Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving Basic Lifeskills, Well-being, and Quality of Life
Strengthening Community Lifeskills
Connor Cooper, Erika Wood, Katie Mills, Amanda Dame and Jay Stone
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Agriculture
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Communications and Expressive Arts
According to CEDIK statistics, in Hopkins County, 17% live below the poverty line, 28% of adults report only fair or poor overall health, and 39% of the total population is considered obese. Regarding education, only 6% male and 8% female of Hopkins County residents hold a Bachelor's degree or higher, 85% hold a high school diploma or GED, and the average household income falls behind the national average by almost $14,000 annually. As a result of the demographic data, and availability of Extension resources and programming, the County Extension Council and Area Program Councils recommend that children and families in Hopkins County are in need of life-skill education, including the knowledge and skills to lead a healthy lifestyle, communicate effectively, and manage household resources.
A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly
Improvement in the overall health and wellbeing of residents, which indicate quality of life.
Increase in adults and families living above the poverty line.
Increase in education and workforce placements.
Maintain appropriate calorie balance and activity level during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding and older age.
Practice healthy lifestyle decision-making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors.
Increased practice of skills that increase employability and educational attainment.
Change in knowledge needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.
Change in opinions and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.
Change in learned skills needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.
Initial Outcome: Change in knowledge needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.
Indicator: increased knowledge of healthy choices and life skills
Method: pre-test/post-test, surveys, NEERS data
Initial Outcome: Change in learned skills needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.
Indicator: increased skills that facilitate healthy choices and life skills
Method: pre-test/post-test, surveys, NEERS data
Intermediate Outcome: Increased practice of skills that increase employability and educational attainment.
Indicator: surveys, use of local resources including employment workshops and programs
Method: pre-test post test data, surveys of use of local resources
Intermediate Outcome: Practice healthy lifestyle decision-making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors.
Indicator: surveys, NEERS data, use of local resources, including mental health
Method: pre-test post test data, surveys of use of facilities
Intermediate Outcome: Maintain appropriate calorie balance and activity level during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding and older age.
Indicator: surveys, use of local recreational facilities
Method: pre-test post test data, surveys of use of facilities
Long-term Outcome: A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly.
Indicator: CDC and CEDIK data on population weight distribution
Method: data comparison over years
Long-term Outcome: Increase in adults and families living above the poverty line.
Indicator: CEDIK data of household income and poverty statistics
Method: data comparison over years
Long-term Outcome: Increase in education and workforce placements.
Indicator: CEDIK data of employment statistics and educational attainment
Method: data comparison over years
Audience: Producers, Business Owners, and Future Clients
Project or Activity: Budget, Management, Mental Wellbeing and Workforce Preparedness
Content or Curriculum: Moneywise, FarmStart, Consumer In Me, Mini-Society and other content based programming.
Inputs: Extension Agents, Specialists, Community leaders, and Extension publications.
Time Frame: Spring
Audience: Teens and Families
Project or Activity: Suicide Prevention Coalition, FitBlue Challenge, Cooking Lessons, Gardening and Your Health
Content or Curriculum: UK Healthcare specialists, Cooking 101-401, Learn Grow Eat Go
Inputs: Health Dept., community partners, school system, faith-based communities, UK Specialist
Time Frame: Spring
Audience: Youth, Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: 4-H Pinterest Club, Babysitting Program, Softskills Tips and Tricks, Professional Etiquette for Everyone, Mindfulness, Addiction 101
Content or Curriculum: UK publications and Extension information, Communications Curriculum, Mini-Society, Homemaker Lesson, Training for healthcare & social work professionals
Inputs: Extension agent, UK publications and Extension information, community volunteers
Time Frame: All Year
Audience: Hopkins County Homemakers
Project or Activity: Homemaker lessons, local, area, and state-wide KEHA activities
Content or Curriculum: KEHA curriculum, area Homemaker monthly lessons
Inputs: KEHA curriculum, UK specialists and curriculum
Time Frame: All Year
Author: Amanda Dame
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
The 2019 Hopkins County Community Assessment revealed community members rated Better Food Safety Practices and Better Skills for selecting and preparing healthier food as an important need for Hopkins County residents. To address this issue in Hopkins County, the Hopkins County Family, and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent hosted a three-part Food Preservation Series in June and July of 2022. This three-day series class focused on water bath canning, pressure canning, drying, and freezing fresh
Author: Amanda Dame
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Creating an environment for families to spend time together, move more, and read was the overall goal for the Hopkins County StoryWalk. The Hopkins County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent was a member of the Leadership Hopkins County group who created the first StoryWalk in Hopkins County. StoryWalk is a national program, started by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont. Pages of the chosen book are laminated and placed into a real-estate sign. Each sign is staged around 10
Author: Amanda Dame
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Low levels of physical activity, unhealthy nutrition, and poor mental health are all determinants of several chronic diseases. These behaviors are now considered major public health concerns and require effective behaviour change interventions. Fit Blue is a community-based campaign to increase physical activity and health awareness in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Building physical activity into the day does not require special equipment or a certain location. As participants take part in Fit B
Author: Amanda Dame
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
There are several reasons why people choose to purchase and eat the food they do. Typically, taste, cost, and availability are at the top. But one factor gaining momentum is taking care of the place our food comes from – the Earth and our agricultural practices through sustainable eating. Evidence suggests that shifting food-related behaviors and purchasing patterns over time may protect the Earth and simultaneously result in overall improved human health outcomes. To
