Healthy People, Healthy EconomyPlan of Work

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Letcher County CES

Title:
Healthy People, Healthy Economy
MAP:
Health and Wellness
Agents Involved:
Shad Baker, Nanette Banks, Crystal Smith (Assistants: Lee Adams, Mitch Whitaker)
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Trail Design
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food System Development and Mapping
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Community Strategic Planning
Situation:

Letcher County has long had an economy based largely on coal mining. As coal's percentage of the energy market has declined through competition from other sources and regulation impacts, the economy of the county has struggled. Diversification is needed, but is often resisted both by industry's concerns that it will drive up labor costs and by locals concerned that it will invite those with an antagonistic view of coal and that it represents a fundamental economic and cultural change. The need for diversification is furthered by the hard reality that coal is a non-renewable resource that is nearly completely played out in the county, after a hundred years of intensive extraction; the county being among the first to have initiated mining.


Letcher County has some of the highest obesity rates in the nation, 38% above the state average. Adults reporting a lack of physical activity represent 36% of the population (24% higher than the rest of the state. According to kentuckyhealthfacts.org, it also suffers from almost double the national average of premature death, higher than the state-average of the following: total mortality, 33% higher reports of less than good health, higher mental health issues, 50% higher diabetes (among the highest in the nation), 20% higher rates of hypertension, 11% higher rates of overall cancer,51% higher rates of heart disease, 31% higher rates of stroke, and 200% higher rates of infectious disease. These are staggering numbers and warrant our full efforts.


Letcher County has not had a significant market for local produce. Though locals have grown gardens and fruits, much of the diet of the typical citizen is processed foods high in fat, cholesterol and caloric count. A Farmers Market was begun in 2013 and has seen significant growth. Further development of the market and continued partnership with local leaders to advance a community kitchen to local utilize surplus production would benefit the economy and dietary needs of the county.


Letcher County is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty, hosting some of the highest mountains in the state, large public lands tracts, waterfalls, caves, tremendous panoramic views and expansive forests. These offer the potential for both recreation, tourism development and exercise. Efforts to develop public lands for these uses would provide for diversification of the economy and provide for a more stable and healthy future for the population.


There are several partnering organizations in the county which work towards addressing the challenges and opportunities of the county. Planning efforts to develop our people, our resources, and to collectively craft a unified vision that best plays off of the counties strengths will advance the economy and well-being of our people.


Long-Term Outcomes:

A diversified economy that sustains a healthy community


An improved and diversified local economic base


A Sustainable Farmers Market that meets the needs of the county


A Community Kitchen that utilizes local produce and feeds balanced meals to patrons


Tourism-related projects and businesses are sustainable and have increasing community support


Intermediate Outcomes:

Local Food Access is established


Appropriate match between producers and consumers sustained locally


Increased knowledge and utilization of local health facilities, exercise opportunities such as trails, and of recommended dietary guidelines


Local Food production


Friendly land use and other policies being adopted


Local policy makers encourage tourism and the related business development

Initial Outcomes:

Increased access to local foods


Development of trails and other activity-inducing projects


Local land use and other policies supportive of new food initiatives


Increase agent awareness of opportunities and challenges working with health networks

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased consumption and production of local foods

Indicator: FCS & ANR Curriculum 

Method: General Survey, Consumer survey

Timeline: May 2019- September 2020


Intermediate Outcome: More physically active population

Indicator: FCS Curriculum 

Method: General survey, Consumer Survey

Timeline: July 2019 - June 2020


Long-term Outcome: Farmers supplying market and kitchen

Indicator: FCS Curriculum

Method: General survey

Timeline: July-2019 - June 2020

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Producers, SNAP-ed Clientele, (WIC, Senior Voucher)

Project or Activity: Food Systems Training

Content or Curriculum: SNAP-ed, MarketMaker, Production Workshops,

Inputs: Agents, Community Partners, KY Dept. of Ag, Farmers Market, Specialists

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: General

Project or Activity: Farmer's Market

Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up

Inputs: FCS Agent

Date: 2019-2020


Audience:  Adults & Youth

Project or Activity:  Cooking Thru the Calendar 

Content or Curriculum:  FCS and NEP Curriculum

Inputs:  FCS Agent

Date:  2019-2020


Audience:  Community

Project or Activity:  Walking/hiking events, biking events

Content or Curriculum:  FCS and 4 H curriculum

Inputs:  Agents & Assistants, volunteers, leaders

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: Youth 6th-8th grades

Project or Activity: Water Health Challenge

Content or Curriculum:  4 H curriculum

Inputs:  4 H agent and assistant, club leaders

Date: 2019-2020




Success Stories

Foster Care Review Training

Author: Nanette Banks

Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)

Children enter foster care when their family is going through a crisis, and foster care gives the family an opportunity to resolve conflicts.  Foster care is a temporary arrangement that gives the youth’s family a chance to learn healthy skills so they can safely return home.  There are over 10,000 youth in foster care in Kentucky as of March 2019 according to KVC Kentucky with at least twenty-seven children in foster homes in Letcher County.  The Letcher County Family and C

Full Story

Quilt As You Go

Author: Nanette Banks

Major Program: Embracing Life as We Age (general)

Letcher County is a rural, hilly county with no major interstates.  The population of Letcher County declined 10.7 % between 2010 and 2018 with 19.5% of the population being 65 years or older.  Adults in Letcher County exceed the state average for lack of physical activity, obesity, smoking, poor nutrition, physically unhealthy days and mentally unhealthy days.  (Kentucky Health Facts.org).  According to a study by the Harvard Medical School, isolation and loneliness jeopardi

Full Story

Holiday Road Show- Managing Holiday Expenses

Author: Nanette Banks

Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)

Holidays are often an exciting time of the year.  However, the holidays can also represent added stress due to holiday spending.   Many individuals, families and households neglect budgeting for holiday spending.  To assist individuals in understanding and responding to financial stress resulting from holiday expenses, the Quicksand Area Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agents hosted The Quicksand Area Holiday Road Show- Managing Holiday Expenses: How to Reduce Spending to

Full Story

Financial Preparedness

Author: Nanette Banks

Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)

In the event of a natural disaster, many families know to have supplies on hand for shelter-in-place and a safe exit strategy for evacuations. In addition, it may help to prepare financially. Once the emergency passes, having your identification documents, policies, bank account information, and other household records and contacts will assist in the recovery process. Building an emergency savings is also important. According to Federal Emergency Management Agency and Operation HOPE, Inc., studi

Full Story

Community Collaboration Advances Eastern Kentucky

Author: Shad Baker

Major Program: Community Strategic Planning

The challenge of transitioning the economy and resources of Eastern Kentucky to a sustainable and vibrant scene; one that accentuates the abundant natural resources and the creativity and work-ethic of a people rooted in the rugged mountains is worthy of the state's land-grant and outreach arm, the UK Cooperative Extension Service. In partnership with local business, healthcare, education and political leaders, the Letcher County Extension Service has sought to more fully capture the potenti

Full Story

FitBlue Walking Program

Author: Nanette Banks

Major Program: Fit Blue/Get Moving KY

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “physical activity such as walking can help improve health even without weight loss. People who are physically active live longer and have a lower risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers.” Letcher County faces challenges of being overweight (75%), obesity (38%) and lack of physical activity (41%).  The Family and Consumer Sciences Agent began a FitBlue weekly walking and seated exercises program.

Full Story
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