Allen County CES

Title:

Improve Physical and Mental Health

MAP:

Health and Wellness

Agents Involved:

Vacant (FCS), Anna Meador (4-H), Adam Huber (ANR)

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Food Preparation and Preservation

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Nutrition and Food Systems General

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Active Living and Health Promotions General

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Child Development General

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. Particularly in Allen County, the obesity rate is higher than the state average, 41% and 35%, respectively (kentuckyhealthfacts.org). The percentage of diabetic Medicare enrollees ages 65-75 actively monitoring HgbA1c was 76% in 2018, which is below the state rate of 86% (County Health Rankings 2014).  In recent years, a higher percentage of the population now has access to outdoor physical activity opportunities after the opening of walking trails at Dugas Community Park. However, 24% of adults age 20+ report participating in no leisure time physical activity (County Health Rankings 2014). With several locations to be physically activity available to the public, the next step is motivating residents to take advantage of opportunities in the built environment to achieve health benefits. With 21.8% of the population living in poverty (in 2017) and 28% of children living in poverty in 2018 (census.gov), and only 6.3% of Kentuckians consuming recommended fruits and vegetables daily, the need for change is apparent. Allen County is the county that is currently in the top 3 vegetable producing counties (according to the 2022 Agriculture Census) in the state, so educating individuals on affordable and healthy food purchasing and preparation techniques will ultimately improve consumption of fruits and vegetables and improve health indicators by reducing incidence of chronic disease. The focus will be on direct health education to increase health literacy and ability to make healthy lifestyle choices.

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 offers safe locations to be active and promotes healthy opportunities where people live, learn, work, and play
• Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity
• Reduce the rate of stress and depression
• Adults will be able to provide and prepare nutritious foods for themselves and their children
• Reduced drug usage as a result of drug prevention knowledge 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Generate positive attitudes toward changing lifestyle choices to be more healthy
• Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods that may be new to the diet
• Experiment with a new activity to increase physical fitness
• Apply one or more stress management techniques
• Practice food safety and preparation techniques
• Apply stress reducing and emotional health techniques as an alternative for unhealthy/drug usage habits 

Initial Outcomes:

• Program participants are able to name the MyPlate Food Groups and foods within those categories. 
• Increase awareness about lifestyle choices and chronic disease (e.g. tobacco use, poor nutrition, & lack of physical activity) 
• Increase confidence and motivation to be physically active 
• Increase awareness of accessible safe places for activity 
• Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. preparation techniques, safe food handling)
• Program participants will identify stressors and at least one stress management technique
• Youth can identify 3 or more stress relieving activities and/or methods to prevent peer influence. 

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase 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 FitBlue, CHAT Team events, Botvin drug prevention life skills 

Intermediate Outcome: Improve nutrition knowledge and quality of 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 Cook Together, Eat Together, CookWild, Super Star Chef, Dining with Diabetes,  Botvin drug prevention life skills 

Long-term Outcome: Increase the practice of making 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 Smarter Lunchrooms changes in schools,  Botvin drug prevention life skills  

Long Term Outcome: Chronic Disease Prevention

Indicator:  Number of 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 Dining with Diabetes or Faithful families or FitBlue,

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Preschool and Early Elementary Children

Project or Activity:  Movement, Mindfulness, early development

Content or Curriculum: Stories, Songs, and Stretches

Inputs: FCS Agent, Volunteers, local Head start and preschools, Allen Logan Simpson CECC, Health Department, Boys and Girls Club

Date: Fall 2024, ongoing

Project or Activity:  Cook Together, Eat Together

Content or Curriculum: Cook Together, Eat Together

Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP Assistant, Champion Food Volunteer, food supplies and cooking equipment

Date: Fall-Spring annually 

Audience: School Age Children

Project or Activity:  Youth Fishing Day

Content or Curriculum: Hook to Cook, Food Preparation, Food Safety, CookWild Kentucky

Inputs: Agent time, KDFWR, Barren River Lake State Park, Army Corps of Engineers, Boys and Girls Club and FRYSC Allen County Scottsville, fishing and grilling equipment

Date: Annually, Summer  

Project or Activity:  Botvin Life skills with seventh grade  and Strengthening Families Program 10 to 14

Content or Curriculum: Botvin Life skills, SFP 10-14 

Inputs: Agent time, Partner with FRYSC, Purchase of supplies, training, 6 programs, partner with Faith Coalition, apply for state FCS grant

Date: Fall 2024, Spring 2025

Audience: Adults and Older Adults

Project or Activity:  Chronic Disease Prevention

Content or Curriculum: Dining with Diabetes

Inputs: Programmatic materials (Dining with Diabetes and Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes), FCS Agent, Local Dietitians (Health Department and Medical Center), Healthcare Providers and pharmacies

Date: Annual, Fall/Winter

Project or Activity: Encourage Physical Activity

Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families, Fit Blue

Inputs: FCS Agent, local churches, Allen County KEHA Members, Dugas Park, Local businesses, The CORE of Scottsville, Health Department

Date: Spring 2025

Audience: Communities

Project or Activity:  Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches

Content or Curriculum: Smarter Lunchrooms, Faithful Families

Inputs: Community partners (In Community Hunger Action Team), School Board and School System, local farmers, NEP Assistant, FCS Agent

Date: Spring 2025, ongoing

Success Stories