Extension
It Starts With Us
Support Wellness of Washington County Citizens and Community
Promoting Individual and Community Wellness
Cabrina Buckman, Roberta Hunt, Dennis Morgeson, Laura Brady, SNAP-Ed
Weight the Reality Series
Environmental Sustainability & Responsibility
Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours
Health 4-H Core Curriculum
According to www.kentuckyhealthfacts.org, Washington County adult residents reported the following statistics related to wellness: 33% lack physical activity, 33% are obese, 65% are overweight, and 11% consume recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. Individuals of all ages who are overweight and sedentary are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. Increased consumption of unhealthy food, stress, and built environments that promote physical inactivity are largely responsible. Wellness is also influenced by substance use; early substance use in childhood/adolescence affects later drug use.
A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly.
Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily.
Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension.
Increased awareness in environment and health risks and the physical benefits of gardening
Increased number of youth maintaining positive health habits
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 gardening and growing your own produce.
Increased adoption of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle
Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices, weight management, healthy aging, promotion of daily physical activity, and reduction of chronic disease.
Initial Outcome: Changes in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding weight management
Indicator: Number of individuals who report changes in weight or knowledge of weight management
Method: Evaluations and weigh-ins
Timeline: January through March-during the program
Intermediate Outcome: Changes in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding reduction of chronic disease
Indicator: Number of individuals who report changes
Method: Evaluation
Timeline: Year round
Long-term Outcome: Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices
Indicator: Number of individuals who report changes in knowledge regarding healthy lifestyle choices
Method: Evaluation
Timeline: Year round
Audience: Community
Project or Activity: Washington on Wellness Coalition Newsletter
Content or Curriculum: Information on all aspects of wellness
Inputs: Cooperative Extension resources, local agencies and organizations
Date: Monthly
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
Audience: Community
Project or Activity: The Biggest Winner (Weight the Reality Series)
Content or Curriculum: Cooperative Extension research based materials
Inputs: Cooperative Extension materials, community partners, guest speakers
Date: January through March
Audience: Community
Project or Activity: Wheelbarrow, Master Gardener Program
Inputs: Cooperative Extension Materials and Agents
Indicator: Number of individuals practicing gardening and environmental stewardship
Method: Survey Evaluation
Timeline: After each program
Audience: county wide 5th grade students
Project or Activity: 5th Grade Summer Safety Day
Inputs: Cooperative Extension Materials and Agents, Community Resources
Indicator: Number of participants reporting knowledge gained
Method: Survey Evaluation
Timeline: After the event
Author: Cabrina Buckman
Major Program: Keys to Embracing Aging
A healthy brain is crucial to survival, growth and everyday successes (Smith, 2010). Similar to the rest of the body, the brain needs exercise and maintenance in order to optimize and protect its current and future health. In particular, the brain needs socialization, mental stimulation, physical activity, nutrition and sleep (AARP/Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, 2009; Alzheimer’s Association, 2011).Washington County presented Keys to Embracing Aging: Brain Activity. 15 participants c
Author: Cabrina Buckman
Major Program: Keys to Embracing Aging
Engaging and maintaining meaningful social activities and relationships throughout the lifespan is vital to overall to health and well-being. Engaged people are often healthier, happier, less depressed and demonstrate enhanced brain vitality (NIA, 2009; Alzheimer’s Association, 2011; Park, 2009). They also contribute to stronger families and communities.Washington County presented Keys to Embracing Aging: Social Activity. 16 participants completed post lesson evaluations. As a
Author: Cabrina Buckman
Major Program: Keys to Embracing Aging
It is important to know some basic financial management and planning. A financial plan, which includes short and long-term goals, will help a person see the big picture so that they can plan more easily and map out a financial future. In addition to helping a person stay on track, financial plans also make it easier to make financial decisions, such as making large purchases without adding financial stress to a budget, helping protect a household against the unforeseen loss of income and, i
Author: Cabrina Buckman
Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
Extension Agents are challenged to reach the public using a number of diverse communication methods to provide research-based information through Cooperative Extension. In addition to in-person programming, newspaper articles, social media posts, newsletters, and radio segments, the Washington County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and Horticulture Agent now produce radio tips of the week. Family and Consumer Sciences radio tips are composed by the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, using in
Author: Cabrina Buckman
Major Program: Nurturing Families (general)
Strong families and connected communities have been shown to bolster emotional, physical, and mental wellness through enhanced feelings of identity, development of resiliency, increased security and stability, and reduced harmful behaviors. In order to provide an experience that promotes strong families and communities, the Washington County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Washington County Public Library and the Washington County Nutrition Education Program Assistant to ho
