Extension
It Starts With Us
Health & Wellness
24-25 Ag Production, Profitability and Awareness
Catherine Webster, Jason Phillips, Nancy Doyle
Health & Wellbeing
Building Healthy Coalitions
Food Preparation and Preservation
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Health and wellness are concepts that apply to physical, financial and family well-being. Kentuckians are dying from heart disease & cancer at higher rates than all Americans and they have a lower life expectancy. 71% of high school youth don’t get enough physical activity and physical activity only decreases as we age. The obesity epidemic, increased consumption of unhealthy food, stress, and lack of built environments are other factors that threaten the quality & years of life of Kentuckians. Families need assistance in gaining access to food, stretching food dollars, preparing healthy foods and building nurturing families. Communities that work together with other concerned citizens & organizations are much more likely to bring public awareness to important health issues. All of these topics were identified by the County Extension Council as program needs.
The overall well-being of families will be increased as they gain skills and abilities to provide for the nutritional, physical, and developmental needs of family members. Youth will maintain positive health habits and be competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of participating in 4-H Health programs.
Individuals, youth, and families:
• make healthy food choices & build skills related to selecting and/or preparing nutritious meals
• increase their level of physical activity and decrease their stress
• keep tract of health through timely screenings and visits to health care professionals
• the built environment (sidewalks) will be enhanced by grants, community input and the involvement of city & county governments
Initial Outcome:
Individuals, youth, and families:
• report making healthy food choices
• learn new skills in purchasing and preparing foods
• gain knowledge about their personal health status
• will take advantage of opportunities to be screened for disease
• identify ways to improve physical fitness
• understand risky behaviors and their consequences
• aspire to have higher self-esteem
• identify healthy ways to handle stress
Outcome: Participants in SNAP Ed program identify healthy food choices and learn new skills in purchasing and preparing foods.
Indicator : Family records and self-reporting
Method: SNAP materials and programs
Timeline: 2024-2025
Outcome: Families will prepare healthy meals
Indicator: Family records and self-reporting
Method: Evaluations via Email, Qualtrics
Timeline: 2024-2025
Outcome: Youth and Adults will adopt health lifestyle choices including food choices
Indicator: Youth and adults will report making healthy lifestyle choices with regards to food and health
Method: Follow up surveys
Timeline: 2024-2025
Audience: Homemaker Members
Project or Activity: Air Fryers/Electric Pressure Cookers, Savor the Flavor, Tips for Stress Eating, Move Your Way Exercize,
Content or Curriculum: Extension materials
Inputs: Agent led, train-the-trainer
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: 4-H Members and 4th Graders
Project or Activity: In Person or Virtual Cooking Classes, 4-H Measuring Labs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H & FCS Foods Curriculums, Teen Cuisine
Inputs: Community partners, staff, volunteers, 4-H members, food and equipment, Lincoln Elementary
Date: October 2024-May 2025
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Workshop to promote Health Information Card/Promote trip to local farmers Markets
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: Agent led, train-the trainer for clubs, food and nutrition information
Date: July 2024 - April 2025
Audience: Families with young children
Project or Activity: Cooking with Your Kids
Content or Curriculum: Family Mealtime Curriculum
Inputs: Community Education, volunteer helpers, food and equipment, Culinary Kitchen at the High School
Date: October 2024-May 2025
Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: Food Preservation Classes
Content or Curriculum: UK curriculum, UK specialists
Inputs: Extension Agents, UK Approved recipes,
Date: May - July 2025
Audience: Snap recipients or candidates
Project or Activity: Nutrition Education
Content or Curriculum: Snap-Ed curriculum, LEAP, Plate it Up, Eat Plan Move
Inputs: Extension Agents, School District
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: 6th Grade
Project or Activity: Health Rocks including the Youth Health Fair
Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks
Inputs: Extension Agents, School District, County Health Coalition
Date: November 2024-April 2025
Audience: General public
Project or Activity: Cook Wild and Wild Game Video Series
Content or Curriculum: Cook Wild recipes from UK
Inputs: UK approved recipes, Extension Agents, paid staff
Date: August 2023 - July 2024
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Donut Forget About Farm Safety
Content or Curriculum: First Aid Kits, mental health information
Inputs: Extension Agents, paid staff, Raising Hope
Date: Fall 2023
Author: Catherine Webster
Major Program: Health & Wellbeing
The Simpson Co. 4-H agent taught Health Rocks to the 6th grade at FSMS for six years. Two years ago the agent and the FRYSC coordinator decided to train three 4-H teens to teach Health Rocks in the classroom, under the supervision of the 4-H agent. It was a progressive experience and leadership development opportunity for the teens, as they had each been in 4-H for five or more years. Teen teachers was also implemented because the 6th graders could better relate to the high school teen teachers.
