Good Habits, Good LifePlan of Work

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Pike County CES

Title:
Good Habits, Good Life
MAP:
Healthy Lifestyles at Any Age
Agents Involved:
Workman, Chaney, Porter, ANR Agent
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Financial Education - General
Situation:

The obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of Kentuckians. Obese individuals are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. The obesity rate in Kentucky increased 90 percent over the last 15 years. Thirty percent of individuals in the Commonwealth report no leisure-time physical activity. Increased consumption of unhealthy food, stress, and built environments that promote physical inactivity are largely responsible for the obesity epidemic. As a result, Kentuckians are dying from heart disease and cancer at higher rates than all Americans and they have a lower life expectancy, 75.5 years, compared to 78 years for Americans. Minorities and individuals residing in Appalachia bear a heavier brunt of the obesity and chronic disease burden. People are living longer. Kentucky’s current population of seniors (65+) is 13.3%, a number that is expected to double in the next 40 years due to the aging Baby Boomers population. The Pike Co Extension program councils identified the need to educate citizens throughout the lifespan. Educated young people make informed seniors.

With the increasing 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.

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 the 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:

•Decrease # of individuals with chronic disease

•Increase physical activity

•Increase care giving knowledge and quality relationships

•Improve financial education

•Improve the quality of life for Kentucky’s aging families

•Build strong KY families

•A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults, and elderly

•Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension

•Increase the estimated health savings in dollars for chronic disease

•Development and use of the Belfry Library to install a “Kids Reading Garden” for the use of educating, growing, and using fresh vegetables.

•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

•Reduced number of children in foster care

•Reduced incarceration

•Increased number of youth maintaining positive health habits;

•Increased number of youth at a lower risk for serious disease and illness

•Increased number of youth at a lower risk for physical and emotional distress

•Reduce the number of youth reporting drug, alcohol, and tobacco use

Intermediate Outcomes:

•Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns.

•Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding and older age

•Practice of physical activity in families and communities and decreased time spent on sedentary behaviors

•Community members advocate for policy

•Changes related to obesity, physical activity and healthy eating.

•Strengthen community coalitions or partnerships to address obesity, physical inactivity, and chronic disease.

•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

•New coalitions developed to address substance use disorder and mental health 

•Improved access and utilization of resources

•Improved perceived stress and ability to cope

•Youth will contribute to their communities

•Youth will practice refusal skills

•Youth will intervene to prevent use/abuse  

•All agents trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid

Initial Outcomes:

Clients will learn more about the following:

•Risk of falling

•Healthy lifespan behaviors

•Ageism

•Healthy eating and food safety

•Financial Planning

•Healthy lifestyle choices

•Adult weight management

•Healthy aging

•Practice and promotion of daily physical activity

•Policies that reduce the level of obesity

•Reduction of chronic disease 

•Healthy eating habits through the use of fresh produce

•Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease (e.g. tobacco use, poor nutrition, & lack of physical activity) 

•Increase confidence in the 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

•Improved education about diversity and Inclusion 

•The reduced stigma of individuals with substance use disorder and mental health disease

•Improved understanding of the consequences of risk behaviors

•Promote optimal physical, social, and emotional health habits

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Participants will know what healthy lifespan behaviors are and understand how being healthy impacts the lifespan.

Indicator: Number of program participants reporting they know what lifespan behaviors are healthiest.

Method: Program surveys, informal information gathering

Timeline: Spring 2025

 

Intermediate Outcome: Participants make changes to their obesity level, physical activity level and/or healthy eating habits.

Indicator: Number of people who have changed their level of obesity, physical activity level or healthy eating activity.

Method: Program surveys, informal information gathering

Timeline: Summer 2025

 

Long-Term Outcome: Improve the quality of life for Kentucky's aging families.

Indicator: Pike County families report being able to age independently with adequate support systems and independence.

Method: Surveys

Timeline: Spring 2025

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: Spring 2025 -- 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:  Summer 2025 -- Pre-post implementing curricula or program

 

Outcome: Number of youth who indicated they learned about healthy food choices through 4-H

Method: Classroom surveys, Facebook and e-mail quotes.

Number of youth who were educated on health and well-being through 4-H programs (KOSA)

Number of youth who indicated they made healthy lifestyle choices as are result of what they learned through 4-H programming (PRACTICE)

Number of youth who indicated they increased their daily number of servings of fruits and vegetables eaten as a result of 4-H programs (PRACTICE) 

Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself” (SEEC)

Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader” (SEEC)

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Senior Women

    Project or Activity: Ovarian Cancer Screening Program

    Content or Curriculum: Ovarian Cancer Awareness Program

    Inputs: Extension resources

    Date: Sept-May, annually

 

Audience: General population

    Project or Activity: Financial education

    Content or Curriculum: Estate Planning & other financial education

    Inputs: UK curriculum, Money Habitudes, IRS tax resources, etc

    Date: April 2025


 Audience: Communities

    Project or Activity: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches

    Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families, Health Coalitions, Shared Space Agreements

    Inputs: Volunteers, faith-based organizations, community partners, key stakeholders, elected officials, Health Coalitions, Employee Health and Wellness, SNAP-Ed Toolkit

    Date: Sept though May, annually

 

Audience: Families and Individuals

    Project or Activity: Chronic Disease Prevention

    Content or Curriculum: Publications, Health Bulletins, Cook Together Eat Together, Mastering Food Choices, Dining with Diabetes, Healthy Choices for Every Body, Faithful Families, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, Health Partners, Keys to Embracing Aging

    Inputs:  Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, faith-based organizations, health coalitions, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, Company Health & Wellness, Homemakers, Community Centers, etc.

    Date: Sept through May and ongoing throughout the year

 

Audience: Families and Individuals

    Project or Activity:  Physical Activity

    Content or Curriculum: Publications, Faithful Families, Shared Space Agreements, Health Coalitions, Health Partners, and Keys to Embracing Aging

    Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, health coalitions, Healthcare Providers, Health Department, Non-profits, Schools, Company Health & Wellness, FBOs, Homemakers, Community Centers

    Date: Sept – May annually

 

Audience: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association/ Volunteers

    Project or Activity: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices

    Content or Curriculum: Health Bulletins, Monthly Leader Lessons

    Inputs: Volunteers, paid staff, community partners

Date: monthly August though May each year


Audience: Families and Individuals

    Project or Activity: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices 

    Content or Curriculum: Laugh and Learn 

    Inputs:  Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners

    Date: Monthly

 

 

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