Health and WellnessPlan of Work

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Mason County CES

Title:
Health and Wellness
MAP:
Health and Wellness
Agents Involved:
Abby Gray, Trever Cole
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Health
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Family and Consumer Science
Situation:

The community needs assessment from both Mason County and Kentucky as well as the Mason CEC recognized health and wellness as a top priority. They have asked for focus or improvement on better skills for selecting and preparing healthier food, availability of substance use prevention programs, mental health programs, and fewer chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc.

Healthy living is one of three 4-H mission mandates and encompasses: physical activity, personal safety, mental health, addiction prevention, and diversity and inclusion. In Kentucky 37% of youth 10-17 are overweight or obese, and 51% report not exercising regularly. 25% of youth report some form of emotional or behavioral condition and suicide rates are at record high (KY suicides per 100,000 people: 15.3, 10th highest in nation). Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health disease can affect anyone, with 1,160 reported opioid-involved deaths (a rate of 27.9 deaths per 100,000 persons) in Kentucky and Vaping nearly doubled among middle and high school students — with 27% of high school seniors reporting they had tried the product in 2018.

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

Outcome:  Increased knowledge of substance use

Indicator(s):  Number of individuals attending programs

Method:  Retroactive pre-post

Timeline:  Following every addiction 101 training


Outcome: Preparing and preserving food

Indicator(s): Number of individuals who reported: preparing more home-cooked meals; modifying ingredients and/or preparation techniques to improve nutrition

Method: Self-report survey; specific curricula or program evaluations

Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program


Outcome: Chronic Disease Prevention

Indicator(s): 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


Initial Outcome: Increased number of youth maintaining positive mental health habits 

Indicator(s): Number of youth who indicated they help others reach their goals (Common Measures – UN 11)

Method: Pre & Post Evaluations

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program


Intermediate Outcome: Youth will contribute to their communities 

Indicator(s): Number of youth who indicated they talked about ways to be active in 4-H (Common Measures – BA 5)

Method:  Pre & Post Evaluations

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program


Long- Term Outcome: Increased number of youth maintaining positive mental health habits 

Indicator(s): Number of youth who report making healthy lifestyle choices

Method:  Pre & Post Evaluations

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Families Impacted by Addiction

Project or Activity: Addiction Training

Content or Curriculum: Addiction 101

Inputs: FCS Agent, UK specialist

Dates: 2024


Audience: 8th Grade Students

Project or Activity: Truth and Consequences

Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences: The Choice Is Yours

Inputs: FCS Agent, community partners, MCMS, St. Pat, Extension Homemakers

Date: October 2023


Audience: Families

Project or Activity: Cooking Through the Calendar 

Content or Curriculum: KYNEP Calendar

Inputs: FCS Agent

Date: Monthly in 2023-2024


Audience: Children under 5

Project or Activity: Stories, Songs, and Stretches 

Content or Curriculum: Stories, Songs, and Stretches

Inputs: FCS Agent, Head Start, preschool teachers

Date: Monthly during school year


Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Food Preservation

Content or Curriculum: Publications, UK research-based information, Ball Blue Book, So Easy to Preserve

Inputs: FCS Agent, UK specialist

Dates: Annually between May and August


Audience: 2nd graders

Project or Activity: Food Explorers 

Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud recipes

Inputs: FCS Agent, 2nd grade teachers

Date: Monthly during school year


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Mental Health Series

Content or Curriculum: 4-H GEM

Inputs: 4-H Agent, teachers, parents

Date: Fall


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Health Workshop

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Health Rocks

Inputs: 4-H Agent, teachers, schools

Date: Fall



Success Stories

Wits Workout

Author: Abbigale Gray

Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health - CED

The Wits Workout program, with it's structured approach to focusing on different aspects of brain health each month, has made a significant impact on our community by promoting brain health and the importance of socialization. This innovative program, in partnership with Illinois Extension who provided the trainings for this program, which focuses on different aspects of cognitive well-being each month, has been met with enthusiasm and positive feedback from participants. Over two sessions a

Full Story
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