Healthy Families and CommunitiesPlan of Work
Knott County CES
Title:
Healthy Families and Communities
MAP:
Empowering Healthy Home and Communities
Agents Involved:
Dora Centers, Chad Conway, and Lorie Adams
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Community Vitality and Leadership -FCS
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Faithful Families
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Cook Together, Eat Together
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Financial Education - General
Situation:
The 2019 community assessment indicated:
The lack of jobs in the area is an important issue for Knott County. An additional challenge is lower waged jobs leave little income, particularly with the high cost of commuting.
Drug use also was identified as a priority issue. Substance abuse has negative consequences for individuals directly affected and their families. Some of these side-effects are cos rehabilitation, emergency response cost, jail, employability, and grandparents raising grandchildren.
A lack of maintained roads, adequate infrastructure, and the overall condition of the county is a hindrance to improving life. A lack of job skills and “soft job skills” hinder employability. Families in Knott county lack financial resources to thrive.
Volunteer leaders are critical for the sustainability of the community infrastructure. These volunteer leaders can help families become engaged, educated, and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions.
Long-Term Outcomes:
- More effective employees and community leaders
- Improved financial capability for Kentuckians, results in a better quality of life and stronger families
- Better family money management skills, such as reducing debt, increasing savings, and financial planning
- Community problems are solved through active engaged local leaders
- Improve the built and natural environment to increase active and healthy lifestyles
Intermediate Outcomes:
- Practice better employee “soft skills” such as communication, networking, teamwork, time management, problem-solving, etc
- Improve employability through practical living skills and continued education practices
- Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings or investments
- Adopt financial planning strategies
Initial Outcomes:
- Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education
- Increase knowledge and skills related to managing financial resources, including savings, credit, and financial planning
- Assist and participate in Knott County Drug Abuse Council with activities/events
Evaluation:
Observation and the use of pre and post-test results.
Learning Opportunities:
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Holiday Showcase
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agents
Date: November 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Savings Challenge
Content or Curriculum: Moneywi$e
Inputs: FCS AgentDate: January 2025
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Cook Together, Eat Together: Couples
Content or Curriculum: Cook Together, Eat Together
Inputs: FCS Agent, SNAP-ED
Date: Monthly July/Oct 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Communication Essentials
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: October 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Tips for Increased Productivity
Content or Curriculum: Time Well Spent Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: January 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: It's Your Reality Financial Literacy
Content or Curriculum: UK Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent
Date: Fall 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Lifeskills
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Curriculum
Inputs: Agents
Date: On-going
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: College & Career Readiness
Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Build Your Future
Inputs:4-H Agent/Teachers
Date: September-March
Success Stories
Survive and Thrive
Author: Lorie Adams
Major Program: Emergency Disaster Preparedness - FCS
Describe the Issue or Situation.According to the University Of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment from Fall 2023, community members listed "preparations for county wide disasters and/or climate impact as one of the top fifteen issues for the county. In 2022, many of our Eastern Kentucky counties dealt with a 100 year flood. In Knott County, 22 residents lost their lives as a result of the disaster. Residents did not understand the alerts/warnings and went to bed
Full Story
UK Cooperative Extension assist North Carolina Extension Disaster Relief Efforts
Author: Chadwick Conway
Major Program: Flood Relief & Recovery
The Cooperative Extension Service has always been a strong network of land grant universities, across the United States. They have historically worked together to serve our many communities in time of need. During the devastating flood in Eastern Kentucky in 2022, many extension colleagues helped out from neighboring states during that time. When devastation hit our neighboring state in North Carolina from flooding from hurricane Helene, in 2024, our Mountain Cattleman’s Associ
Full Story
It's Your Reality
Author: Dora Centers
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
In a collaborative effort to address youth financial literacy, Knott County 4-H, Knott Co Board of Education, Beaver, Carr Creek, Cordia, Emmalena, Hindman, and Jones Fork Elementary Family Youth Resource Service Coordinators and Knott Co Gear-Up, provided countywide 8th graders with University of Kentucky’s 4-H “It’s Your Reality” program. Knowledge gained and applied showed positive results from pre and post evaluations.Percentage of youth who demonstrated a prof
Full Story
Holiday Road Show 2024
Author: Lorie Adams
Major Program: Financial Education - General
This year, the Quicksand Area Holiday Road Show brought festive inspiration and practical solutions to 238 participants across eight counties: Wolfe, Perry, