of its residents, particularly its youth and families.

Economic hardship remains a persistent issue, contributing to limited access to educational opportunities and a growing sense of youth disengagement. A striking example of the county’s shifting family dynamics is that 698 youth live with a grandparent who is their primary caregiver, highlighting the need for robust family support systems.

Substance use, especially opioid addiction, continues to strain families and communities. Between 2018 and 2022, Harlan County experienced 60 drug-related fatal overdoses. The urgency of this crisis is reflected in the statewide needs assessment of 2023, where Harlan County residents ranked minimizing youth substance use as the #1 priority, followed closely by support for substance use prevention and recovery at #2.

Despite these challenges, Harlan County possesses the resilience and resources to build a stronger future. By prioritizing educational access and enrichment, youth leadership and engagement, family support and caregiving resources, substance use prevention and recovery programs, and environmental conservation and stewardship the county can foster a healthier, more sustainable community for generations to come.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Family and Youth Development

1. Increased meaningful social connections
2. Increased kindergarten readiness rates in the county and state
3. Improved quality of family life

Substance Use Prevention and Recovery

1. Improved quality of life
2. Reduced youth overdose fatalities

Sustainability, Natural Resources and Wildlife Management, and Environment

1. The sustainability of agricultural and forestry operations is increased and opportunities for further growth are improved.  
2. Youth actively adopt and apply advanced natural resources practices, demonstrating a growing commitment to the natural resources community.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Family and Youth Development

1. Increased healthy relationships across generations that support healthy community, nurturing behaviors, and quality time together.
2. Enhanced community partnership that equitably support family health (e.g., FRISC, Health Depart., DAIL, AAA,)

 

Substance Use Prevention and Recovery

1. Enhanced community partnerships that target recovery from substance use disorder
2. Enhanced community partnerships that target youth prevention

Sustainability, Natural Resources and Wildlife Management, and Environment

1. New or improved practices, behaviors, or choices that will occur in participants or communities because of the knowledge or awareness they gained from their contact with Extension (these are behavior change outcomes that are typically measured in follow-up evaluations because they require time to mature.) 
2. Youth will take responsible action in natural resources conservation. 

Initial Outcomes:

Family and Youth Development

 

Strengthening family behaviors include, but are not limited to, spending time together, creating safe environments, engaging in positive communication, building supportive networks, showing appreciation, healthy stress management, engaging in regular selfcare, and adopting a positive outlook.

1. Increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors (e.g., reading to your child, spending time together, self-care, caregiver preparation, active living).

Substance Use Prevention and Recovery

Substance use prevention and recovery behaviors for adults include, but are not limited to, pro-social activity, employability, building supportive networks, healthy coping and stress management, and mental health support.

1. Increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors (e.g., exercise, healthy nutrition, positive coping, etc.). 

Substance use prevention and recovery behaviors for youth include, but are not limited to, pro-social activity, positively relating to parents and other non-parental adults, building supportive networks, healthy coping and stress management, substance use refusal self-efficacy, and peer pressure management.

1. Increased knowledge about substance use and its effects
2. Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use (i.e. substance use refusal skills)

Sustainability, Natural Resources and Wildlife Management, and Environment

1. Increase the awareness of sustainable forest management practices, economic pressures and technological barriers facing woodland owners and other interested individuals. 

• Youth will gain knowledge and develop skills in natural resources and environmental sciences.

Evaluation:

Outcome	Increased awareness of wildlife, forestry, and natural resources issues
Indicator	Number of participants who reported that they gained knowledge of wildlife.  Number of participants who reported they gained their awareness of forestry.  Number of participants who reported they gained their awareness of natural resources.
Method	Survey (Self-Assessment of Learning Gains)
Timeline	At program

 

Outcome	Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use (i.e. substance use refusal skills) (Short-term, ST, and Intermediate, BC).
Indicator	Number of participants who reported intended behavior change as a result of participation in substance use prevention and/or recovery programming. Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills.
Method	Self-reported surveys
Timeline	Post-program/curricula survey administration

 

Outcome	Short
Indicator	Number of youth who reported that they understand how their actions and choices impact natural resources and the environment   Number of youth who reported that have set goals to become a good steward of natural resources.
Method	Survey
Timeline	Administered immediately following program/activity

Initial Outcome:  Increased knowledge about nurturing parenting and caregiver support across the lifespan  

Indicator:  Number of participants who reported increased knowledge of nurturing parenting and/or caregiver support practices. 

