Extension
It Starts With Us
Health & Wellness
20-21 Adopting Healthy Lifestyles
Catherine Webster, Jason Phillips
Health
Building Healthy Coalitions
Food Preparation and Preservation
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Health and wellness are concepts that apply to physical, financial and family well-being. Kentuckians are dying from heart disease & cancer at higher rates than all Americans and they have a lower life expectancy. 71% of high school youth don’t get enough physical activity and physical activity only decreases as we age. The obesity epidemic, increased consumption of unhealthy food, stress, and lack of built environments are other factors that threaten the quality & years of life of Kentuckians. Families need assistance in gaining access to food, stretching food dollars, preparing healthy foods and building nurturing families. Communities that work together with other concerned citizens & organizations are much more likely to bring public awareness to important health issues. All of these topics were identified by the County Extension Council as program needs.
The overall well-being of families will be increased as they gain skills and abilities to provide for the nutritional, physical, and developmental needs of family members. Youth will maintain positive health habits and be competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of participating in 4-H Health programs.
Individuals, youth, and families:
• make healthy food choices & build skills related to selecting and/or preparing nutritious meals
• increase their level of physical activity and decrease their stress
• keep tract of health through timely screenings and visits to health care professionals
• the built environment (sidewalks) will be enhanced by grants, community input and the involvement of city & county governments
Initial Outcome:
Individuals, youth, and families:
• report making healthy food choices
• learn new skills in purchasing and preparing foods
• gain knowledge about their personal health status
• will take advantage of opportunities to be screened for disease
• identify ways to improve physical fitness
• understand risky behaviors and their consequences
• aspire to have higher self-esteem
• identify healthy ways to handle stress
Outcome: Participants in SNAP Ed program identify healthy food choices and learn new skills in purchasing and preparing foods.
Indicator : Family records and self-reporting
Method: SNAP materials and programs
Timeline: 2020-2021
Outcome: Families will prepare healthy meals
Indicator: Family records and self-reporting
Method: Evaluations via Email, Qualtrics
Timeline: 2020-2021
Outcome: Youth and Adults will adopt health lifestyle choices including food choices
Indicator: Youth and adults will report making healthy lifestyle choices with regards to food and health
Method: Follow up surveys
Timeline: 2020-2021
Audience: Seniors and Homemaker Members
Project or Activity: Healthy Living Classes
Content or Curriculum: Mindful Seated Exercise
Inputs: Curriculum, participants, food demonstrations
Date: September 2020
Audience: General Public in Southern Kentucky Area
Project or Activity: SOKY Earth Day Festival
Content: Tree planting, Water conservation, responsible recycling practices, educational information pertaining to reducing your carbon footprint
Inputs: Community partners, staff, volunteers, donations, marketing materials, UK resources, 4-H & Homemaker clubs
Date: April 2021
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Home Remedies, Sensational Salads, Staycations in Kentucky, Health & Wellness Benefits of Gardening Outdoors
Content or Curriculum: Extension materials
Inputs: Agent led, train-the trainer for clubs, food and nutrition information
Date: January-June 2021
Audience: Families with young children
Project or Activity: Cooking with Your Kids
Content or Curriculum: Family Mealtime Curriculum
Inputs: Community Education, volunteer helpers, food and equipment, Culinary Kitchen at the High School
Date: October 2020-May 2021
Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: Get Healthy Simpson Coalition
Content or Curriculum: CEDIK materials, Leadership materials and Health and Wellness materials
Inputs: Community volunteers, money from grants, civic leaders
Date: 2020-2021
Audience: Snap recipients or candidates
Project or Activity: Nutrition Education
Content or Curriculum: Snap-Ed curriculum, LEAP, Plate it Up, Eat Plan Move
Inputs: Extension Agents, School District
Date: 2020-2021
Audience: 7th Grade
Project or Activity: STOP
Content or Curriculum: STOP Scenarios
Inputs: Extension Agents, School District, Local Law Enforcement Agencies & Child Service Advocates
Date: December 2020
Audience: 6th Grade
Project or Activity: Health Rocks including the Youth Health Fair
Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks
Inputs: Extension Agents, School District, County Health Coalition
Date: November 2020-April 2021
Audience: General public
Project or Activity: Cook Wild and Wild Game Video Series
Content or Curriculum: Cook Wild recipes from UK
Inputs: UK approved recipes, Extension Agents, paid staff
Date: August 2020 - July 2021
Audience: 4th Grade
Project or Activity: Environmental Field Day
Content or Curriculum: 4th Grade KY Science Core Content
Inputs: Extension Agents, Community Park, KDA, Local Businesses/Organizations, Simpson Co. Farm Bureau Federation, School District
Date: April 2021
Author: Catherine Webster
Major Program: Local Food Systems
The Simpson County Extension Service partnered with the Kentucky Dairy Development Council, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Prairie Farms, and Robertson Dairy to distribute dairy products and fresh produce at no cost to Simpson County residents. This opportunity was made possible through the Corona Virus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) which is part of the USDA’s COVID Relief established to help dairy producers. The giveaway was held at the Jim Roberts Community Park in September.
