Metcalfe County CES

Title:

Active Living, Health Promotions and Substance Abuse Prevention

MAP:

Improve Physical and Mental Health

Agents Involved:

Bell, Blankenship, Branstetter

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Local Food Systems

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Health

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Family and Consumer Science

Situation:

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• 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

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

Initial Outcomes:

• 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 

Evaluation:

Outcome:  Nutrition knowledge and dietary intake

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported: increased fruit and vegetable intake and/or 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 abuse prevention

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, comparison of aggregated chronic disease prevalence data

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

Outcome: Physical Activity knowledge and skills 

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 curriculr or program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Communities

Project or Activity:  Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches

Content or Curriculum: Shared Space Agreements,  Active Community Toolkit, Be More Guide, resources for early care and education settings, NEP Farmers Market Toolkit, gardening and food preservation curriculum materials, PBPT, Home-based processor and microprocessor certifications.

Inputs: K - State Extension West region staff, volunteers, grant funds, community partners, key stakeholders, elected officials, public school staff, Head Start staff, Employee Health and Wellness, SNAP-Ed program assistant and specialists, WIC &SFMNP Voucher State Staff, FCS Extension Agent, Farmers Market, 

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity:  Chronic Disease Prevention

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, LEAPS, Food Preservation, Gardening, Cook Together Eat Together, Mastering Food Choices, Fit Blue, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, WIN, Kick Kentucky Cancer, 4 – H Health Core Curriculum

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, Healthcare Providers, Library, Head Start, Farmers Market, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, 21^st Century, Company Health & Wellness, Homemakers, Community Centers, etc. 

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year

Project or Activity:  Physical Activity

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Shared Space Agreements, LEAPS, Be More, Fit Blue, WIN, Health Partner curriculum, FitBlue, Min/ Body Exercise, Stories, Songs and Stretches, NEP curriculum, 4 – H Health Core curriculum, Farm Fitness Day

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers,  facilities, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Library, Schools, 21^st Century, Head Start, Company Health & Wellness, Homemakers, Community Centers, Homemakers

Date: Periodically each year

Project or Activity:  Worksite Wellness: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices 

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, Blue to You, Mind/body Connection, Related published research, PIUKYP recipes, Farmers Market tool kit, NEP curriculum 

Inputs: FCS Extension Agent, NEP program assistant, Volunteers, paid staff, community partners

Date: Series of 6 sessions annually

Audience: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association/Volunteers

Project or Activity:  Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices 

Content or Curriculum: Health Bulletins, Monthly Leader Lessons, NEP curriculum, Food Preservation and gardening curriculum/publications

Inputs: Extension Agents, Volunteers, paid staff, community partners, Farmers Market, WIC & Sr. Farmers Mkt Voucher program resources, Library, Schools, Head Start, local industry, Homemakers

Date: 9 annual Leader trainings

Audience: 21st Century afterschool program participants

Activity: Mind Body Exercise, Simple yoga based stretching, deep breathing and meditation for flexibility of mind, body and stress release.

Content: The Mind Body Connection curriculum, basic Hatha Yoga stretches, research - based resources  on simple deep breathing and meditation practices.

Inputs: FCS Extension Agent, 21st Century paid staff, school space

Date: Twice monthly during school year, once weekly during summer sessions.

Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: Health and Fitness, Farm Fitness 

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Teachers

Date: August-May

Success Stories