Method:  Self-reported surveys 

Timeline:  Post-program 

Initial Outcome:  Increased knowledge about nurturing parenting and caregiver support across the lifespan (e.g., how often you read to your child, benefits of spending time together, identifying selfcare behaviors, enhance communication) 

Indicator:  Number of participants who reported increased knowledge of nurturing parenting and/or caregiver support practices. 

Method:  Self-reported surveys 

Timeline:  Post-program 

Intermediate Outcome:  Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use  

Indicator:  

• Number of participants who reported intended behavior change as a result of participation in substance use prevention and/or recovery programming.
• Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills.

Method:  Self-reported surveys 

Timeline:  Post-program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience	Adults
Project or Activity	Woodland Management and Non-timber Forest Products  for Landowners and Master Loggers
Content or Curriculum	Publications, programs
Inputs	Staff and specialists
Date(s)	Ongoing

 

Audience	Adults
Project or Activity	Backyard Maple Syrup Production
Content or Curriculum	Publications, programs
Inputs	Staff, specialists
Date(s)	Winter 2025/2026

 

 

Audience	Adults
Project or Activity	Citizen Science Project
Content or Curriculum	Identification, publications, programs
Inputs	Staff, specialists
Date(s)	Ongoing

 

Audience	Youth- 4th graders in the county
Project or Activity	Environmental Camp
Content or Curriculum	Hands-on, Publications, Water Quality, Recycling, Ky Lands & Trust, Forestry Service, AG Agent, Fish & Wildlife
Inputs	Staff, Specialists
Date(s)	Fall

 

 

Audience	Youth
Project or Activity	Substance Use Prevention Programming- 4-H Health Rocks
Content or Curriculum	4-H Health Rocks, Engaging People with Lived Experience (testimonies).
Inputs	Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, health coalitions, schools and school staff
Date(s)	Ongoing

Audience:  Families and Individuals

Project or Activity:   Caregiver Support

Content or Curriculum:  Bingocize, Strong bones for Life:  Prevent Osteoporosis and nourish your bones and joints.  Keys to Embracing Aging, Wits Workout.

Inputs:  Programmatic Materials, Publications, Staff, Community Partners

Date:  Ongoing

Audience:  Families and Individuals

Project or Activity:  Kindergarten Readiness

Content or Curriculum:  Laugh and Learn Playdates, Understanding Disabilities, Publications

Inputs:  Programmatic materials, staff, head start/preschool centers

Date:  Ongoing

Audience:  Families and Individuals

Project or Activity:  Recovery Capital Building

Content or Curriculum:  Recovering Your Finances

Inputs:  Programmatic Materials, Staff, Mental and Behavioral Health Partners

Date:  Ongoing

Evaluation:

Outcome	Increased awareness of wildlife, forestry, and natural resources issues
Indicator	Number of participants who reported that they gained knowledge of wildlife.  Number of participants who reported they gained their awareness of forestry.  Number of participants who reported they gained their awareness of natural resources.
Method	Survey (Self-Assessment of Learning Gains)
Timeline	At program

 

Outcome	Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use (i.e. substance use refusal skills) (Short-term, ST, and Intermediate, BC).
Indicator	Number of participants who reported intended behavior change as a result of participation in substance use prevention and/or recovery programming. Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills.
Method	Self-reported surveys
Timeline	Post-program/curricula survey administration

 

Outcome	Short
Indicator	Number of youth who reported that they understand how their actions and choices impact natural resources and the environment   Number of youth who reported that have set goals to become a good steward of natural resources.
Method	Survey
Timeline	Administered immediately following program/activity

Initial Outcome:  Increased knowledge about nurturing parenting and caregiver support across the lifespan  

Indicator:  Number of participants who reported increased knowledge of nurturing parenting and/or caregiver support practices. 

Method:  Self-reported surveys 

Timeline:  Post-program 

Initial Outcome:  Increased knowledge about nurturing parenting and caregiver support across the lifespan (e.g., how often you read to your child, benefits of spending time together, identifying selfcare behaviors, enhance communication) 

Indicator:  Number of participants who reported increased knowledge of nurturing parenting and/or caregiver support practices. 

Method:  Self-reported surveys 

Timeline:  Post-program 

Intermediate Outcome:  Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use  

Indicator:  

• Number of participants who reported intended behavior change as a result of participation in substance use prevention and/or recovery programming.
• Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills.

Method:  Self-reported surveys 

Timeline:  Post-program