Extension
It Starts With Us
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Life Skills Development
Vicki R. Boggs
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Health
Family and Consumer Science
The obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of Kentuckians. Obese individuals are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. According to the 2017 Nutrition Education Program Annual Report data indicated that 43.2% of Leslie County's population were considered obese. Also, 37% of the county’s population does not consider themselves physically active. Increased consumption of unhealthy food, stress, and built environments that promote physical inactivity are largely responsible for the obesity epidemic. According to the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, Leslie County ranks 111th out of Kentucky’s 120 counties in regards to overall health. Substance abuse also continues to be a leading problem in Southeastern Kentucky including Leslie County. Substance abuse and prevention is listed as one of the top needs in Leslie County as identified by our most current Needs Assessment published by University of Kentucky for Leslie County. Additionally, Kentucky’s population of seniors(65 and older) is expected to double in the next 40 years due to the aging Baby Boomers. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge the changes that accompany aging, in regard to health, independence and life quality throughout all stages of life. The Leslie County Extension Councils have identified healthy living during all stages of life as a major area of programming for our community.
-The number of obese and overweight youth and adults participating in Extension Programs is decreased
-Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating.
-Improvement in the well-being of Leslie County residents including substance use prevention and recovery from addictions.
-Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and hypertension.
-Increase the estimated health savings in dollars for chronic disease.
-Increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day
-Improve food management skills and healthy eating habits
-Youth will be food secure when school is not in session
-Improve quality of life for Kentucky’s aging families
-Care for the physical and mental health and well-being of each individual over the long term
-Become volunteers to make their community a better place to live for everyone
-Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ abilities to build healthy eating plans and patterns.
-Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and older age.
-Practice of physical activity in families and communities and decrease time spent on sedentary behaviors.
-Changes related to physical activity, obesity, and healthy eating.
-Strengthen community coalitions or partnerships to address obesity, physical inactivity, substance abuse, and chronic disease.
-Practice healthy lifestyle choices that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors
-Access more local foods
-Plant, harvest and preserve produce
-Improved food preparation skills, food management skills, food safety and healthy eating habits
-Eat family meals together four or more times a week
-Households accessing emergency food sources
-Work as a family unit to acknowledge and embrace aging issues
-Learn to grow, prepare and preserve food
-Learn to incorporate unfamiliar foods or foods not currently eaten into a healthy diet
-Increase knowledge and understanding of healthy eating, food safety and food resource management
-Commits to set family rules regarding eating together, limiting screen time, active play and exercise, set routines
-Learn about community support services to increase food security
-Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding: healthy lifestyle choices, childhood and youth obesity, adult weight management, healthy aging, practice and promotion of daily physical activity, and reduction of chronic diseases
Initial Outcome: Healthier Lifestyle Choices are made as participants gain knowledge.
Indicator: Individual(s) acquire knowledge, skills, opinions, and aspirations.
Method: Observation; Written and verbal evaluations; Individual reports; NEERS reports
Timeline: July 2020-June 2021
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will make healthier lifestyle choices.
Indicator: Number of individual(s) that show positive changes in personal and nutritional choices.
Method: Observation; Written and verbal evaluations; Individual reports; NEERS reports
Timeline: July 2020-June 2021
Long-term Outcome: The Health of Leslie County is strengthened.
Indicator: Positive change in statistics regarding healthy eating, physical activity, and substance abuse.
Method: Data analysis
Timeline: Ongoing
Audience: Youth (Ages 9-18)
Project or Activity: Super Star Chef
Content or Curriculum: FCS Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent; 4-H Agent; Extension Staff and volunteers; SNAP-Ed assistant, NEP office
Date: June 2021
Audience: Youth (Grades HS-K)
Project or Activity: Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary
Content or Curriculum: LEAP Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent; Snap-Ed assistant, school volunteers
Date: August 2020-December 2020
Audience: Adults and Youth
Project or Activity: What's Cooking Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up Kentucky Proud; NEP calendar recipes
Inputs: FCS Agent; Extension volunteers; Snap-Ed assistant
Date: August 2020-June 2021
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Get Moving, Leslie County
Content or Curriculum: FitBlue KY
Inputs: FCS Agent;
Date: September 2020 -June 2021
Audience: Adults and Homemakers
Project or Activity: Gardening/Raised Bed and/or Container Gardening/Victory Gardens
Content or Curriculum: FCS and ANR curriculums, Victory Garden Resources
Inputs: 4-H Agent; FCS Agent; Extension volunteers
Date: Spring/Summer/Fall 2020-2021
Audience: Adults, Youth, Families
Project or Activity: Cook Together Eat Together
Content or Curriculum: Cook Together Eat Together
Inputs: FCS Agent, Volunteers
Date: Summer/Fall 2020
Audience: Adults, Homemakers, Youth and Community
Project or Activity: Food Preservation series
Content or Curriculum: FCS and 4-H curriculums
Inputs: FCS Agent; 4-H Agent, Snap-Ed assistant, Extension Staff, and Volunteers
Date: Summer/Fall 2020
Audience: Youth, Schools, Community Partners, Volunteers
Project or Activity: Backpack program: Feeding Leslie County Youth
Content or Curriculum: FCS, 4-H and related curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent; 4-H Agent; Snap-ed assistant; Extension and Community Volunteers; 4-H Teens
Date: July 2020-June 2021; Ongoing
Audience: Youth (Grades 1-4)
Project or Activity: Exploring MyPlate with Professor Popcorn Program
Content or Curriculum: Exploring MyPlate with Professor Popcorn; Serving Up MyPlate: A Yummy Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent; 4-H Program Assistant; Snap-Ed assistant, FCS Agent, Extension and Teacher/School Volunteers
Date: September 2020-May 2021
Audience: Low Income Families
Project or Activity: Leslie County Food Pantry
Content or Curriculum: Accessing Nutritious Foods
Inputs: 4-H Agent; FCS Agent; 4-H Teens; Churches; Fiscal Court; Schools; Homemakers; Community Partners and Volunteers
Date: July 2020-June 2021; Ongoing
Audience: Youth and Volunteers: ( Youth Grade 7-12)
Project or Activity: Health Rocks 4-H Program
Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks 4-H Approved Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent; 4-H Program Assistant; School Leaders/Teacher/Volunteers
Date: Implementing: 2020-2021 School Year
Author: Vicki Boggs
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
The COVID-19 Pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challege to health and wellness. In efforts to educate our community concerning the importance, availability and access to immunizations we have engaged in the following: Ongoing and updated social media posts shared from University of Kentucky FCS Facebook Page onto our Leslie County Extension Facebook page. These shared posts provide lots of meaningful and relevant information, s
Author: Vicki Boggs
Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Spring 2020 Extension programming was suddenly required to shift from face-to-face contact with clientele to other platforms due to COVID-19 pandemic. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service supported by endless efforts from FCS and many other teams quickly provided educational and relevant information to share with our clientele. Healthy at Home, Kids Club and Seasoned Newsletters were some of the many resources provided to hundreds of school youth and community for weeks and
