Extension
It Starts With Us
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Improve Physical and Mental Health
Shane Bogle, Rhonda Jewell, Ashley White
Health
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Providing educational opportunities to encourage healthy lifestyle choices is one of the major initiatives of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and encompasses physical activity, nutrition, personal safety, mental health, and substance use prevention and recovery. In Caldwell County, 30% of the population are obese, and 30.6% report no leisure time physical activity. Kentucky adults rank among the 10th highest for poor consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Also in Kentucky, 25% of youth report some form of emotional or behavioral condition. Suicide rates are at record high with Kentucky being the 10th highest in the nation. 35-54 age group had highest rate in KY
Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health disease can affect anyone, with 1,160 reported opioid-involved deaths in Kentucky. Vaping nearly doubled among middle and high school students. 27% of high school seniors report they had tried the product in 2018.
It is evident programs related to physical activity, proper nutrition, substance use prevention and recovery, and personal safety are needed in Caldwell County.
*New community strategies to address Substance Use Disorder and and Mental Health Disorder.
*Prevention and/or reduction of substance use and its related consequences
*Changed public perception of substance use via stigma reduction.
*Individuals routine meet physical activity and dietary recommendations that promote health and wellness.
*Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work, and play.
*Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity.
*Individuals will live longer, healthier lives.
*Youth are at a lower risk for serious disease and illness.
*Youth are competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H Health programs.
*Generate positive attitude toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy.
*Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods.
*Decrease tobacco/substance use.
*Reduced stigma from local community members.
*Delayed age of first use among youth.
*Youth adopt healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behaviors and handling stress.
*Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease
*Increase motivation to be physically active.
*Increased knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and recovery
*Increased ability to use destigmatized language.
*Partners will recognize the need for community social, environmental, and policy systems to address efforts toward improving healthier lifestyles.
*Youth will be aware of the health issues related to smoking or using tobacco products.
*The number of youth making healthy lifestyle choices.
Initial Outcome: Nutrition knowledge, Physical activity knowledge, Substance use knowledge
Indicator: Number of individuals who report increased knowledge of importance of fruit/vegetable intake and physical activity; increase knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and recovery.
Method: self-report survey
Timeline: pre-post survey
Intermediate Outcome: Dietary Intake, Physical Activity
Indicator: Number of individuals who report increased fruit/vegetable intake and physical activity
Method: self-report survey
Timeline:pre-post survey
Long-term Outcome: Dietary Intake, Physical Activity, Substance Use
Indicator: Number of individuals meeting physical activity and dietary recommendations; Rate of chronic disease and obesity; Number of Substance Use consequences
Method: Kentucky Health Facts; Community Needs Assessment
Timeline: ongoing
Audience: Community Members, Social Media followers
Project or Activity: Virtual Cooking lessons
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up Kentucky Proud; NEP
Inputs: Extension Agents, NEP Assistant
Date: 2020-2021
Audience: 9th Grade
Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences
Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences
Inputs: FRYSC, Pennyroyal, DJJ, Extension Agents
Date: Fall 2020
Audience: Preschoolers
Project or Activity: LEAP @ preschools
Content or Curriculum: LEAP
Inputs: Headstart/Preschool, Extension Agents
Date: September 2020- May 20201
Audience: Preschoolers
Project or Activity: Little Books, Little Cooks
Content or Curriculum: LEAP, Extension resources
Inputs: Extension Agents, NEP Assistant
Date: 2020-2021
Audience: Community Members
Project or Activity: Food Sampling @ Farmers Market
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up Kentucky Proud
Inputs: Farmers Market, Extension Agents
Date: Summer 2021
Project or Activity: 4-H Teens Against Tobacco Use
Content or Curriculum: American Lung Association
Inputs: FRYSC, Extension Agents
Date: 2020-2021
Audience: Preschoolers and Families
Project or Activity: Laugh and Learn Playdates
Content or Curriculum: LEAP, Extension resources; developmental stages
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: 2020-2021
Audience: Preschoolers and Families
Project or Activity: Stories, Songs, Stretches
Content or Curriculum: Stories, Songs, Stretches
Inputs: Library, Extension Agents
Date: 2020-2021
Audience: Homemakers, Community Members
Project or Activity: Addiction 101
Content or Curriculum: Addiction 101
Inputs: UK Specialists, Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Project or Activity: Health Rocks
Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Audience: Community Members
Project or Actvity: Dining with Diabetes
Content or Curriculum: Dining with Diabetes
Inputs: Health First, Health Department, Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Audience: Families with Children
Project or Activity: Cook Together, Eat Together
Content or Curriculum: Cook Together, Eat Together
Inputs: Extension Agents, NEP Assistant
Date: TBD
Audience: Community Members
Project or Activity: FitBlue
Content or Curriculum: FitBlue
Input: UK Specialists, APP, Extension Agents
Date: 2020-2021
Audience: Community Members
Project or Activity: Faithful Families
Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families
Inputs: Faith based organizations, Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Audience: Drug Court Participants, SAP participants at WKCC
Project or Activity: Recovering Your Finances
Content or Curriculum: Recovering Your Finances
Inputs: WKCC, Drug Court, NEP Assistant, Extension Agents
Date: TBD
Author: Ashley Board
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions 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: Ashley Board
Major Program: Family Development General
According to the 2020 Early Childhood Profile, 64.1% of children in Caldwell County are ready for kindergarten. Children who start kindergarten with delayed development and fewer assets are by far more likely to repeat grades, get tracked into lower-tier classes and drop out of high school than more advantaged children. Prior to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the Caldwell County Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences hosted in-person Laugh & Learn Preschool playdates that allowed
Author: Ashley Board
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
The CDC recommends that preschool age children should be physical activity throughout the day for growth and development. Children and adolescents age 6-17 should participate in 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity each day. Research shows that among U.S. children, ages 2- 4, nearly 14% were overweight and 13.5% were obese. Less than ¼ of children age 6-17 participate in 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Young children need hel
