Clark County CES

Title:

Promote Health and Wellness

MAP:

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Agents Involved:

Shonda Johnston, Shannon Farrell, Clay Stamm, 4-H Youth Development Agent (vacant), Horticulture Agent (Vacant)

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Local Food Systems

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Active Living and Health Promotions General

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Leadership

Situation:

With the increased trend of chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky, individuals, families, and communities need tools and environments that support healthy and active lifestyle choices. Cooperative Extension Services agents are encouraged to reach diverse audiences to help combat chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky communities. Focusing on a foundation of overall direct health education to increase health literacy and ability to make healthy lifestyle choices. Including, creating spaces or opportunities for active living and health behaviors as well as addressing substance use prevention, recovery, stigma, and impact on families and communities.

Long-Term Outcomes:

- Increase in practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily

- Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity

- Prevention and/or reduction of substance use and its related consequences

Intermediate Outcomes:

- Generate positive attitudes toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy

- Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods

- Improve self-efficacy in physical activity, movement, and active routes to destinations 

- Decrease tobacco/ substance use and delayed age of first use among Kentucky youth

Initial Outcomes:

- Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease (e.g. tobacco/substance use, poor    nutrition, & lack of physical activity) 

- Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy practices 

- Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. preparation techniques, safe food handling)

- Increase motivation to be active

- Increase awareness of accessible safe places for activity 

- Increase knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and recovery (or related subject       matter)

Evaluation:

Outcome: Understanding of the consequences associated with substance abuse

Indicator: Increased knowledge of the consequences associated with substance abuse as indicated in post evaluation

Method: Post Evaluation of Programs

Timeline: Annually

Outcome: Increase awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills and attitudes needed to make informed choices and implementation of daily physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: knowledge and skills gained about the benefits of physical activity; adoption of physical activity practices; increase in physical activity levels

Method: Post Evaluation of Programs

Timeline: Annually

Outcome:  Availability / Access to healthy lifestyle choices 

Indicator:  Number of communities, health coalitions, or organizations who reported: implemented policy, system, and/or environmental changes to promote healthy eating and active living

Method: Self-report survey

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: high school youth

Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences

Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences Curriculum

Inputs: Clark County Cooperative Extension Staff, High School Personnel, Community volunteers and agencies

Date: Spring 

Audience: Families, & Adults

Project or Activity: Farmers Market/Community Festivals & Events

Content or Curriculum: Benefits of Beef Consumption; Farmer's Market Toolkit; SNAP-Ed tools; Plate it Up Recipes

Inputs: Kentucky Beef Council promotional material and staff, UK Specialist, UK Publications, Clark County Cattlemen’s Association; community partners; Master Gardeners; Community Volunteers

Date: Summer/Fall 

Audience: youth, families and adults

Project or Activity: UK Health Bulletins

Content or Curriculum: UK Health Bulletins

Inputs: UK Health Bulletins, 4-H/ANR/FCS Newsletters, publication racks

Date: monthly

Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Gardening Classes and Workshops

Content or Curriculum: Gardening Care workshops

Inputs: UK Publications, Master Gardeners, Community Garden, Community Garden Plots

Date: Summer/Fall 

Audience: Adults & Families

Project or Activity: Media Outreach (Newspaper/Radio)

Content or Curriculum: Health Benefits of Gardening, and Consuming Fruits and Vegetables

Inputs: UK Publications, E-Xtension, Winchester Sun,

Date: Quarterly

Audience: 9-18 year Olds

Project or Activity: Fitness Frenzy

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Content

Inputs: Parks & Rec, 4-H Staff, Certified Volunteers

Date:  Spring

Audience: Adults and Families

Project or Activity: Wellness Challenge Classes

Content or Curriculum: UK Curriculum

Inputs: Clark County 4-H, FCS, and ANR/Hort

Date: Annually every winter/spring

Audience: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association/Volunteers

Project or Activity:  Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices 

Content or Curriculum: Master Health Volunteers, Health Bulletins, Monthly Leader Lessons

Inputs: Volunteers,extension staff, community partners

Date: Monthly

Success Stories

Face Covering Donation Drive

Author: Shonda Johnston

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

As the COVID-19 pandemic crept into the summer of 2020, there began to be a concern for the students in Clark County returning to school in the fall and possibly not being prepared with face coverings. The Clark Family & Consumer Sciences Agent is a part of the Community Wrap-Around Task force where this need was discussed by the Clark County Public Schools. After collaborating with the Family Resource/Youth Service Center coordinators, it was determined if we could get donated face covering

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World Storytelling Day Event and Book Walk Launch

Author: Shonda Johnston

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

During COVID-19 pandemic, a county-wide community task force was developed by a local organization. Stakeholders from various community partners convened weekly to discuss local concerns that had developed as a result of the pandemic. During some of these meetings, concerns were raised that the COVID restrictions were adversely affecting individuals and families, both physically and mentally. In in effort to address these concerns, the Clark County FCS agent partnered with the Clark County Publi

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Big Blue Goals

Author: Shonda Johnston

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Annually, Family and Consumer Sciences Agents and staff see an increased interest from clients in health-behavior choices around the new year.  This year, to reach both current and new clientele with timely and research-based information, FCS Extension rolled out a new program just in time for January 2021- Big Blue Goals.  The program was designed to allow for participation through either an online platform (Goalify app) that could be operated on a smartphone, computer, or tablet, or

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