Promoting Healthy Homes and CommunitiesPlan of Work

Back to the Program

Whitley County CES

Title:
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities
MAP:
Building Strong Families and Communities
Agents Involved:
Daniels, Coffey, Dengel, Moses, Robinson
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Embracing Life as We Age (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Nurturing Families (general)
Situation:
In Whitley County, family life is an extremely important part of a healthy home and family. The decisions that are made during family time can have a tremendous effect on the community as a whole. These decisions can be as simple as recycling, setting a savings goal, or doing something to be physically active together. Family dynamics have changed to where, in some cases, grandparents are raising grandchildren. According to the Kids Count Data Center, 35% of children in Whitley County were a part of single-parent families in 2009-2013. Family life should be a safe haven for children. There were 44% of Child Neglect Investigations in Whitley County in 2013. This is a concern for both the families and communities.

Also, children in school are dealing with bullying issues that effects their social and mental well being. The Extension Service can educate people on the importance of creating a positive household environment and give them the necessary tools to accomplish this, we will be able to see positive behavioral changes in the next generation of Whitley County residents. By encouraging families to participate in arts activities together, Whitley Extension can provide a positive resource for strong, resilient family growth.
Long-Term Outcomes:
Create strong and safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle

Improve the family environment that promotes an increase active and healthy lifestyles
Intermediate Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Implement one or more practices that will improve:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home Safety
· Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting skills
Resiliancy in children

Assess the cost savings and/or benefits associated with newly adopted practices related to:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home safety
· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting Skills

Demonstrate skills to improve:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home safety
· Money Management
· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting Skills


Participate in an activity or event that improves building stronger families.
Initial Outcomes:
Initial Outcome:
Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and/or aspirations in understanding of issues related to:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home safety
· Money Management
· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting Skills

Identify one or more practices that will improve:
· Disaster preparedness
· Pest management
· Going green
· Home safety
· Money Management
· Making Healthy Lifestyle and Food Choices
· Healthy Aging
· Parenting Skills
Evaluation:
Long Term Outcome: Create strong and safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well being of families throughout the life cycle.
Indicator: Number of individuals who implement the practice of positive physical and mental activities in their lifestyle.
Method: Pre/Post Written evaluation. Change in the health/disease data from Kentucky County Healthcare Profile (CEDIK).
Timeline: 5-8 Years

Intermediate Evaluation:
Outcome: Demonstration of skills that would improve family issues relating to Money Management, Aging, Parenting, etc.
Indicator: Number of families attending classes related to family issues and communicating understanding of topic.
Method: Pre/Post Written Evaluations, Attendance Sheets
Timeline: 2-3 years

Initial Outcome Evaluation:
Outcome: Families identify practices that will improve health and well being of both them as individuals and as a family.
Indicator: Number of families and individuals who respond to classes offered to help implement positive lifestyle changes.
Method: Pre/Post Written Evaluation, Oral Evaluations
Timeline: Immediate at delivery of program
Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Grade schoolers

Project or Activity: Bullying Awareness

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs:

Date:


Audience: Families

Project or Activity: Master Gardener’s

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener program

Inputs: Workbooks

Date: 2016 in Laurel County and 2018 in Whitley County


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Newspaper Articles

Content or Curriculum: Exclusives Offered by University of Kentucky Extension, Agent Created Articles

Inputs: Daniels, Robinson, Coffey, Moses, Dengel

Date: 2016-2020


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: NEP Programs

Content or Curriculum: NEP Curriculum

Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistant(s)

Date: 2016-2020


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Small Steps to Health and Wealth

Content or Curriculum: Small Steps to Health and Wealth

Inputs: FCS Agent

Date: Jan-Feb 2016-2020


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Get Moving (Walking Program)

Content or Curriculum: Get Moving Kentucky

Inputs: FCS Agent

Date: April- May 2016-2020


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: NEP Programs

Content or Curriculum: NEP Curriculum

Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistant(s)

Date: 2016-2020


Audience: Families and Children

Project or Activity: Early Childhood Development through Creativity

Content or Curriculum: Art to the Heart-KET

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Whitley County HEalth Department, UK, Volunteers

Date: 2016-2020


Audience:

Project or Activity: Parent Child Art Classes

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs:

Date:


Audience: All Ages

Project or Activity: Master Homesteader

Content or Curriculum: A curriculum composed from all program areas

Inputs: All Agents

Date: 2017


Audience: New and expectant mothers and fathers

Project or Activity: "Natural" parenting

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs: Horticulture, Fine Arts Agents

Date: 2018


Audience: Whitley County Families

Project or Activity: After School Art Classes

Content or Curriculum: Extension Fine Arts

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Artists

Date: 2016-2020


Audience: WIC voucher participants

Project or Activity: Mobile Farmer's Market

Content or Curriculum: Set up a Mobile Farmer's Market at Health Departments on days that vouchers are issued to ensure great redemption rates and get healthy food to people in the community

Inputs: Whitley County Health Department; Horticulture, Fine Arts, Family and Consumer Science, and Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents, WIC Vouchers, Kentucky Division of Public Health

Date: 2016-2020




Success Stories

First Baptist Church Community Garden

Author: Paul Dengel

Major Program: Master Gardener

In 2016, Horticulture agent, Paul Dengel was approached by the First Baptist Church in Corbin to get advice on starting a community garden. The church had four Master Gardener's in their congregation that Mr. Dengel worked closely with them to solicit volunteers from the church as well as plan, build, and grow the garden.  In 2017, First Baptist Church received a Grow Appalachia grant to expand the garden and they expanded to 24 beds. From these 24 vegetable beds we made the follow

Full Story

Surviving the Holidays

Author: Matti Coffey

Major Program: Nurturing Families (general)

Limited income and resources brings overwhelming stress to many individuals and families throughout the year and especially at the holiday season. For the second year, Knox and Whitley FCS Agents partnered to present a special workshop for the holidays. This workshop included presentations on: traditional, inexpensive recipes made healthier; holiday food safety; inexpensive gifts to make; and decorations made with things on hand. 40 people attended, and the holiday workshop was deemed a huge suc

Full Story

Blue to You in Whitley County

Author: Matti Coffey

Major Program: Blue To You

According to the American Psychological Association, Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability for ages 15-44 in the United States. It effects 14.8 million Americans with the average onset age of 32 years old. Specifically to Whitley County, the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System shows Whitley Countians reported having 5 days out of 30 of poor mental health, which is higher than the state average of 4 days. Because of these staggering statistics, the Whitley County

Full Story

Painting with Lessons

Author: Matti Coffey

Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)

According to research by the University of Waterloo in Canada, we are more likely to have long-term memory recall for items that we have drawn than we are for items we have written. Written text enters our short-term memory, which has a smaller amount of storage space in our brains, thus making it easier to forget. Using this logic, the Family and Consumer Sciences agent started combining lessons dealing with nutrition and gardening information with painting projects. Each month a canvas paintin

Full Story

Outdoor/Cast iron cooking

Author: Garrard Coffey

Major Program: Food Preparation

Iron is a mineral in our body that is vital to health and wellness. It helps our blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. One simple way to get iron in your body is through your diet. Most people do not realize that using cast iron cookware can help your intake of this essential mineral.Whitley County Cooperative Extension Agents for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Family and Consumer Sciences Education partnered together to do a program using cast iron cookware over an open fire to p

Full Story
Back to the Program