Extension
It Starts With Us
Promote Safety, Health, Wellness and Good Nutrition
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Raymond Cox, Jeremy Williams
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Kentucky adult obesity rates rank among the 10 highest in the US and Kentucky youth rank among the 10 highest for obesity in the US. Harlan County's health risk is high but can be lowered. According to the "County Health Rankings and Roadmaps" Harlan County is ranked 117 out of 120 counties in measuring the "most health counties." From those numbers, 38% of adults are obese, 40% are inactive, and only 44% have access to exercise opportunities. Obesity is a major factor for many chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Increased consumption of unhealthy foods, stress and lack of physical activity are largely responsible for obesity.
Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily. Manage and prevent the risk and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension. A decrease in the number of youth and adults participating in substance abuse.
Individuals will prepare more meals at home. Individuals will increase their food availability by personal gardening or community systems. Individuals engage in regular physical activity. Individuals will grow, care for, produce and preserve foods from personal gardens and orchards to gain access to healthy foods. Individuals engage in good food safety practices. Individuals demonstrate food preparation skills. Individuals utilize community support systems that provide access to healthy foods. Practice healthy lifestyles decision-making that strengthens individuals ability to cope with normal life stressors.
Individuals will be able to identify the components of a healthy diet as refined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Individuals will recognized the importance of physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. Individuals will develop skills and knowledge to grow their own garden and preserve that food. Individuals will describe food preparations techniques. Individuals will be able to describe food safety practices.
Initial Outcome: Families will increase knowledge, skills and attitudes related to healthy life skill choice, food preservation and food safety.
Indicator: Number of people eating more healthy foods. Number of people participating in physical activity.
Method: Formal and informal surveys, word of mouth
Timeline: Throughout year
Intermediate Outcome: Families practice healthy food choices and physical activities.
Indicator: Number of people that report eating healthier foods, more fruits and vegetables. The number of people participating in Get Moving Kentucky and other physical activities.
Method: Formal/informal survey, enrollment forms.
Timeline: Throughout year
Long-term Outcome: Increase physical activity and consumption of healthier foods in Harlan County.
Indicator: Reduce chronic disease rates in county.
Method: Surveys, statistics
Timeline: Throughout year
Audience: Families, Adults, Groups
Project or Activity: Fit Blue/Get Moving Kentucky
Content or Curriculum: FCS Curriculum
Inputs: Staff, health professionals and agencies
Date: Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Diabetes Programs
Content or Curriculum: Dining with Diabetes, recipes, Diabetes Self-Management, Plate It Up Kentucky Proud
Inputs: Staff, registered dietitians, health department, KY Homeplace
Date: Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Harlan County Health Coalition
Content or Curriculum: Extension Curriculum in all areas
Inputs: Staff, registered dietitians, health department, KY Homeplace, members of the community
Date: Fall 2023
Audience: Students
Project or Activity: Truth or Consequences
Content or Curriculum: Truth or Consequences Curriculum
Inputs: Staff, county leaders, volunteers
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Students
Project or Activity: Safety Day
Content or Curriculum: 4H Curriculum
Inputs: Staff, agencies, leaders, volunteers
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Holiday Cooking School
Content or Curriculum: Recipes
Inputs: WTA FCS Agents
Date: November 2023
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Food Preservation
Content or Curriculum: Food Preservation publications
Inputs: Staff, specialists
Date: Summer / Fall 2023
Audience: Families
Project or Activity: 4-H Family Fun Night
Content or Curriculum: 4-H publications, LEAP
Inputs: Staff, volunteers, leaders
Date: December 2023
Audience: Adults, youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Poke Sallet Fun Day
Content or Curriculum: 4-H and UK information, community partner information,
Inputs: Staff, volunteers, leaders
Date: June 2024
Audience: 5th & 6th Grades
Project or Activity: Bicycle and ATV Safety
Content or Curriculum: 4H publications
Inputs: Staff, volunteers, teachers, leaders
Date: Fall 2023 or Spring 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Bingocise
Content or Curriculum: Provided by WKU and Fresh Baby
Inputs: FCS Agent/Assistant
Date: Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (ten week sessions)
Audience: All ages
Project or Activity: Food Demonstrations
Content or Curriculum: Healthy SNAP Ed approved recipes
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: Several occasions throughout the year 2023 and 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Healthy Cooking Harlan
Content or Curriculum: Diabetic friendly recipes provided by UK
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (Once a month)
Audience: Families
Project or Activity: Faithful Families
Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: Late Fall 2023
Audience: Adults (Diabetic Shoe Clinic)
Project or Activity: Healthy Diabetic Eating Individual Counseling
Content or Curriculum: UK and the American Diabetic Association
Inputs: FCS Agent in collaboration with Darla Shepherd
Date: Throughout the year
Author: Jeremy Williams
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Children need daily fruits and vegetables to support healthy growth. Yet data from the 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health show that nearly 1 out of every 2 children aged 1- 5 years who live in Kentucky do not eat a fruit and/or vegetable every day. Making food fun is a way to encourage children to try new foods, especially fruit and vegetables. In August 2023, the Harlan County Extension Service held an Eating Over the Rainbow challenge for families to eat at least one fruit an
