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Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2023 - Jun 30, 2024


4-H HealthPlan of Work

Boone County CES

Title:
4-H Health
MAP:
Promote Healthy Lifestyles
Agents Involved:
Steve Conrad, Christy Eastwood
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Family and Consumer Science
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Situation:

Healthy living is one of three 4-H mission mandates and encompasses: physical activity, personal safety, mental health, addiction prevention, and diversity and inclusion.   In Kentucky 37% of youth 10-17 are overweight or obese, and 51% report not exercising regularly. 25% of youth report some form of emotional or behavioral condition and suicide rates are at record high (KY suicides per 100,000 people: 15.3, 10th highest in nation). Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health disease can affect anyone, with 1,160 reported opioid-involved deaths (a rate of 27.9 deaths per 100,000 persons) in Kentucky and Vaping nearly doubled among middle and high school students — with 27% of high school seniors reporting they had tried the product in 2018.

Long-Term Outcomes:
  • Reduced fatalities
  • Increased number of youth maintaining positive health habits;
  • Increased number of youth at a lower risk for serious disease and illness;
  • Increased number of youth at a lower risk for physical and emotional distress
  • Reduce the number of youth reporting drug, alcohol, and tobacco use
Intermediate Outcomes:
  • Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle 
  • Improved access and utilization of resources
  • Improved perceived stress and ability to cope
  • Youth will contribute to their communities
  • Youth will practice refusal skills
  • Youth will intervene to prevent use/abuse  


Initial Outcomes:
  • Improved in awareness of health concerns for youth
  • Improved education about diversity and Inclusion
  • Improved understanding of the consequences of risk behaviors
  • Promote optimal physical, social and emotional health habits
Evaluation:

Oral or Common Measures Universal Survey at conclusion of learning activity

  • Number of youth who indicated they learned about healthy food choices through 4-H
  • Number of youth who were educated on health and well-being through 4-H programs? (KOSA)
  • Number of youth who indicated they made healthy lifestyle choices as are result of what they learned through 4-H programming? (PRACTICE)
  • Number of youth who indicated they increased their daily number of servings of fruits and vegetables eaten as a result of 4-H programs? (PRACTICE) Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself?” (SEEC)
  • Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader?” (SEEC)



Learning Opportunities:
  • Eating Healthy 
    • 4-H Foods/SNAP material, myPlate
    • Nutrition Education with Preschool Students (March 2021)
    • Nutrition Education with Kindergarten Students (Jan. 2021)
  • Addiction Prevention 
    • Curriculum: Health Rocks!, Truth & Consequences
    • Truth or Consequences Event (March/April 2021)




Success Stories

Youth and Healthy Meals

Author: Christy Eastwood

Major Program: Health

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior recently published the results of a 10-year longitudinal study conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. The aim of the study, which tracked more than 1, 100 participants, was to answer a simple question: Can knowing how to cook as a young person lead to healthier eating practices in adulthood? The researchers arrived at a compelling—if unsurprising—conclusion: It can.During the global pand

Full Story