Extension
It Starts With Us
Active Living and Health Promotion
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities
Fentress, McCandless, DeRamus
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Aging-General
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Family and Consumer Science
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. CES 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.
- Routinely meeting physical activity and dietary recommendations that promote health and wellness (e.g. 150 minutes a week of moderate activity and consuming recommended daily fruits and vegetables)
- Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work, and play
- Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity
- 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
- Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease (e.g. tobacco 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
Outcome: Nutrition knowledge and dietary intake
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: eating 4-6 servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily; utilize the food label to make healthy food choices; choosing smaller portions
Method: Self-report surveys
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: Physical Activity knowledge, skills, and competencies
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: Self-report survey
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: Substance Use
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: gained knowledge of the resources that are available for substance use in the community as a result of Extension programming
Method: Self-report survey
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: Chronic Disease Prevention
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: participants who had one or more health indicator (cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose) improved.
Method: Self-report survey
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
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: Communities
Project or Activity: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches
Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families, Health Coalitions, Story Walk, Shared Space Agreements, Trail Development, Active Community Toolkit, Be More Guide, resources for early care and education settings
Inputs: Volunteers, grant funds, faith-based organizations, community partners, key stakeholders, elected officials, Department of Transportation, Health Coalitions, Employee Health and Wellness, SNAP-Ed Toolkit
Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Chronic Disease Prevention
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, Cook Together Eat Together, Mastering Food Choices, Dining with Diabetes, Fit Blue, Faithful Families, Body Balance, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, WIN, Kick Kentucky Cancer, Health Partners, Bingocize, Master Health Volunteer, Keys to Embracing Aging
Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, faith-based organizations, health coalitions, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, Company Health & Wellness, Homemakers, Community Centers, etc.
Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year
Project or Activity: Physical Activity
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Faithful Families, Story Walk, Master Health Volunteer, Shared Space Agreements, Health Coalitions, Be More, Fit Blue, WIN, Health Partners, Bingocize, Keys to Embracing Aging
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, health coalitions, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, Company Health & Wellness, FBOs, Homemakers, Community Centers
Date: Periodically each year
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, paid staff, community partners
Date: Monthly
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Forces of Nature, promoting earth-friendly activities among youth
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: Extension agents and staff, Master Gardeners, Extension Homemakers, Hardin Co Solid Waste Recycling, Farmers Market
Date: Summer 2021
CD
Project or Activity: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices - Skip Covid-19 Health Promotions (EXCITE Grant Plan Year 2020-2023)
CDC Initiative to Increase Vaccine Confidence
Content or Curriculum: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Inputs: Community Partners, Health Department, Rehabilitation Programs, Community Centers, Health coalitions, Healthcare providers School
Audience: Adults, seniors
Date: June 2021 to October 2022 (grant ends this year)
Author: Chandra DeRamus
Major Program: Community Health Needs Assessment
Chandra DeRamusSuccess Story12/31/22“Improving Vaccination Confidence in Kentucky with Skip Covid-19 Programs inHardin County”Over the last year in the state of Kentucky the number of people with the covid-19 virus varies based on the county. The covid-19 is caused by the corona virus called SARS CoV-2. Some county numbers with people with the covid-19 virus are higher than others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older adults and people with underlying he
Author: Dayna Fentress
Major Program: Aging-General
Bingocize is an evidence-based 10-week program that combines a bingo-like game with exercise and/or health education. The goal of Bingocize is to improve and/or maintain mobility and independence, learn and use health information focused on falls reduction and other health-related behavior, and engage older adults in social settings. The long-term outcomes of Bingocize have proven to be that there are more improved lower and upper body strength, improved gait, balance and range of motion, improv
Author: Dayna Fentress
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
After noticing that trails and physical activity events seem to slow down after school goes back in session, and then again once fall season hits, the Family and Consumer Sciences program in Hardin County wanted to promote walking past traditional "summer" hours in 2019. That started the WALKtober challenge. The intent was to encourage individuals to continue getting their normal "summer" steps in throughout fall, or more. This event has since grown into it's third annual
