Health and Wellness-NEW
Health and Wellness
Ag, FCS, Hort, 4-H
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Health
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. CES Agents are encouraged to reach diverse audience 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.
4-H
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.
Routinely meeting physical activity and dietary recommendations that promote health and wellness. Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work and play. Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity.
4-H
- Fewer chronic diseases
- 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
These tend to be behavior or practice changes which logically produce the long term outcomes identified above. In other words, what must people do differently to produce the desired changes.
4-H
- 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
- All agents trained in YMHFA
Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease, such as tobacco use, poor nutrition, and lack of physical activity Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy practices. Improve food and nutrition related skills with as preparation techniques and safe food handling. Increase motivation to be active and increase awareness of accessible safe place for activity.
4-H
- Improved in awareness of health concerns for youth
- Improved education about SUD and MH disease
- Improved education about diversity and Inclusion
- Reduced stigma of individuals with SUD and MH disease
- Improved understanding of the consequences of risk behaviors
- Promote optimal physical, social and emotional health habits
Initial Outcome: Nutrition knowledge and dietary intake.
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported eating 4 to 6 servings of fruits and or vegetables daily; utilize the food label to make healthy food choices; choosing smaller portions.
Method: Self report surveys
Timeline: Pre and post implementing curricula or program
Intermediate Outcome: Physical Activity, Knowledge, skills and competencies
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported; knowledge and skills gained about the benefits of physical activity; adoption of physical activity practices; increase physical activity levels.
Method: Self report survey
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Chronic Disease Prevention
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported; participants who had one or more health indicators, such as cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose improved.
Timeline: On going
4-H
Initial Outcome: Promote optimal physical, social and emotional health habits
Indicator: More youth participate in activities that improve physical, social and emotional habits
Method: Common Measures
- Number of youth who indicated they learned about healthy food choices through 4-H
- Method of Evaluation
- 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)
Timeline: School Year, September - May
Intermediate Outcome: Improved perceived stress and ability to cope
Indicator: Youth will use coping skills to destress and will improve mental health
Method: Common Measures (Same as above).
Timeline: On-Going, Sept. - May
Long-Term: Decrease in chronic diseases in youth, decrease risk in youth for physical and emotional abuse
Indicator: Youth will have an overall higher quality of and more positive outlook on their life.
Method: Common Measures Survey (Same as above), Observation
Audience: Pulaski Community
Project or Activity: Policy, Systems and Environmental Approaches
Content or Curriculum: Health Coalitions, Diabetes Coalition
Inputs: Volunteers, community partners, key state holders, elected officials, Health Coalitions, SNAP Ed Toolkit
Date: On going
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Chronic Disease Prevention
Content or Curriculum: Publications, health bulletins, Fit Blue, Dining with Diabetes, Plate It Up, Kentucky Proud Resources, Keys to Embracing Aging
Inputs: Programmatic materials, community partners, health coalitions, Health Department SNAP, Schools, Homemakers
Date: On Going
Audience: KEHA
Content or Curriculum: Monthly Lessons
Inputs: FCS Agents, community partners
Date: On going
4-H:
Audience: Youth- Cloverbuds
Project Activity: Mental Health
Content or Curriculum: Mindful Me
Inputs: 4-H volunteers, teen volunteers, agent
Date: Club meetings Sept-May
Audience: Youth in schools
Project Activity: fruit tasting- try a new fruit/vegetable each month
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: Agents, teachers, SNAP-Ed assistant
Date: school year
Audience: Middle & High School Youth
Project Activity: Addiction Prevention
Content Curriculum: Health Rocks!
Inputs: 4-H Agent, trainings, specialists, volunteers
Date: Sept-May
Author: Bethany Wilson
Major Program: Agriculture
It is no secret that gardening and other home horticulture activities can serve as a great outlet for individuals with disabilities, mental health difficulties and behavioral issues. The Sunrise Children’s Program Cumberland Adventure Program (CAP), is located in Bronston, KY. The Cumberland Adventure Program uses therapeutic outdoor adventures experiences and clinical intervention to assist boys who suffer from behavioral or emotional issues. Many of the boys come from backgro
Author: Bethany Wilson
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Pulaski County Extension joined in with 21 others nonprofit organizations and 18 Food Vendors at the “Sample of Somerset” an evening event that was attended by more than 1,000 people. Attendees received educational information about the services provided by the Pulaski Extension Service while sampling delicious foods from the local food suppliers and restaurants. Extension Agents had the opportunity to share with the participants the different programs offered by th
Author: Jennifer Cole
Major Program: Health
Like most agents across the bluegrass and country, we had to think outside the box when developing programs for this year. The need for parents to provide educational resources and activities for their distance learners was high. With the help of the Washington County 4-H agent, “Projects in a Box” were developed to not only enhance a child’s at-home learning experience, but to expose and introduce them to 4-H. Three different themes were offered: S.E.T., Embr
Author: Bethany Wilson
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
With the nation at a standstill for most of 2020 and 2021, all in-person Extension programs were cancelled or postponed. To stay relevant, the Pulaski County Horticulture Agent developed 9 Grab N Go curbside pickup programs and continued to add to a YouTube channel. Grab n Go programs included a fall Victory Garden kit (in collaboration with the SNAP-Ed assistant), Grow Mushrooms on Logs kits, Scary Plant kits (in collaboration with the 4-H agent), Ca
Author: Bethany Wilson
Major Program: Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
In Pulaski County's 2018 Community Assessment, substance abuse treatment ranked as important to very important to the 609 respondents. Sky Hope Rehabilitation Center is a 100-bed facility for women with drug addictions. Pulaski County has a large drug abuse problem. Gardening has been shown to have many positive effects on humans. There are physical, cognitive, social, and psychological benefits such as improvement in self-esteem, alleviation of depression, increased strength and stami