Gallatin County CES

Title:

Nurturing Families and Healthy Aging

MAP:

Healthy Communities

Agents Involved:

Broderick

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Family Development General

Situation:

School-readiness is a broad term that refers to multiple precursor cognitive, physical and social-emotional skills that indicate young children are prepared to learn and thrive in the school environment. A wide body of research shows a strong foundation in school readiness is indicative of school success. However, in the state of Kentucky on 50% of children are deemed "school-ready" when they enter Kindergarten. Gallatin County Schools have identified this as a community issue and provide preschool to all county residents regardless of need. 96,000 children in Kentucky live in kinship care. Kentucky ranks first in the nation for the most children in kinship care settings in the country. 15,000 children are in kinship care due to removal from their home. Kinship care providers need support. People are living longer. Kentucky's current population of seniors (65+) is 16.4% (2019 Census Data). By 2040 it is projected that every district will see an increase in the percent of the population that is age 65 and older (Zimmerman/KY by the Numbers). As the largest and fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, older adults influence everything from consumer behavior to health-care costs (U.S. Census), While we may be adding years to life, there is a concern about life quality.

Long-Term Outcomes:

•Build personal strengths and self-control, interpersonal communication, life skills including wise decision-making.

•Embrace people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds

•Participants become volunteers to make their community a better place to live for everyone.

•Increase caregiving knowledge and quality relationships.

•Decrease in the number of falls.

*Increase the number of children who are "kindergarten ready" in the state of Kentucky

Intermediate Outcomes:

•Increase in family meal time.

•Increase communication and enhance relationships and social support.

•Practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships

•Individuals are engaged in community outreach activities.

•Individuals change behavior to decrease risk of falling.

Initial Outcomes:

•Participants commits to set family rules regarding eating together, limiting screen time, active play and exercise, set routines

•Participants gain knowledge and awareness on ways to reduce falls.

•Participants gain knowledge and awareness on age-related family issues (e.g. dementia, power of attorney, living wills, failing health, dying, loss and bereavement)

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Participants gain knowledge and awareness on ways to reduce falls

Indicator: Participants in a fall-prevention program

Method: End of program evaluations

Timeline: 1-2 months

Intermediate Outcome: Individuals are engaged in community outreach activities, practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships

Indicator: Individuals have applied knowledge gained from Extension Programs to be more self-sufficient with life skills.

Method: follow up evaluations, observations

Timeline: 6 months to a year

Long-term Outcome: Families communications and relationships are strengthened. More participation in community programs as a family. Participants become volunteers to make their community a better place to live for everyone.

Indicator: Number of families continuing to participate in programs not only as a participant but actively helping and planning programs

Method: Interviews, community data and partnership evaluations

Timeline: 4-6 years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Families

Project or Activity: Grandlove - Kinship care support group

Content or Curriculum: Grandparents and Grandchildren Together, Nurturing Parenting, Parenting a Second Time Around and other UK publications

Inputs: Extension staff, Kentucky CES publications and resources, volunteers

Date: Ongoing, monthly meetings

Audience: 65+ Adults, KEHA members

Project or Activity: Healthy Aging

Content or Curriculum: Matter of Balance, BINGOSIZE, Keys to Embracing Aging, Alzheimer Education, UK curriculum

Inputs: Extension staff, senior center, community partners and resources

Date: Programs conducted throughout the year

Audience: KEHA Members

Project or Activity: Healthy Homemakers - 2-part series

Content or Curriculum: UK curriculum

Inputs: Extension Staff, community volunteers, health professionals and organizations

Date: August, 2020; January 2021

Audience: Early Childhood/Preschool Youth

Project or Activity: Engaging pre-school youth and families

Content: LEAP, Stories, Songs and Stretches, other USDA and UK Extension Preschool Curriculums

Inputs: Extension Staff, volunteers, Gallatin County Schools, Gallatin County Library and other community partners

Date: Various programs throughout the school year

Audience:  4-H Youth

Project or Activity: Sewing Club

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Extension Staff, Volunteers

Date: School year 2020-2021

Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: Quilt/Sewing Club

Content or Curriculum: 4-H curriculum

Inputs: Exension staff, volunteers

Date: School Year 2020-2021

Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: Cake Decorating

Content or Curriculum: UK curriculum

Inputs: Extension staff, volunteers

Date: 2020-2021

Audience: Middle and High School Cooking

Project or Activity: Healthy Cooking

Content or Curriculum: UK Recipes, Plate it Up!, 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Extension Staff, volunteers

Date: 2020-2021

Success Stories