Extension
It Starts With Us
Promote Safety, Health, Wellness and Good Nutrition
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Lora Davidson, Raymond Cox, Jeremy Williams
Fit Blue/Get Moving KY
Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours
Kentucky adult obesity rates rank among the 10 highest in the US and Kentucky youth rank among the 10 highest for obesity in the US. Harlan County's health risk is high but can be lowered. According to the "County Health Rankings and Roadmaps" Harlan County is ranked 117 out of 120 counties in measuring the "most health counties." From those numbers, 38% of adults are obese, 40% are inactive, and only 44% have access to exercise opportunities. Obesity is a major factor for many chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Increased consumption of unhealthy foods, stress and lack of physical activity are largely responsible for obesity.
Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily. Manage and prevent the risk and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension. A decrease in the number of youth and adults participating in substance abuse.
Individuals will prepare more meals at home. Individuals will increase their food availability by personal gardening or community systems. Individuals engage in regular physical activity. Individuals will grow, care for, produce and preserve foods from personal gardens and orchards to gain access to healthy foods. Individuals engage in good food safety practices. Individuals demonstrate food preparation skills. Individuals utilize community support systems that provide access to healthy foods. Practice healthy lifestyles decision-making that strengthens individuals ability to cope with normal life stressors.
Individuals will be able to identify the components of a healthy diet as refined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Individuals will recognized the importance of physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. Individuals will develop skills and knowledge to grow their own garden and preserve that food. Individuals will describe food preparations techniques. Individuals will be able to describe food safety practices.
Initial Outcome: Families will increase knowledge, skills and attitudes related to healthy life skill choice, food preservation and food safety.
Indicator: Number of people eating more healthy foods. Number of people participating in physical activity.
Method: Formal and informal surveys, word of mouth
Timeline: Throughout year
Intermediate Outcome: Families practice healthy food choices and physical activities.
Indicator: Number of people that report eating healthier foods, more fruits and vegetables. The number of people participating in Get Moving Kentucky and other physical activities.
Method: Formal/informal survey, enrollment forms.
Timeline: Throughout year
Long-term Outcome: Increase physical activity and consumption of healthier foods in Harlan County.
Indicator: Reduce chronic disease rates in county.
Method: Surveys, statistics
Timeline: Throughout year
Audience: Families, Adults, Groups
Project or Activity: Get Moving Kentucky
Content or Curriculum: FCS Curriculum
Inputs: Staff, health professionals and agencies
Date: Fall, Spring
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Diabetes Programs, Diabetes Coalition, Cooking School
Content or Curriculum: Take Control of Your Diabetes, recipes, Diabetes Self-Management, Plate It Up Kentucky Proud
Inputs: Staff, registered dietitians, health department
Date: Throughout Year
Audience: Students
Project or Activity: Truth or Consequences
Content or Curriculum: Truth or Consequences Curriculum
Inputs: Staff, county leaders, volunteers
Date: Fall or Spring
Audience: Students
Project or Activity: Safety Day
Content or Curriculum: 4H Curriculum
Inputs: Staff, agencies, leaders, volunteers
Date: March
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Holiday Cooking School
Content or Curriculum: Recipes
Inputs: WTA FCS Agents
Date: November
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Food Preservation
Content or Curriculum: Food Preservation publications
Inputs: Staff
Date: Summer
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4H Family Fun Night, Poke Sallet Fun Day, Folk Dancing
Content or Curriculum: 4H publications, LEAP
Inputs: Staff, teachers, volunteers, leaders
Date: Throughout year
Audience: 5th & 6th Grades
Project or Activity: Bicycle and ATV Safety
Content or Curriculum: 4H publications
Inputs: Staff, volunteers, teachers, leaders
Date: Fall or Spring
Audience: Adults and Youth
Project or Activity: Disaster Preparedness
Content or Curriculum: Publications, workshop, MyPI, CERT
Inputs: Staff, Emergency Management Director
Date: Throughout year
Audience:
Project or Activity:
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs:
Date:
Author: Raymond Cox
Major Program: 4-H Health Core Curriculum
Many families in Harlan County were using car seats that were outdated and in very bad condition. Many of the families were low income and could not afford to buy a new car seat. The Harlan County 4-H Agent applied for a grant in 2015 through "Buckle Up For Life" from Toyota and Cincinnatti Children's Hospital for car seats. The grant was awarded in 2015 in the amount of 65 convertible seats and 26 booster seats. The first Grant was such a huge success we applied for a
Author: Lora Davidson
Major Program: Nurturing Parenting
Research shows that preparing and eating meals at home can have positive impact on families by strengthening family ties and leading to better physical and mental health. In an effort to encourage more families to make family mealtime a priority, Family & Consumer Science Agents in the Wilderness Trail Area organized and conducted a Wilderness Trail Area Holiday Cooking School focused on family meal preparation. 250 participants from the eight counties from the Wilderness Trail Area attended
Author: Jeremy Williams
Major Program: Community Leadership Development
Being prepared for life’s disasters, can help get us thru many storms. Learning to be prepared as a youth impacts you for a lifetime. The Harlan County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent and the Harlan County Emergency Management Director had the opportunity to share MyPI Kentucky’s 4-H Youth Preparedness Initiative program with 15 Harlan County High School students. These students applied to be accepted into the after-school program to learn more about disaste
Author: Lora Davidson
Major Program: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
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 behavior 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 Bl
Author: Lora Davidson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In 2020 the Pandemic of the COVID-19 has threatened the lives and livelihood throughout the world. In Harlan County we rank 115 out of 120 counties in the overall health outcome. 32% obesity rate5.7% food environment index7.4% unemployment44% of children living in poverty. These numbers show the poverty rate and the impact that food insecurities can have on the members of the community. Harlan food insecurity rate is ranked at 28.3% with 11% likely ineligible according to
