Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving community wellness through nutrition, physical activity and safety
Community Wellness and Safety
Allen, Bryant Popham, Hinton, Pruneda, Tucker
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
4-H Health Core Curriculum
The obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of Kentuckians. Obese individuals are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. The obesity rate in Kentucky increased 90 percent over the last 15 years. Thirty-seven percent of Breckinridge County citizens are considered obese. Thirty percent of individuals in the Commonwealth report no leisure-time physical activity. Thirty-eight percent locally. Increased consumption of unhealthy food, stress, and built environments that promote physical inactivity are largely responsible for the obesity epidemic. As a result, Kentuckians are dying from heart disease and cancer at higher rates than all Americans and they have a lower life expectancy, 75.5 years, compared to 78 years for Americans. Minorities and individuals residing in Appalachia bear a heavier brunt of the obesity and chronic disease burden.
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. Youth maintain positive health habits, are at a lower risk for serious disease and illness, are at a lower risk for physical and emotional distress, and youth are competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H Health programs. A decrease in the number of farmers experiencing pains while working long days and nights. Public and Farmers will become more aware of how and what to do on the high way when meeting large equipment. Grain rescue will become a yearly training for all of the local fire departments and more rescue tubes will be purchased through the Extension District Board.
Participants will practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns. Participants will maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding and older age. Participation in physical activity will increase among families and communities and decrease time spent on sedentary behaviors. Youth will adopt healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress. Farmers will be able to identify areas that need to be improved in relation to mobility issues, Participates will reduce risky behaviors relating to home, auto/ATV and RTV, and farm equipment. Share the Road and Grain Rescue programs will be designed and set up for the public and farmers.
Participants will become more aware, gain knowledge and develop skills to make healthy life style choices relating to nutrition, physical activity and personal safety. Participants will be able to identify and express their physical limitations relating to gardening and outdoor activities. Youth will identify healthy lifestyle choices, understand risky behaviors and their consequences, aspire to have higher self-esteem, and identify healthy ways to handle stress.
Initial Outcome: Increased awareness, knowledge and skills relating to healthy lifestyle choices and personal safety. Increased number of youth that report feeling good about themselves and report that they know how to handle stress.
Indicator: Increased attendance and participation in wellness and safety programs.
Method: Curriculum and program evaluation tools
Timeline: At time of program implementation
Intermediate Outcome: Participants making healthier lifestyle choices and personal safety choices.
Indicator: Participants consuming more fruits and vegetables, choosing to be more physical active and implementing safe practices such as wearing helmets, seat belts and having a family emergency kit.
Method: Follow-up surveys, personal interviews and observations
Timeline: 1 -3 month follow-up to program implementation
Initial Outcome: Producers and public will attend trainings.
Indicator: CEU sheets
Method: surveys
Timeline: At the time of the program implementation.
Intermediate Outcome: Participants train employees and family members.
Indicator: surveys
Timeline: 1-3 month follow-up to program implementation
Long-term Outcome: A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly. An improvement in the local environment to promote and support physical activity and healthy eating.
Indicator: Participants consuming more fruits and vegetables, choosing to be more physical active and implementing safe practices such as wearing helmets, seat belts and family emergency kit.
Method: Health census reports and personal and health care provider testimonials
Timeline: 1 -3 month follow-up to program implementation
Long-term Outcome: An increase in awareness along with a decrease in new accidents as well as accidents involving vehicles and farm equipment.
Indicator: Farms and hospitals will report a decrease in accidents.
Method: Reports from hospital and local farmers
Audience: Preschool and Elementary Students
Project or Activity: LEAP Classroom visits
Content or Curriculum: LEAP
Inputs: Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers.
Date: 2019-2020 School Year
Audience: Adults and Families
Project or Activity: Workshops series and special interest lessons
Content or Curriculum: Cook Together - Eat Together, Embracing Life as We Age, EFNEP Curriculumns
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Local, state, and federal health agencies
Date: Year Round
Audience: Family Mealtime
Project or Activity: Newspaper/social media lesson series
Content or Curriculum: Family Mealtime curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: Spring/Summer 2019
Audience: 4th graders and Leaders
Project or Activity: Farm and Home Safety Program
Content or Curriculum: Programs approved by Progressive Ag Foundation.
