Todd County CES

Title:

Promoting Individual and Family Development

MAP:

Empowering Youth, Individuals and Families to Succeed

Agents Involved:

Jill Harris,

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Family Development General

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Aging-General

Situation:

People are living longer. Kentucky’s current population of seniors (65+) is 16.4% (2019 Census Data). By 2040 it is projected that every district will see an increase in the percent of the population that is age 65 and older (Zimmerman/KY by the Numbers). As the largest and fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, older adults influence everything from consumer behavior to health-care costs (U.S. Census). While we may be adding years to life, there is concern about life quality. This is because a person’s life expectancy, the total number of years a person is expected to live, does not always match a person’s “health span”—time spent in good health (Institute of Medicine). The life expectancy of Kentuckians, 75.1 years, fluctuates as much as 9 years between counties and ranks among the bottom five states. Heavily influenced by life-long lifestyle behaviors and choices, including quality of diet, physical activity and tobacco use, the Kentuckian health span is also below national averages. Kentucky FCS can help individuals and families establish healthy lifestyle behaviors and relationships throughout the lifespan as way to positively influence optimal aging and help reduce issues such as chronic disease, obesity, opioid and alcohol abuse, and mental illness.

 “School-readiness” is a broad term that refers to multiple precursor cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills that indicate young children are prepared to learn and thrive in the school environment. A wide body of research shows a strong foundation in school readiness is indicative of school success. Emerging research also indicates that there is a synergistic effect when early learning activities activate physical and cognitive skills simultaneously, as opposed to doing so in isolation. However, in the state of Kentucky only 50% of children are deemed “school-ready” when they enter Kindergarten.   These numbers indicate a need for more activities that support school-readiness by building multiple skill sets simultaneously.

96,000 children in Kentucky live in kinship care.  Kentucky ranks first in the nation for the most children in kinship care settings in the country.  15,000 children are in kinship care due to removal from their home.   Kinship care providers need support.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Programs and policies will promote healthy aging in Kentucky
• Kentuckians improve health span through lifestyle choices and behaviors related to overall health and well-being  
• Increase the number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in the state of Kentucky.
• Improve academic success for children in Kentucky

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Kentuckians of all ages adapt healthy lifestyle choices, including diet, physical activity, no smoking/binge drinking. 
• More Kentucky households prepare for caregiving
• Kentuckians will seek health screenings and vaccines
• Older Kentuckians will prevent falls 
• Kentuckians will address mental health 
• Increase opportunities and access to more preschool learning activities outside of the home
• Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in _______ county
• Increase number of learning activities experienced at home
• Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.
• Increase caregiver advocacy for children in their care including legal, medical, social, and educational services
• Increase access of community services to caregivers 

Initial Outcomes:

• Kentuckians understand the importance of lifestyle choices and behaviors throughout their lifespan on their overall health, well-being and life quality
• Kentuckians learn how to make healthy lifestyle choices
• Kentuckians learn that caregiver preparation in important
• Kentuckians learn that disease prevention and early detection is important
• Kentuckians learn about resources to enhance life quality, safety and to support aging families 
• Kentuckians understand the importance of developmentally appropriate play to their child’s academic success
• Increase child’s ability to express appropriate emotion
• Improve child’s gross motor skills
• Improve child’s early literacy skills including phonological awareness, print awareness, and vocabulary
• Increase awareness of indicators of high-risk adolescent behaviors 
• Identify key points of adolescent development
• Establish realistic expectations for teen behavior, and explore changing relationships within families 

Evaluation:

Outcome: (ST) Learn about prevention and how to adapt healthy lifestyles

Indicator:  Total number of individuals/families reached with information to improve healthy lifestyle choices specifically related to aging/longevity

Method:  Lesson Evaluations: Keys to Embracing Aging, Stand up to Falling, Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Beyond (Home Accessibility), RAAD/VDT, AARP Prepare to Care, 10 Warning Signs/UAD  

Timeline:  Ongoing

Outcome: (I) Adapt healthy lifestyles related to aging and longevity  

Indicator:  Of the total number of individuals/families who learned information about healthy lifestyle choices related to aging/longevity, the total number of individuals/families/caregivers who adapted their behavior

Method:  3-6 month Post Lesson evaluations: Keys to Embracing Aging, Stand up to Falling, Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Beyond (Home Accessibility), RAAD/VDT, AARP Prepare to Care, 10 Warning Signs/UAD  

Timeline: Ongoing

  

Outcome:  (LT) Kentucky’s overall health span increases

Indicator:  Number of programs and policies identified, adapted, created and evaluated to promote healthy aging in Kentucky

Method:  Overall Health Life Expectancy increases in KY 

Timeline:  Ongoing

Outcome:  Kentuckians learn fun age appropriate activities to aid in their child’s healthy development.

Indicator:  Number of parents who expressed learning new activities to engage their children at home.

Method:  Laugh and Learn Play Dates Survey

Timeline:  January - December

Outcome: Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.

Indicator: How many children increased their ability to express emotion after attending the program?

Method:  Stories, Songs, and Stretches Survey

Timeline: July - June

 

Outcome: Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Todd county. 

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many parents reported improved gross motor skills, social-emotional skills, and early literacy skills?) 

Method:  Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Kindergarten Readiness Results

Timeline:  July- June

Outcome: Increase skills and resources of caregivers to provide effective care for young relatives

Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many caregivers improve skills/knowledge in child development, discipline and guidance, legal issues, and advocacy)

Method: Parenting a Second Time Around (PASTA) Evaluation 

Timeline:  Post program evaluation 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity:  Self-Care: Meaningful Social Connections

Content or Curriculum: FCS

Inputs: FCS

Date: October 2024

Audience: Public

Project or Activity:  Stand up to Falling

Content or Curriculum: FCS

Inputs: FCS, Guest Speaker

Date: October 2024

Audience: Public

Project or Activity:  Wits Workout

Content or Curriculum: University of IL Extension 

Inputs: FCS Agent

Date: Fall 2024 & Spring 2025 (12 sessions each)

Audience: Preschool aged children and their parent(s)

Project or Activity:  Various

Content or Curriculum: Parent Nights

 Inputs: FCS Agent, Library, schools 

 Date: Spring 2025

Audience: Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity:  Creating Welcoming Communities

Content or Curriculum: FCS

 Inputs: FCS 

 Date: June 2025

Audience: Exxtension Homemakers

Project or Activity: Inspiring Grandchildren to Become Grand Cooks

Content or Curriculum: FCS

 Inputs: FCS 

 Date: February 2025

Success Stories