Marshall County CES

Title:

Healthy Living Lifestyles for Youth, Families & Community

MAP:

Thriving Individuals, Strong Families

Agents Involved:

LDM, VW

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Family and Consumer Science

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Substance Use Recovery – 4-H Youth Development

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Mental Health and Well-being – 4-H Youth Development

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Nutrition and Food Systems General

Situation:

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.

The ever changing landscape of the family and the consumer highlights the need for a responsive and innovative FCS program while also providing the basic needs that all families have as they navigate lives many challenges. Kentucky 4-H Seeks to meet these needs through working with youth and families in a variety of situations to increase their consumer awareness, financial management, nutrition, culinary arts, textiles, housing, and human development.

A foundation of nutrition knowledge, skills and competencies in topics such as food safety, handling and preparation, cooking methods and techniques, feeding practices, foods science, and food systems are essential to changing dietary behaviors. With the increased trend of chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky, individuals, families and communities need tools and environments that support healthful dietary decisions. CES agents are encouraged to reach diverse audiences to help combat chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky communities.

Due to increased need of programming for kinship care families, an ongoing series of Parenting a Second Time Around (PASTA) will be implemented in Marshall County. Engaging families experiencing life changes, and connecting them to local professionals who are trained to be a valuable part of a support system during this time, will assist them in solving everyday problems and create an outreach that may have been unknown to them previously.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Reduced fatalities.
• 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.
• Participants be responsible and contributing individuals and family members
• Participants contribute to a safe and healthy home and community. 
• Routinely employ healthy dietary practices that promote health and wellness (e.g. consume recommended daily fruits and vegetables and improve food management skills
• Reduce the rate of chronic disease and obesity

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle.
• 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 & adults will intervene to prevent use/abuse.  
• Youth utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations 
• Youth project a positive image and self-confidence 
• Youth & families practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making 
• Youth & families practice healthy eating choices 
• Participants make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results.
• Generate positive attitudes toward changing dietary decisions to be more healthful.
• Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods.
• Decrease intake of solid fats, added sugars and sodium
• Employ healthful cooking methods, feeding practices and food preservation techniques
• Increased access to healthy doos via local farmers markets, food retailers and/or home gardens

Initial Outcomes:

• Improved in awareness of health concerns for youth.
• Improved education about Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health disease.
• Improved education about Diversity and Inclusion.
• 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.
• Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects and programs 
• Understand the decision-making process 
• Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action 
• Learn to read and follow instructions 
• Increase awareness about relationships between food and nutrition practices and chronic disease.
• Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. gardening, preparation and preservation techniques, safe food handling, food resource management)
• Increase confidence in ability to employ healthy eating practices
• Increase motivation to access and prepare healthier foods

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Nutrition knowledge, skills, and competencies

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: use knowledge and skills to improve food-shopping management; utilize the food label to make healthy food choices; choosing smaller portions; increased food preservation knowledge; demonstrated recommended food preservation practices

Method: Self-report surveys' specific curricula or program evaluations

Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program; ongoing

Intermediate Outcome: Dietary intake

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: eating 4-6 servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily

Method: Self-report surveys about fruit and vegetable intake or other dietary improvements; specific curricula or program evaluations

Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program; ongoing

Long-term Outcome: Preparing and preserving food

Indicator: 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; ongoing

4-H Youth Development Health Items

• Outcome to be Evaluated
• Number of youth who indicated they learned about healthy food choices through 4-H
• Method of Evaluation
• 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)

Evaluation of 4-H FCS Specific Items

• Outcome to be Evaluated
  • Youth who engage in FCS project Work
• Indicator of Success for Outcome
  • Youth complete a FCS Project
• Method of Evaluation
  • 4-H Common Measures Universal Survey

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:  Marshall County Youth (Ages 9-14)

Project or Activity:  Residential Summer 4-H Camp -- Campers learn daily skills such as responsibility for their own items, cleaning skills, and engage in physical activity.

Content or Curriculum:  Kentucky 4-H Core Curriculum

Inputs:  Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, Marshall County 4-H Teen & Adult Camp Counselors

Date:  Summer 2025

Audience: Marshall County, Community 4-H Clubs & CFS/NCCA Club Members/Students 

Project or Activity: 4-H Club Lessons & Workshops

Content or Curriculum: NEP Programs/4-H Foods

Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, Marshall County 4-H Teen volunteers, UK CES Publications

Date: 2024-25 Club Year

Audience: Marshall County 4th Grade Students

Project or Activity: Marshall County Youth Ag Field Day -- Gardening & Nutrition

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Agriculture & Natural Resources Curriculums on Gardening; NEP Victory Garden Resources

Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agents for 4-H Youth Development & ANR, Extension Assistant, Marshall County Master Gardeners, and Marshall County 4-H Teen volunteers.

