Extension
It Starts With Us
Healthy Families
Family Health and Wellness
Dora Centers, Chad Conway, and Lorie Adams
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Local Food Systems
Health & Wellbeing
Active Living and Health Promotions General
With the unemployment rate in the county on the rise, community leaders through surveys, council meetings, and one-to-one face meetings have directed Extension programming to focus on areas dealing with the health and well-being of families. Children, who start kindergarten with delayed development and fewer assets, are far more likely to repeat grades, get tracked into lower-tier classes, and drop out of high school. 27.5% of children live in poverty. Knott County’s population of seniors is 13.4%, a number that is expected to increase due to aging baby boomers. Nutrition Education programs help families gain access to food and stretch food dollars. Due to the increasing trend of chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky, individuals, families, and communities need tools and environments that support healthful dietary decisions. Knott County ranks 117 out of 120 KY counties for poor health. Obesity and chronic diseases in Knott county were highlighted as a need in the 2019 needs assessment.
- Knott County families are able to:
- Care for the physical, mental health, and well-being of each individual over the long term
- Foster the optimal development of children and youth
- Practice parental leadership skills
- Embrace people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds
- Access community resources when needed
- Decrease the number of individuals with chronic disease
- Decrease obesity
- Access to local foods in our community throughout the year
- Practice healthy food choices and food preparation
- Practice physical activity
- Access community agencies and resources when needed
- Plant, harvest and preserve produce
- Change behavior to reduce risk of falling
- Improve mental health
- Healthy aging
- Access to fresh produce at the local farmers market
- Intend to practice healthy lifestyle choices
- Intend to manage stress, self-care, improve communication skills
- Learn to grow, prepare and preserve food
- Increase knowledge and understanding of healthy eating, food safety, and food resource management
- Increase healthy lifespan behaviors
- Understand age-related issues
- Practice daily physical activity
- Gaining knowledge and access to the local farmers market
Observation and the use of pre and post-test results
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Bowl Like a Pro
Content or Curriculum: Building Meals
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: August 2024
Audience: AdultsProject or Activity: Strong Bones for Life: Prevent Osteoporosis
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: May 2025
Audience: Adults/Youth
Project or Activity: Knott County Farmers Market
Content or Curriculum: Extension Agents, Farmers Market Committee, FFA, Community Partners, and KDA, Plate it Up: KY Proud Curriculum
Inputs: KDA, Hindman Settlement School, Extension Service Agents, SNAP Assistants
Date: March-October 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Emergency Information
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Curriculum/NEP
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: March 2025
Audience: Adults Affected By Flooding
Project or Activity: Canning Workshops
Content or Curriculum: UK Food Preservation Publications
Inputs: Agents
Date: July 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Cook the Calendar
Content or Curriculum: NEP Calendar, NEP Calendar Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent, SNAP Assistants
Date: Monthly
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Dining with Diabetes
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agents
Date: September/October 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Bingocize
Content or Curriculum: WKU Bingocize Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: July/December 2024
Audience: Creekside Recovery Center
Project or Activity: Recovery Garden (Food Preservation)
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Food Preservation Publications
Inputs: Agents, Recovery Center, Garden Produce, NEP Recovery Garden Grant
Date: August
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Mealtime in a Rut
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: February 2025
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Cook Together, Eat Together
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: Monthly July-September
Audience: AdultsProject or Activity: Air Fryer
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: March 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Recipes For Life
Content or Curriculum: NEP Program
Inputs: Agents, NEP Assistants
Date: July 2024
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Food Preservation
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum: State Fair Guidline
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: July 2024
Author: Dora Centers
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Knott County 4-H Council, County Extension Council, and county school needs assessments have identified healthy eating habits and access/exposure to healthy foods a prevalent issue four our Knott County youth. Incorporating new healthy foods is a crucial aspect of children’s development that shapes their health and preferences for life. Data supports these findings with Knott County ranking 117 out of 120 for poor health. Also in 2023, the percentage
Author: Lorie Adams
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Issue or Situation Many seniors face challenges in cooking for themselves due to physical limitations, lack of confidence with kitchen tools, and difficulties in meal planning and portion control. These barriers can lead to poor nutrition, reduced independence, and an increased reliance on convenience foods.Outreach or Educational Program Response To address these issues, a two-day Senior Cooking School was developed with the support of KRADD, KRADD Senior Director, Quicksand Area FCS
