Extension
It Starts With Us
Nurturing Families and Healthy Aging
Healthy Communities
Broderick
Family Development General
School-readiness is a broad term that refers to multiple precursor cognitive, physical and social-emotional skills that indicate young children are prepared to learn and thrive in the school environment. A wide body of research shows a strong foundation in school readiness is indicative of school success. However, in the state of Kentucky on 50% of children are deemed "school-ready" when they enter Kindergarten. Gallatin County Schools have identified this as a community issue and provide preschool to all county residents regardless of need. 96,000 children in Kentucky live in kinship care. Kentucky ranks first in the nation for the most children in kinship care settings in the country. 15,000 children are in kinship care due to removal from their home. Kinship care providers need support. People are living longer. Kentucky's current population of seniors (65+) is 16.4% (2019 Census Data). By 2040 it is projected that every district will see an increase in the percent of the population that is age 65 and older (Zimmerman/KY by the Numbers). As the largest and fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, older adults influence everything from consumer behavior to health-care costs (U.S. Census), While we may be adding years to life, there is a concern about life quality.
•Build personal strengths and self-control, interpersonal communication, life skills including wise decision-making.
•Embrace people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds
•Participants become volunteers to make their community a better place to live for everyone.
•Increase caregiving knowledge and quality relationships.
•Decrease in the number of falls.
*Increase the number of children who are "kindergarten ready" in the state of Kentucky
•Increase in family meal time.
•Increase communication and enhance relationships and social support.
•Practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships
•Individuals are engaged in community outreach activities.
•Individuals change behavior to decrease risk of falling.
•Participants commits to set family rules regarding eating together, limiting screen time, active play and exercise, set routines
•Participants gain knowledge and awareness on ways to reduce falls.
•Participants gain knowledge and awareness on age-related family issues (e.g. dementia, power of attorney, living wills, failing health, dying, loss and bereavement)
Initial Outcome: Participants gain knowledge and awareness on ways to reduce falls
Indicator: Participants in a fall-prevention program
Method: End of program evaluations
Timeline: 1-2 months
Intermediate Outcome: Individuals are engaged in community outreach activities, practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships
Indicator: Individuals have applied knowledge gained from Extension Programs to be more self-sufficient with life skills.
Method: follow up evaluations, observations
Timeline: 6 months to a year
Long-term Outcome: Families communications and relationships are strengthened. More participation in community programs as a family. Participants become volunteers to make their community a better place to live for everyone.
Indicator: Number of families continuing to participate in programs not only as a participant but actively helping and planning programs
Method: Interviews, community data and partnership evaluations
Timeline: 4-6 years
Audience: Families
Project or Activity: Grandlove - Kinship care support group
Content or Curriculum: Grandparents and Grandchildren Together, Nurturing Parenting, Parenting a Second Time Around and other UK publications
Inputs: Extension staff, Kentucky CES publications and resources, volunteers
Date: Ongoing, monthly meetings
Audience: 65+ Adults, KEHA members
Project or Activity: Healthy Aging
Content or Curriculum: Matter of Balance, BINGOSIZE, Keys to Embracing Aging, Alzheimer Education, UK curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff, senior center, community partners and resources
Date: Programs conducted throughout the year
Audience: KEHA Members
Project or Activity: Healthy Homemakers - 2-part series
Content or Curriculum: UK curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, community volunteers, health professionals and organizations
Date: August, 2020; January 2021
Audience: Early Childhood/Preschool Youth
Project or Activity: Engaging pre-school youth and families
Content: LEAP, Stories, Songs and Stretches, other USDA and UK Extension Preschool Curriculums
Inputs: Extension Staff, volunteers, Gallatin County Schools, Gallatin County Library and other community partners
Date: Various programs throughout the school year
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Sewing Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, Volunteers
Date: School year 2020-2021
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Quilt/Sewing Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: Exension staff, volunteers
Date: School Year 2020-2021
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Cake Decorating
Content or Curriculum: UK curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff, volunteers
Date: 2020-2021
Audience: Middle and High School Cooking
Project or Activity: Healthy Cooking
Content or Curriculum: UK Recipes, Plate it Up!, 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, volunteers
Date: 2020-2021
Author: Ronda Rex
Major Program: Aging-General
The University of Kentucky Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension improves the quality of individual and family life in the Commonwealth by promoting health and well-being through community education programs focused on individual and families. FCS encourages individuals and families to make proactive choices to improve individual health and well-being. The Campbell County Cooperative Extension Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Education Program area collabora