Inputs: Fifty Local leaders trained under supervision of Farm Safety Day Coordinator.
Date: Fall 2019
Audience: Community and Detention Center Participants
Project or Activity: EFNEP and SNAP Education
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up, KY Proud, Super Star Chef, Healthy Choices for Everybody
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: Year Round with seasonal and holiday focuses
Audience: Local Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Health program
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum (Centering on Me, DanceFit, SPARK, etc.)
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, specialists and volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: Spring/Summer 2019 and Spring/Summer 2020
Audience: Local Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Health and Nutrition Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum (Teen Cuisine, SuperStar Chef, etc.)
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, specialists and volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: Year Round
Audience: Local Youth
Project or Activity: Teen Cuisine
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H and SNAPed approved curriculum (Teen Cuisine, SuperStar Chef, etc.)
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, specialists and volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: 2019-2020 School Year
Audience: Local Youth (4th-8th grade)
Project or Activity: 4-H Jr. Master Gardener
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum (e.g. Food Preparation and Preservation), Jr. Master Gardener curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, public library, specialists, Master Gardener volunteers, and other volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: Summer 2019 and Summer 2020
Audience: Local Youth (Pre-school-3rd grade)
Project or Activity: 4-H Mini Master Gardener
Content or Curriculum: Jr. Master Gardener curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, public library, specialists, Master Gardener volunteers, and other volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: Summer 2019 and Summer 2020
Audience: Middle and High School Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Outdoor Adventurers Science Club
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved core curriculum (Outdoor Adventures)
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools,family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business sponsorship
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Local non-English, Amish and Mennonite Communities
Project or Activity: Food preparation, Food storage and proper pesticide care
Content or curriculum: Plate It Up for Latino populations
Inputs: CES Agents, resources in Spanish, Migrant Education program
Date: 2019-2020
Audience: Local Fire Department and First Responders
Project or Activity: Grain Tube Rescue and Share the Road program
Content or Curriculum: Program from KDA and first responders
Inputs: Breckinridge County first departments and KDA Farm Safety Team
Date: Fall 2019
Audience: Local Farmers Market and Beekeepers
Project or Activity: GAP and Sampling Certificate for produce and beekeepers
Content or Curriculum: State Programs
Inputs: Breckinridge and Grayson County Ag/Natural Resource Agents
Date: 2019-2020
Audience: Local Farmers in regular crop meetings
Project or Activity: Exercises for daily use in and around tractors and equipment in relation to mobility issues and stress in farming activities.
Content or Curriculum: Program designed by local Physical Therapist.
Inputs: CES Agents
Date: 2019-2020
Author: Lynnette Allen
Major Program: Food Preparation
Research shows that family traditions along will healthy life style choices are important in an individual’s resiliency. Tradition creates a since of belonging while cooking at home encourages healthier lifestyle choices. The Homemaker lesson Healthy Cast Iron Cooking combines these two important elements. Ninety-one participants completed a learning session of selection, care and use of cast iron cookware. The problem of rust and how to season or re-season cast iron wa
Author: Alexandria Bryant
Major Program: 4-H Health Core Curriculum
Kentucky’s obesity rate for children ages 10-17 has increased to over 21% and youth need healthy cooking and eating habits now more than ever (Trust for Americas Health, 2011). According to the American Heart Association, teaching youth how to prepare their own food will give them a skill they can use for a lifetime, they will be more likely to eat healthier as adults, and build self-confidence. (Cooking With Your Children; Web MD; May 30, 2008.) In order to address these needs and provide
Author: Lynnette Allen
Major Program: Fit Blue/Get Moving KY
Breckinridge County is a rural community with limited physical activity resources for individuals and families. Based on current Kentucky Health Facts, 32% of the citizens report not exercising on a regular basis, 69% identified as being overweight and 35% as smokers. To support and encourage physical activity, the Get Moving Breckinridge County (GMBC) Spring 2020 campaign was conducted. In collaboration with the Ben Johnson Elementary School, Breckinridge County Public
Author: Lynnette Allen
Major Program: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Research shows that overall wellness is more than the number on the scales. According to the American Heart Association long-term stress can cause risk for health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Also, recent studies show that sleep is another important aspect to health and mental wellness. Over time, sleep deprivation can negatively affect your energy levels and even your body’s ability to fight off infection. To increase awareness and
