Todd County CES

Title:

Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities

MAP:

Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Agents Involved:

Jill Harris, Lee Ann McCuiston

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Environmental Sustainability & Responsibility

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Health 4-H Core Curriculum

Situation:

Families and individuals have a need to create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle. Home and community efforts are needed in the areas of home safety, safe walking and biking routes, safety for newborns, disaster preparedness, energy and water conservation, as well as solid waste management.

Each decision individuals make has an impact on health and safety in the family, community and environment. A survey conducted by Todd County Extension Family & Consumer Sciences revealed that 78% of all participants ranked improving the built environment as a priority to promote healthy homes and communities. The City of Elkton, Todd County Health Department, and Todd County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences collaborated to work on a Pedestrian and Bike Plan which has been adopted by the City of Elkton. The plan, developed from survey results, identifies needed walkways and bikeways that connect neighborhoods, business districts, and schools. The FCS survey also identified home and personal security as other areas needed to promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle.

Healthy living is one of the 4-H mission mandates. Components of Kentucky 4-H Health Core Curriculum include: physical activity, substance abuse, bullying, safety, and character education. Moderate physical activity can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, stress and high blood pressure. Early substance use in childhood/adolescence affects later drug use (National Healthy Living Task Force). Almost 30% of youth in the United States (or over 5.7 million) are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both (http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/faq/bullying.asp). More persons aged 1-34 years die as a result of injuries than any other cause of death with motor vehicle crashes accounting for approximately half of those deaths (National 4-H Healthy Living Task Force). Individuals, their organizations and their societies’ effectiveness and well being depend on character development (Charactercounts.org)

The 2014 KIP Data from Todd County Schools shows that rates of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use by youth age 12-17 are unreasonably high. In Todd County, 11% of the 8th grade students admitted to smoking cigarettes; 21% of the 10th grade students admitted to smoking tobacco; while 13% of the 12th grade students admitted to smoking cigarettes in the last 30 days. Furthermore, 24% of the 8th graders say they have drank more than a sip of alcohol, while 35% of 10th graders drank alcohol at least once or twice a month and over 38% of the 12th graders drank within 30 days. Marijuana usage falls between 11 and 13% in the 8th-12 grades. Furthermore, Kentucky ranks 13th in the nation in oxycodone use (DEC Fact Sheet, 2005).

Currently a great need for substance abuse prevention and education exists. With little entertainment or nothing recreational to do in Todd County, youth often times hang out together on the streets with minimal parental supervision and are exposed to negative peer pressures which lead to negative behavior and activities. Children and teens are also spending an increasing amount of time using computers and the internet. The Todd County 4-H Youth Development Agent will work with community partners, 4-H volunteers and leaders to improve the self-image of youth in order that they make lasting and healthy lifestyle changes to improve their overall quality of life.

Long-Term Outcomes:

4-H youth and other Todd County youth involved in substance abuse prevention programming will:

--Improve their self-esteem and safety and have stronger, healthier bodies

--Decrease their use of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use

--Increase their safety practices when using social media

FCS:

Community social, environmental, and policy systems will reinforce healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth will:

--Demonstrate self-esteem and an improved personal image.

--Build strong relationships with peers and adult mentors through trips and activities.

--Practice effective conflict resolution and communication skills at home and at school by controlling anger and improving personal relationships.

--Seek help in cessation programs.

–Communicate more effectively and more consistently with parents about ATOD use.

-–Use proper blocking techniques when opening internet accounts.

--Parents will...build strong relationships with their children through workbook and take home exercises through the Keep a Clear Mind Program.

FCS:

Community social, environmental, and policy systems will design opportunities to support individuals toward living a healthier lifestyle.

Implement one or more practices that will improve Disaster preparedness.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth will:

--Learn how to like their bodies and personalities

--Learn how to say no to alcohol and other drugs and increase their safety behind the wheel

--Learn how to be tolerant of others

--Learn how to exhibit strong character

--Gain an understanding of emotions, peer pressure, parent practices, methods and regulations

--Learn how to be a good, upstanding citizen in the community

--Learn the dangers of tobacco

--Understand the dangers of internet, chat rooms, My Space and Face Book accounts

--Parents will learn how to communicate with their child on alcohol, tobacco, and drug issues

FCS:

Partners will recognize the need for community social, environmental, and policy systems to address efforts toward improving healthier lifestyles.

Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and/or aspirations in understanding of issues related to Disaster preparedness.

Evaluation:

FCS:

Initial Outcome: Partners will recognize the need for community social, environmental, and policy systems to address efforts toward improving healthier lifestyles.

Indicator: Number of partners aspiring to address policy, systems, and environmental changes to support a healthier lifestyle.

Method: Community surveillance for increased partnerships.

Timeline: End of first year

Intermediate Outcome: Community social, environmental, and policy systems will design opportunities to support individuals toward living a healthier lifestyle.

Indicator: Number of community social, environmental, and policy systems implemented for the purpose of addressing healthier lifestyles for limited resource and SNAP-eligible individuals.

Method: Community surveillance to report number of systems changes as a result of partnership efforts.

Timeline: end of 2nd and 3rd years

Long-term Outcome: Community social, environmental, and policy systems will promote a healthier lifestyle.

Indicator: Increase in the number of social, environmental, and policy changes implemented to support healthier lifestyles.

Method: Community surveillance. Changes in Kentucky County Healthcare Profile Data related to recreational facilities in the physical environment (CEDIK).

Timeline: End of 4th year

Initial Outcome: Individuals report improved knowledge, opinions, skills, and/or aspirations in understanding disaster preparedness

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting improved knowledge, opinions, skills, and/or aspirations in understanding disaster preparedness

Method: post-test

Timeline: End of class

Intermediate Outcome: Number of individuals who implemented one or more practices to improve disaster preparedness.

Indicator: Individuals implement one or more practices to improve disaster preparedness.

Method: 6-month follow-up survey

Timeline: 6-months following class

Long-term Outcome: Number of people engaged in practices to improve disaster preparedness in their communities.

Indicator: Number of people engaged in practices to improve disaster preparedness in their communities.

Method: Survey

Timeline: Year follow-up

Learning Opportunities:

4-H Youth Development Agent will:

--Work with Todd County ASAP to educate youth at risk about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. (all year)

--Provide an alcohol drinking and driving prevention workshop at the high school for the sophomore class called Sweet 16 Auto Safety Camp in the spring.

--Work closely with the Champions Community Group to provide substance abuse prevention programming for all youth in Todd County. (all year)

--Work with the community education coordinator and Youth Service Center to administer the KEEP curriculum to 6th grade students at Todd County Middle School. (August -May)

–-Provide safety lessons on multi-media for middle school and high school youth.

--Provide a role model class for middle school youth through the 21st Century after school grant.

FCS:

Audience: PSE Partnership with Health Department and City of Elkton

Project or Activity: Walking/Biking Plan for City of Elkton

Content or Curriculcum:

Inputs: Surveys, planning, development of plan

Date: Yearly

Success Stories