Date: March/April 2025

Audience: General Public, Students & Parents, Needline & Marcella's Kitchen Clients

Project or Activity: School & Community Health Fairs / Displays / Publications

Content or Curriculum: NEP Materials & Curriculums

Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agents for ANR & 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, Marshall County 4-H Volunteers, Master Gardeners, UK Publications

Date: 2024-25 as scheduled

Audience: Marshall County, Community 4-H Clubs & CFS/NCCA Club Members/Students 

Project or Activity: 4-H Club Lesson(s)

Content or Curriculum: Building Character and Social-Emotional Learning, Mindful Me, and Centering on Me Based Lessons  

Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Extension Assistant, and Marshall County 4-H Teen volunteers.

Date: 2024-25

Audience: Marshall County 8th Grade Students

Project or Activity: Middle School Enrichment Programs

Content or Curriculum: Truth & Consequences

Inputs: Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, Marshall County Health Department, Community Leaders, YSC Coordinator, and middle school life skills/enrichment/health teachers.  Assistance from Marshall County Extension Agent for FCS and Extension Assistant.

Date: Winter/Spring 2025

Audience: Marshall County 5th Grade Students

Project or Activity: Farm & Home Safety Day

Content or Curriculum: UK CES Food Safety Guidelines/NEP Curriculum

Inputs: Marshall County Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent, Extension Assistant, NRCS, Marshall County Conservation District, and participating agencies/organizations.

Date: Fall 2024

Audience: Marshall County 4-H Sharp Shooter Members

Project or Activity: 4-H Sharp Shooters Safety & Range Training

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports Program & Materials/Project Book developed by Marshall County Certified Shooting Sport Coaches

Inputs: Marshall County 4-H Shooting Sports Coaches & Coordinator, Calvert City Gun Club volunteers, and Marshall County Extension Agents for 4-H Youth Development & ANR.

Date: Spring/Summer 2024

Audience: Marshall County 4-H Trailblazer Members

Project or Activity: 4-H Trailblazer Club Lessons & District 7 Horse Related Programs

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Horse Program & UK Specialist's Presentations -- Safety Around Horses/Equine Nutrition/Proper Horsemanship & Showmanship Skill Development / D7 4-H Horse Judging & Show Clinics

Inputs: Marshall County 4-H Certified Horse Volunteers, W1 & W2 4-H & ANR Agents, UK Equine Specialists

Date: 2024-25 Club Year -- Continually working to recruit a Marshall County Certified Horse Volunteer as of 5/29/24

Audience: Communities

Project or Activity: Community Outreach

Content or Curriculum: Cooking programs, marketing, increased access (e.g. location, hours, EBT), Plate it up! Kentucky Proud resources, Farmers Market Toolkit, Super Star Chef cooking camp

Inputs: FCS agent, Extension Assistant, Nutrition Education Program (NEP), paid staff, grant funds, facilities, Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Date: April--October/growing seasons

Audience: Families & Individuals

Project or Activity: Food Preparation for Better Health

Content or Curriculum: Cook Together Eat Together, Mastering Food Choices, Dining with Diabetes, Super Star Chef, Plate it Up!-Kentucky Proud, National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) resources, resources for early care and education settings

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, faith-based organizations

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year

Project or Activity: Food Preservation

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Trainings, Home-based Micro-Processing training

Inputs: FCS agent, Extension Assistant, Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, programmatic materials, NEP resources

Date: Year-round 

Audience: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association/Volunteers

Project or Activity: Promoting Nutrition with Volunteers

Content or Curriculum: Champion Food Volunteers, Mastering Food Choices, International Cuisine publications, Food preservation workshops, Monthly leader lessons, Maker Monday

Inputs: FCS agent, Extension Assistant, Volunteers, paid staff, community partners

Date: Year-round

Audience: Kinship Care Families

Project or Activity: All in the Family workshops

Content or Curriculum: Parenting the Second Time Around (PASTA), supporting Extension publications

Inputs: FCS Agent, Youth Service Center coordinators, County Attorney, School counselors, Library staff, County Park staff

Date: Year-round

 

Success Stories