Extension
It Starts With Us
Active Living and Health Promotion
Improve Physical and Mental Health
Moses (Fine Arts), Burgard (FCS), Jones (4-H), White (ANR), Prewitt (Horticulture)
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Health
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Arts and Community Health
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. Cooperative Extension thrives on reaching diverse audiences to help combat chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky communities by focusing on direct health education to increase literacy and ability to make improved lifestyle choices. According to Whitley County Data, 35.6% of Whitley Countians are obese and over 12.6% have Diabetes. Whitley county is higher than the state average for food insecurity, meaning over 17% our citizens may not know where their next meal is coming from compared to the state average of 15%.
· Include more programming and awareness of mental health and positivity
· Community environment promotes healthy behaviors where people live, learn, work, and play
· Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity by promoting dietary and physical activity recommendations
Intermediate Outcomes:
· 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 indicators (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: Health Coalitions, Advisory Councils
Inputs: Agents, 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: Whitley County Area Seniors
Project or Activity: Bingocize - Increase Activity
Content or Curriculum: Bingocize curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: July & August 2024
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Dining with Diabetes
Content or Curriculum: Dining with Diabetes
Inputs: UK Specialist, FCS Agent, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, Company Health & Wellness, Community Centers
Date: March 2024
Audience: Whitley County Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Content or Curriculum: Health Bulletins, Monthly Leader Lessons
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: August-May yearly
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Heritage Skills Classes - Sewing, Quilting & Fiberwork
Content or Curriculum: UK publications
Inputs: FCS Agent, qualified community teachers
Date: Continuous
Audience: Whitley County ResidentsProject or Activity: Nutritional Programming
Content or Curriculum: NEP and SNAP Ed Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistants
Date: Every month
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Self (talk) Portrait
Content or Curriculum: CEDIK Arts Extension
Inputs: Community Arts
Date: Fall and Winter 2022-2024
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Hort/Art Hiking program
Content or Curriculum: UK, books
Inputs: Community Arts, 4-H, Ag, Hort
Date: Summer-Fall 2022-2024
Audience: General Public/Families
Project or Activity: Dance Classes: Line Dancing, Belly Dancing, Choreography
Content or Curriculum: Artist Curriculum, KET Dance toolkit
Inputs: Community Arts, Volunteers, Artists
Date: Yearly/ongoing Fall and Winter 2022-2024
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Yoga/ Chair Yoga
Content or Curriculum: Healthy Activities, SNAP
Inputs: Qualified Community teachers, Agents, 4-H Camp
Date: 6-8 weeks series twice a year starting back 2022, Summer 2023 4-H Camp
Audience: General Public/Artists
Project or Activity: Art and Mental Health
Content or Curriculum: Community Arts, University of Kentucky, FCS resources, CDC
Inputs: Artists, Volunteers, Community Arts Agent, community input, Community Arts Assistant
Date: 2023-2024
Audience: 9-19
Project or Activity: Outdoor Cooking
Content or Curriculum: SNAP-ED
Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Assistant
Date: July 2023/October 2023
Author: Linda Burgard
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
According to the Health Rankings analysis of CDC, 30.5% of Kentuckians and 37.2% of Kentucky’s seniors aged 65 and older have no physical activity or exercise other than their regular job. Physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and cancer mortality, diabetes, and premature death. Approximately 10% of deaths among adults ages 40-69 and 7.8% of deaths among adults ages 70 and older can be attributed to physical inact
Author: Linda Burgard
Major Program: Aging-General
Research shows that 24 percent of Americans aged 65 and older are socially isolated, and 43 percent of adults aged 60 and older report feeling lonely. Loneliness is associated with a 40 percent increase in a person’s risk of dementia, a higher risk for depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and a weakened immune system. Loneliness and social health are considered global public health issues due to their detrimental impact on physical and mental health. According to the Na
