Extension
It Starts With Us
Healthy Homes and Communities
Healthy Homes and Communities
FCS, 4H
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Natural Resources
Each decision an individual makes has an impact on health and safety in the family, community, and environment. Preparing for emergency can be crucial to survival and safety. Understanding how daily choices can impact the environment is vital to conserving and preserving our natural resources and ensuring a healthy environment for present and future generations. In 2013, Kentucky ranked 11th in total energy consumption.
Today’s youth spend less time outdoors than previous generations (Clemonts, 2004; Karsten, 2005; Carver et al., 2008) and are likely able to identify a Pokémon character more easily than a native plant or animal (Balmford et al., 2002). Every five years (since 1999) the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC) conducts a survey to assess Kentuckian’s environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. According to KEEC’s 2015-2020 Environmental Education Master Plan (2015), “…the average Kentuckian is able to answer correctly slightly more than half of the environmental knowledge questions included on the survey. This result leaves ample room for improvement” (p 27). The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program strives to increase environmental literacy among youth in Kentucky. The KEEC (2018) defines environmental literacy as “…the ability to recognize the components of healthy natural and man-made systems and the actions necessary to maintain, restore, or improve them” (p. 4) and states that environmental education is a pathway to environmental literacy (KEEC, 2018).
Participants will create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle. They will improve the built and natural environment to increase active and healthy lifestyles.
Participants will apply the skills learned in educational activities related to disaster preparedness, pest management, going green, energy consumption, recycling, home safety, and built environment. They will assess the cost savings and/or benefits associated with these newly adopted practices.
Participants will change knowledge, opinions, skills, and/or aspirations in their understanding of issues related to disaster preparedness, pest management, going green, energy consumption, recycling, home safety, and built environment. They will identify one or more practices that will result in improvements in some of these areas.
Long Term Outcome: Families will utilize skills and practices gained to create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle. Ultimately, they will improve the built and natural environment to increase active and healthy lifestyles.
Indicator: Participants create safer homes.
Method: Surveys and Evaluations
Timeline: 2 to 3 years
Long Term Outcomes
- Youth will be environmentally literate.
- Youth will make informed decisions and take responsible action regarding natural resources conservation, protection, and restoration.
- Youth will be advocates for environmental sustainability and stewardship.
Intermediate Outcome: Individuals will adopt short, and long term strategies related to energy conservation, pest management, or other healthy home practice, resulting in increased savings
Indicator: 50% of the participants will report a change in at least one behavior resulting in savings.
Method: Evaluation
Timeline: Follow up after intermediate evaluations and then 6
Months
Intermediate Outcomes
- Youth will explain the importance and role of natural resources in daily life.
- Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect natural resources.
- Youth will utilize and practice life-skills in 4-H natural resources and environmental projects and clubs, and life situations.
Outcome: Families and Individuals will increase knowledge about home safety, pest control, and recycling.
Indicator: Participants show increased knowledge.
Method: Evaluations
Timeline: On-Going
Initial Outcomes
- Youth will gain knowledge and skills in environmental sciences and natural resources content.
- Youth will gain an understanding of environmental sustainability and stewardship.
- Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, critical thinking, communications, record-keeping, wise use of resources, and leadership.
Project or Activity: General Public
Content or Curriculum: FCS Publications
Inputs: Health Dept, Emergency Management Kentucky Cancer Program
Date: Spring 2021
Project or Activity: Extension Homemakers
Content or Curriculum: Leader Lessons
Inputs: Area FCS Agents
Date: Fall 2021
Project or Activity: Elementary Students
Content or Curriculum: Food and Kitchen Safety Information
Input: Soil Conservation, Health Dept, Local Schools, Local
Doctors’ Offices
Date: Spring 2022
Project or Activity: Elementary Students
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Backyards and Beyond Club Leader Curriculum, Organizational Guide and Toolkit, and Explorers’ Journal; 4-H Exploring Your Environment Series; Leopold Education Project
Input: Soil Conservation,Local Schools,
Date: Spring 2022
Project or Activity: Elementary & Middle School Students
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Water Lessons:
Healthy Water, Healthy People Educator’s Guide and Field Monitoring Guide; Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide; 4-H There’s No New Water; 4-H2O Ambassador Curriculum
Input: Soil Conservation,Local Schools,
Date: Spring 2022
Author: Shannon Smith
Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)
The COVID-19 Virus closed many businesses and placed a strain on health care providers worldwide creating a high demand for personal protection equipment for health care workers. With such a demand on personal protection equipment, items such as isolation gowns were not available. During this time, the Lewis County Extension Office was contacted by Primary Plus asking if we had anyone that could sew isolation gowns for their 9 offices in Lewis, Mason, Fleming, Bracken, Greenup, Carte
Author: Shannon Smith
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
The impacts of community gardens extend far beyond that of providing fresh vegetables to those involved. A sense of belonging, teamwork skills, stress reduction, and increased physical activity are all benefits of community garden programs. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on new changes and challenges to communities and extension programming. The biggest question is how we engage our community during a pandemic? Community gardens seemed to be the obvious answer with all the benefits surroundin
