Embracing a Healthy Lifestyle Plan of Work

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Russell County CES

Title:
Embracing a Healthy Lifestyle
MAP:
Embracing a Healthy Lifestyle
Agents Involved:
4-H, FCS, ANR, assistant(s)
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Health
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Family and Consumer Science
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Food Preparation and Preservation
Situation:

Healthy living encompasses many aspects including physical activity, personal safety, mental health, and addiction prevention.  Russell County’s data profile shows that we exceed state and national incidence rates in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, substance abuse, and overall healthy days (Kentucky Health Facts).  Implementation of savings and retirement planning can also lead to overall life satisfaction and reduce stress in the family.

Promote positive personal finance behaviors prepares Kentuckians for any future economic shift. The United States has been in an extremely long period of economic expansion; however, expansions are cyclical, meaning growth is eventually followed by recession. Securing financial stability for Kentuckians will help families thrive no matter the economic outlook. Financial stability is achieved when families are able to secure and manage resources needed to supply food, clothing, and shelter. Through increased financial knowledge, families may be able to make wise financial decisions, increase buying power, avoid overextended credit, develop savings habits, and manage risks.? 

 

Promote positive personal life skill behaviors to Prepare Kentuckians to promote the usage of money-saving skills in the future. The ability to be able to learn essential skills, such as mend clothing, preserve food safely, and utilize hobbies to promote proper food protocols, will help families thrice in tough economic conditions. Financial stability is achieved when families are able to secure and manage resources needed to supply food, clothing, and shelter. Through increased consumer knowledge and life skills, families may be able to make wise financial decisions, increase buying power, and increase self-sufficiency.? 

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Outcome:  adoption of healthy lifestyle and stress coping practices

Indicator:  1/3 of participants implement some aspect of healthy living and stress reduction

Method:  self-evaluation and observation

Timeline:  post-program


Outcome:  adoption of safety practices

Indicator:  1/3 of participants implement knowledge gained on personal, farm, and internet safety

Method:  observation, self-evaluation

Timeline:  post-program


Outcome:  gain skills in food preparation and food preservation

Indicator:  1/3 of participants learn and/or implement skills to prepare food for home consumption

Method:  observation; self-evaluation

Timeline:  post-program


Outcome:  personal and family savings plans are implemented

Indicator:  1/3 of participants implement a financial management plan

Method:  self-evaluation

Timeline:  throughout and after the program


Outcome:  substance abuse decreases

Indicator:  reduction in drug and alcohol usage rates

Method:  analysis of KIP data

Timeline:  over many years


Outcome: Youth practice safety procedures and environmental stewardship

Indicator: Accident and environmental measures

Method: Observation, verbal and written evaluations

Timeline: Yearly

Outcome: Kentuckians learn fun age appropriate activities to aid in their child’s healthy development.  

Indicator: Number of parents who expressed learning new activities to engage their children at home.  

Method: Laugh and Learn Play Dates Survey  

Timeline: January - December  

  

Outcome: Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.  

Indicator: How many children increased their ability to express emotion after attending the program?  

Method: Stories, Songs, and Stretches Survey  

Timeline: July - June  

  

Outcome: Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Russel County.  

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many parents reported improved gross motor skills, social-emotional skills, and early literacy skills?)  

Method: Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Kindergarten Readiness Results Timeline: July- June 

 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Activity/Project: Youth cooking programs

Content/Curriculum: KSF recipes; 4-H Cooking curricula

Inputs: volunteer leader, curricula, meeting space and cooking materials

Date: throughout program year (evenings and day camps)

 

Activity/Project: Youth nutrition education

Content/Curriculum: 4-H core curricula

Inputs: volunteers, curricula, materials, snack items

Date: September - July

 

Activity/Project: Resiliency and mindfulness

Content/Curriculum: 4-H health and fitness curricula; Mind Matters resources

Inputs: participants, meeting space, curriculum

 Date: throughout program year

 

Activity/Project: physical activity

Content/Curriculum: 4-H health core curriculum

Inputs: participants, meeting space, curriculum

Date: throughout program year

 

Activity/Project: money management

Content/Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H and FCS financial management resources

Inputs: participants, meeting space, curriculum

Date: as requested

 

Activity/Project: hygiene

Content/Curriculum: 4-H Health curricula

Inputs: participants, meeting space, curriculum

Date: during school year

 

Activity/Project:  Substance Abuse Education

Content/Curriculum: Health Rocks curriculum

Inputs: participants, volunteer leaders, curriculum

Date: school year and/or summer day camp

  

Activity/Project: Farm Safety Day

Content/Curriculum: Various Topics

Inputs: Participants, volunteers and Progressive Ag Foundation 

Date: Fall Yearly

 

Audience: Preschool-aged children and their parent(s)  

Project or Activity: Various  

Content or Curriculum: Laugh and Learn Playdates  

Inputs: FCS Agent, Library, various  

Date: During the School Year 

 

Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens?? 

Project or Activity: Money Habitudes Workshop?? 

Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes?? 

Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, Money Habitudes cards?? 

Date: As needed/requested?


Project or Activity: Financial Education?? 

Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life?? 

Inputs: FCS Agents? 

Date: As requested/ Needed?? 

 

 

Activity/Project: Youth cooking programs   

Content/Curriculum: FCS/NEP Recipes/ Curricula  

Inputs: volunteer leader, curricula, meeting space and cooking materials   

Date: throughout program year (evenings, school visits, and day camps)  

 

Activity/Project: LEAP Programming 

Content/Curriculum: LEAP Programming 

Inputs: volunteers, curricula, healthy snacks, community partners, Schools    SNAP-Ed Toolkits  

Date: Monthly, school year 

 

 

Audience: Communities 

 Project or Activity: Farmers Market Outreach  

Content or Curriculum: Cooking programs, marketing, increased access (e.g.         location, hours, EBT), Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud resources, Farmers             Market Toolkit, Super Star Chef  

Inputs: Nutrition Education Program (NEP), paid staff, grant funds, facilities,         Kentucky Department of Agriculture  

Date: June– October/Growing seasons 

 

Audience: Adult and Youth 

Activity/Project: Food Preservation Programs 

Content/Curriculum: Various 

Inputs: participants, curriculum, incentive items 

Date: April – October 

 

Audience: Adults? 

Activity: Sausage Making Course? 

Curriculum: UK Provided? 

Date: Fall and Spring yearly? 

 

Activity/Project: Substance Abuse education

Content/Curriculum: FCS specialist information

Inputs: participants, curriculum, flyers, meeting space

Date: TBy Request, upon training completion 

   

 



Success Stories

Dehydrating Your Garden: Food Preservation

Author: Megan Gullett

Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation

In Kentucky, 12.9 million acres are utilized in formal farm operations (nass.usda.gov), with a growing usage of smaller properties being used to grow farm commodities. The Lake Cumberland area is largely rural and has seen an influx in a population wanting to utilize their property to grow their own crops, and then process them for personal consumption. Dehydration, a method of food preservation, is one of the oldest methods of preserving food that pulls out the moisture content of a product, th

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Clean Hands Prevent the Spread of Illness

Author: Megan Gullett

Major Program: LEAP

Clean Hands Prevent the Spread of Illness

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) one of the best ways to help prevent the spread of illnesses, such as COVID-19 and the flu, is to wash your hands frequently, especially when in public spaces. The Russell County Public School system, Active Day, and Head Start programs in Russell County are areas of public space that have a high concentration of vulnerable audiences that may be more prone to the spreading of illness, which can have devasting consequences.The Russell County FCS

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Cooking Wild Game in SE Kentucky

Author: Megan Gullett

Major Program: Cook Wild Kentucky

In South Central Kentucky, food insecurity is a sad reality that many of Extension’s clients face. According to Feeding America, 1 in 8 Kentuckians face food insecurity. South Central Kentucky is also home to many native wild game species that are commonly harvested for alternate sources of protein. However, many clients in the area struggle to prepare wild game to make it palatable. Game meats are naturally low in fat and cholesterol, but traditional cooking methods, such as frying, can n

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Cook Wild in SE KY

Author: Jonathan Oakes

Major Program: Cook Wild Kentucky

Cook Wild in SE KY

In South Central Kentucky, food insecurity is a sad reality that many of Extension’s clients face. According to Feeding America, 1 in 8 Kentuckians face food insecurity. South Central Kentucky is also home to many native wild game species that are commonly harvested for alternate sources of protein. However, many clients in the area struggle to prepare wild game to make it palatable. Game meats are naturally low in fat and cholesterol, but traditional cooking methods, such as frying, can n

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Exploring MyPlate

Author: Christina A. Martin

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

Nutrition education and healthy lifestyles were identified by local leadership councils to be an educational priority for youth to help combat obesity crisis in the state.  According to the Trust for America’s Healthy Survey and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kentucky’s obesity rate for children ages 10-17 has increased to over 21%.  Instructing children with the aspects of healthy nutritional choices at a young age is critical to addressing issues of weight.  The

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Transition Planning: Estate Planning Essentials for Kentuckians

Author: Megan Gullett

Major Program: Financial Education - General

 In the heart of Kentucky's Russell County, a transformative estate planning program unfolded over two enlightening evenings, leaving an indelible mark on 70 clients. Inviting specialists from the University of Kentucky, and a seasoned estate planning expert from Kentucky Farm Bureau, the initiative aimed to demystify the process and equip attendees with the knowledge needed to secure their legacies.For Kentucky, estate planning isn't just advisable—it's imperative, partic

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Cultivating Safety: Farm Safety Day in Russell County, KY

Author: Jonathan Oakes

Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR

In the heart of rural Russell County, Kentucky, lies a community deeply rooted in agriculture. With fields stretching as far as the eye can see and families relying on farming for their livelihoods, safety in this environment is paramount. Recognizing the importance of educating the next generation on farm safety practices, Russell County hosts an annual Farm Safety Day. This event brings together 250 eager students and 50 dedicated adult volunteers to learn, share, and cultivate a culture of sa

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