Improving Basic Lifeskills, Well-being, and Quality of LifePlan of Work

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Hopkins County CES

Title:
Improving Basic Lifeskills, Well-being, and Quality of Life
MAP:
Strengthening Community Lifeskills
Agents Involved:
Connor Cooper, Erika Wood, Curtis Dame, Katie Jury, and Katherine Jury
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
4-H Youth Development Programming
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
4-H Communications and Expressive Arts Core Curriculum
Situation:

According to CEDIK statistics, in Hopkins County, 19.5% of adults and 26.4% of children live below the poverty line, 21.8% of adults report only fair or poor overall health, and 35.4% of the total population is considered obese. Regarding education, only 13.4% of Hopkins County residents hold a Bachelor's degree or higher, 79.9% hold a high school diploma or GED, and the average household income falls behind the national average by almost $12,000 annually. As a result of the demographic data, and availability of Extension resources and programming, the County Extension Council and Area Program Councils recommend that children and families in Hopkins County are in need of life-skill education, including the knowledge and skills to lead a healthy lifestyle, communicate effectively, and manage household resources.

Long-Term Outcomes:

A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly


Improvement in the overall health and wellbeing of residents, which indicate quality of life.


Increase in adults and families living above the poverty line.


Increase in education and workforce placements.



Intermediate Outcomes:

Maintain appropriate calorie balance and activity level during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding and older age.


Practice healthy lifestyle decision-making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors.


Increased practice of skills that increase employability and educational attainment.

Initial Outcomes:

Change in knowledge needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.


Change in opinions and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.


Change in learned skills needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.



Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Change in knowledge needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.

Indicator: increased knowledge of healthy choices and life skills

Method: pre-test/post-test, surveys, NEERS data

Timeline: 2019-2020


Initial Outcome: Change in learned skills needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.

Indicator: increased skills that facilitate healthy choices and life skills

Method: pre-test/post-test, surveys, NEERS data

Timeline: 2019-2020


Intermediate Outcome: Increased practice of skills that increase employability and educational attainment.

Indicator: surveys, use of local resources including employment workshops and programs

Method: pre-test post test data, surveys of use of local resources

Timeline: 2019-2020


Intermediate Outcome: Practice healthy lifestyle decision-making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors.

Indicator: surveys, NEERS data, use of local resources, including mental health

Method: pre-test post test data, surveys of use of facilities

Timeline: 2019-2020


Intermediate Outcome: Maintain appropriate calorie balance and activity level during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding and older age.

Indicator: surveys, use of local recreational facilities

Method: pre-test post test data, surveys of use of facilities

Timeline: 2019-2020


Long-term Outcome: A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly.

Indicator: CDC and CEDIK data on population weight distribution

Method: data comparison over years

Timeline: 2017-2020


Long-term Outcome: Increase in adults and families living above the poverty line.

Indicator: CEDIK data of household income and poverty statistics

Method: data comparison over years

Timeline: 2017-2020


Long-term Outcome: Increase in education and workforce placements.

Indicator: CEDIK data of employment statistics and educational attainment

Method: data comparison over years

Timeline: 2017-2020

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Producers, Business Owners, and future clients

Project or Activity: Budget, Management, Stress and other meetings

Content or Curriculum: Moneywise, FarmStart, Annie's Project, and other content based programming.

Inputs: Extension Agents, Specialists, Community leaders, and Extension publications.

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: Teens and Families

Project or Activity: Suicide Prevention Coalition

Content or Curriculum: UK Healthcare specialists

Inputs: Health Dept., community partners, school system, faith-based communities

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Pinterest Club

Content or Curriculum: UK publications and Extension information

Inputs: Extension agent, UK publications and Extension information, community volunteers

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: Hopkins County Homemakers

Project or Activity: Homemaker lessons, local, area, and state-wide KEHA activities

Content or Curriculum: KEHA curriculum, area Homemaker monthly lessons

Inputs: KEHA curriculum, UK specialists and curriculum

Date: 2017-2020



Success Stories

Nurturing Parenting Strengthens Families

Author: Katherine Jury

Major Program: Nurturing Parenting

Healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. Children who live absent from their biological fathers are two to three times more likely to be poor, to experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems than their peers who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents. In an effort to increase parenting skills and provide educational resources, the Hopkins County Family and Consumer Sciences Ag

Full Story

Hopkins County Fit Blue Challenge

Author: Katherine Jury

Major Program: Fit Blue/Get Moving KY

Low levels of physical activity, unhealthy nutrition, and poor mental health are all determinants of several chronic diseases. These behaviors are now considered major public health concerns and require effective behaviour change interventions. Fit Blue is a community-based campaign to increase physical activity and health awareness in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Building physical activity into the day does not require special equipment or a certain location. As participants take part in Fit B

Full Story

4-H Farm Day

Author: Katie Mills

Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum

Hopkins County 4-H partners with Independence Bank to host an annual Farm to Fork dinner.  This has proven to be a large success for fundraising, marketing 4-H, and volunteerism from 4-H youth.  Over the last three years, Hopkins County has had over 25 4-H members and volunteers to serve and clean up at the Farm to Fork event held at the Ballard Center.  Here, the 4-H members and volunteers are able to learn how to properly serve someone at a table setting, etiquette, manners, and

Full Story

4-H Leadership Retreat

Author: Katie Mills

Major Program: 4-H Leadership Core Curriculum

4-H Leadership Retreat

Hopkins County 4-H participated in a multi-county 4-H Leadership Retreat for 7th graders and above with Christian, Crittenden, and Muhlenberg Counties February 20-22, 2020.  The 4-H Leadership Retreat consisted of youth participating in a three day event at Paoli Peaks, Indiana.  At this retreat, youth gained valuable leadership skills, creating a larger network, and had the unique experience of either skiing, snowboarding, or snow tubing.  There was a total of 41 youth and 11 adu

Full Story

Grab-N-Go Bags

Author: Katie Mills

Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming

On March 19 the Hopkins County Cooperate Extension office transitioned to a modified office schedule that had limited access to the public. This was an unfortunate outcome due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the Hopkins County Extension Office being on a modified schedule and several of our 4-H programs postponing or being cancelled, this made for a real challenge in reaching the youth in Hopkins County. After brainstorming and communicating with other 4-H Agents across Kentucky, the Grab-N-Go Ba

Full Story

4-H Grab And Go Bags

Author: John (Connor) Cooper

Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming

On March 19 the Hopkins County Cooperate Extension office transitioned to a modified office schedule that had limited access to the public. This was an unfortunate outcome due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the Hopkins County Extension Office being on a modified schedule and several of our 4-H programs postponing or being canceled, this made for a real challenge in reaching the youth in Hopkins County. After brainstorming and communicating with other 4-H Agents across Kentucky, the Grab-N-Go Bag

Full Story

Issues Conference

Author: John (Connor) Cooper

Major Program: 4-H Leadership Core Curriculum

In November Hopkins County had two youth attend the 2019 4-H Issues Conference. At this conference, youth are challenged to open their minds and explore issues that are facing teens in today’s world. While at the conference youth are split into five groups and they create mock presentations based on the problem they are trying to solve. During the presentations, they are trying to convince a mock fiscal court to give them funding and back their idea so they can create a program to focus on

Full Story
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