Extension
It Starts With Us
Promote Health and Wellness
Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Shonda Johnston, Clay Stamm, Madalyn Wells, Horticulture Agent (Vacant), 4-H Youth Development Agent (vacant)
Local Food Systems
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Leadership
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. Cooperative Extension Services agents are encouraged to reach diverse audiences 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 as well as addressing substance use prevention, recovery, stigma, and impact on families and communities.
- Increase in practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily
- Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity
- Prevention and/or reduction of substance use and its related consequences
- Generate positive attitudes toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy
- Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods
- Improve self-efficacy in physical activity, movement, and active routes to destinations
- Decrease tobacco/ substance use and delayed age of first use among Kentucky youth
- Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease (e.g. tobacco/substance use, poor nutrition, & lack of physical activity)
- Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy practices
- Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. preparation techniques, safe food handling)
- Increase motivation to be active
- Increase awareness of accessible safe places for activity
- Increase knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and recovery (or related subject matter)
Outcome: Understanding of the consequences associated with substance abuse
Indicator: Increased knowledge of the consequences associated with substance abuse as indicated in post evaluation
Method: Post Evaluation of Programs
Timeline: Annually
Outcome: Increase awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills and attitudes needed to make informed choices and implementation of daily physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: knowledge and skills gained about the benefits of physical activity; adoption of physical activity practices; increase in physical activity levels
Method: Post Evaluation of Programs
Timeline: Annually
Outcome: Availability / Access to healthy lifestyle choices
Indicator: Number of communities, health coalitions, or organizations who reported: implemented policy, system, and/or environmental changes to promote healthy eating and active living
Method: Self-report survey
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Audience: high school youth
Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences
Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences Curriculum
Inputs: Clark County Cooperative Extension Staff, High School Personnel, Community volunteers and agencies
Date: Spring
Audience: Families, & Adults
Project or Activity: Farmers Market/Community Festivals & Events
Content or Curriculum: Benefits of Beef Consumption; Farmer's Market Toolkit; SNAP-Ed tools; Plate it Up Recipes
Inputs: Kentucky Beef Council promotional material and staff, UK Specialist, UK Publications, Clark County Cattlemen’s Association; community partners; Master Gardeners; Community Volunteers
Date: Summer/Fall
Audience: youth, families and adults
Project or Activity: UK Health Bulletins, Health and Wellness Ambassador program
Content or Curriculum: UK Health Bulletins, Health and Wellness Ambassador program
Inputs: UK Health Bulletins, 4-H/ANR/FCS Newsletters, publication racks, Health and Wellness Ambassador program
Date: monthly
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Gardening Classes and Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Gardening Care workshops
Inputs: UK Publications, Master Gardeners, Community Garden, Community Garden Plots
Date: Summer/Fall
Audience: Adults & Families
Project or Activity: Media Outreach (Newspaper/Radio)
Content or Curriculum: Health Benefits of Gardening, and Consuming Fruits and Vegetables
Inputs: UK Publications, E-Xtension, Winchester Sun,
Date: Quarterly
Audience: 9-18 year Olds
Project or Activity: Fitness Frenzy
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Content
Inputs: Parks & Rec, 4-H Staff, Certified Volunteers
Date: Spring
Audience: Adults and Families
Project or Activity: Wellness Challenge Classes
Content or Curriculum: UK Curriculum
Inputs: Clark County 4-H, FCS, and ANR/Hort
Date: Annually every winter/spring
Audience: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association/Volunteers
Project or Activity: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Content or Curriculum: Master Health Volunteers, Health Bulletins, Monthly Leader Lessons
Inputs: Volunteers, extension staff, community partners
Date: Monthly
Audience: 4-Hers Ages 12-18
Project or Activity: Outdoor Adventure Club
Content or Curriculum: Local Natural Resources sites and activities
Inputs: Volunteers, extension staff, community partners
Date: Monthly
Author: Madalyn Hale
Major Program: Health
Historically, attendance at the Winchester-Clark County Famers decreases after school begins every August. In order help bolster farmer’s market attendance as well as introduce children to the local market vendors and increase consumption of fresh, local produce, Clark County FCS and 4-H agents collaborated with the farmer’s market to present Kids Day on August 28, 2021. FCS and 4-H agents provided $5 vouchers to 100 children under 18 to use at the market for fresh produce
Author: Shonda Johnston
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Historically, attendance at the Winchester-Clark County Famers decreases after school begins every August. In order help bolster farmer’s market attendance as well as introduce children to the local market vendors and increase consumption of fresh, local produce, Clark County FCS and 4-H agents collaborated with the farmer’s market to present Kids Day on August 28, 2021. FCS and 4-H agents provided $5 vouchers to 100 children under 18 to use at the market for fresh produce
Author: Shonda Johnston
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Clark County Cooperative Extension agents were contacted by a local elementary school to ask if there was any pumpkin programming that could be provided for their students. In the past, Strode Station Elementary students attend nearby pumpkin patches to learn about pumpkins during the fall season. The teachers found such value in the agricultural and nutrition education experience that they were hoping Extension could fill that void. Clark County FCS and 4-H agents developed a Pumpkin Days progr
Author: Shonda Johnston
Major Program: Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
There is a strong need for continued substance abuse prevention and intervention in Clark County. Substance use/abuse issues continue to negatively impact a large number of families in the community. According to the recent Kentucky Extension Community Assessment, “issues related to drugs and substance abuse were raised as pressing issues for Clark County” The assessment also indicated that “Drug abuse impacts the individuals and families directly affected and carries economic
Author: Shonda Johnston
Major Program: Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Alcohol and tobacco use continue to be a concern among youth in Clark County. Nearly 10% of Kentucky youth ages 12-15 try alcohol for the first time, according to national data. Research shows that alcohol use in teenagers can lead to developmental concerns, increased risk for depression, anxiety and low self esteem. To address this, the Family & Consumer Sciences agent partnered with the Youth Services Coordinator at Robert D Campbell Junior High School and the Clark County Health Departmen
