Making Proactive Choices For A Healthier Life Plan of Work

Back to the Program

Jefferson County CES

Title:
Making Proactive Choices For A Healthier Life
MAP:
Healthy Individuals
Agents Involved:
J. Carter, L. Caudle, C. Durr, C. Hall, V. Holland, S. Lewis, W. Long, L. Milligan, B. Pratt, K. Smith and P. Thompson
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food System Development and Mapping
Situation:

According to the 2014 Louisville Metro Health Equity Report, Jefferson County residents are experiencing chronic diseases at a higher rate than the national average. 29% of Louisville residents live in neighborhoods that experience higher death rates due to stroke compared to the US rate (41.9%). If interventions can bring these neighborhoods down to the national level, we would be able to save 33 people every year. Louisville is experiencing heart disease-related deaths at a higher level (212.4%) than the national average (194%). In fact, if we could bring these neighborhoods down to the national rate, we could save 155 people every year. 
 
Poverty is one of the strongest social determinants of health. Louisville has a slightly higher proportion of adults in poverty (13.3%) compared to the national rate (12.4%). In Louisville, 24% of children live in poverty compared to the national average (20%) and Kentucky (25.1%). 
 
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. The obesity rate in Kentucky increased 90% over the last 15 years. Thirty percent of individuals in the Commonwealth report no leisure-time physical activity. Increased consumption of unhealthy food, stress, and built environments that promote physical inactivity are largely responsible for the obesity epidemic. As a result, Kentuckians are dying from heart disease and cancer at higher rates than all Americans and they have a lower life expectancy, 75.5 years, compared to 78 years for Americans.  

Long-Term Outcomes:

• A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly. 
 
• Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily. 
 
• Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices. 
 
• Practice healthy food choices, physical activity, and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns. 
 
• Strengthen community coalitions or partnerships to address obesity, physical inactivity and chronic disease. 

Initial Outcomes:

• Youth and adults will learn the importance of healthy lifestyle choices. 
 
• Youth and adults understand the benefits of making proactive healthy choices. 
 
• Youth and adults will gain an understanding in healthy lifestyles and the necessary skills for a healthy lifestyle.  

Evaluation:

 

 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Home & Commercial Producers 

Project or Activity: Certification & training 

Content or Curriculum: GAP training manual, Farmers Market Sampling Certificate 

Inputs: Agent, curriculum, classroom, garden site(s) 

Date: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 

Program Code: 1031 

 

Audience: Youth & Adults 

Project or Activity: Community Garden implementation; school garden 

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener; Extension publications 

Inputs: Master Gardener volunteers; specialists; content curriculum 

Date: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 

Program Code: 1031, 1032 

 

 
Audience: Youth & Adults 

Project or Activity: Food Demonstration, Nutrition Education, Food Preservation 

Content or Curriculum: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices, Plate It Up 

Inputs: CES Staff, CES Agents, Specialists, CES publications, community partners 

Date: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 

Program Code: 2026 

 
Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: Reality Store 

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks, Exploring the Treasures of 4-H, My Financial Future, Step Up to Leadership, Moneywise, MITT, STEPS to a Healthy Teen 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: September 2020 – April 2021 

Program Code: 4031 

 
Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: Dollars & Sense 

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks, Exploring the Treasures of 4-H, My Financial Future, Step Up to Leadership, Moneywise, MITT, STEPS to a Healthy Teen 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: September 2020 – April 2021 

Program Code: 4031 

 
 

Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: Jr. MANRRS 

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks, Exploring the Treasures of 4-H, My Financial Future, Step Up to Leadership, Moneywise, MITT, STEPS to a Healthy Teen 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: September 2020 – April 2021 

Program Code: 4041 

 

 
Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: In-School Club 

Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks, Exploring the Treasures of 4-H, My Financial Future,   

 Step Up to Leadership, Moneywise, MITT, STEPS to a Healthy Teen 

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, outside funding 

Date: September 2020 – April 2021 

Program Code: 4001 

 

 Audience: General Public 

Project or Activity: Weight Management, Food Demonstrations, and Nutrition Education 

Content or Curriculum: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices, 

Inputs: Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 

Program Code: 2027 

 
Audience: Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity: Healthy Bladder Habits 

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) 

Inputs: Kentucky CES publication and resources 

Date: September 2020  

Program Code: 2027 

 

Audience: Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity: Sensational Salads 

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) 

Inputs: Kentucky CES publication and resources 

Date: February 2021  

Program Code: 2062 



Success Stories

Garden to Table Video Series

Author: Bethany Pratt

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

COVID has brought many lifestyle changes to Louisvillians, Kentuckians and people all over the world. One of the most exciting changes is the renewed interest in gardening. This year the Horticulture agent spoke with a record number of first time gardeners looking to grow their own food. A Senior SNAP-ED Assistant & 4-H Assistant spoke with record numbers of first time gardeners who wanted to learn how to cook their own food. This led to a partnership between Horticulture, SNAP-ED & 4-H

Full Story

Kentucky Extension Service’s New Way of Program Delivery

Author: Phillip Long

Major Program: Community Engagement

1. Since we use these stories as a resource for multiple requests, don’t restrict Success Stories only to traditional Extension appointments and activities. Any accomplishments and efforts that are noteworthy may be included.Kentucky Extension Service’s New Way of Program Delivery. In the early spring of 2020, the US found itself faced with a COVID-19 Pandemic which eventually limited public access to nearly every public and private enterprise including all educational systems,

Full Story

Western Mental Health

Author: Patrice Thompson

Major Program: Health

Planning for the "Your Thoughts Matter" program that is being presented to my 4-H club at western, I decided to get a bit more virtually creative in the ending project details. "Your Thoughts Matter" is a program that introduces the participants to what mental health entails and how they can become better citizens by gaining a clear understanding then putting their understanding to use. At the end of 4-H programs the club has to decide on a project that will impact their scho

Full Story
Back to the Program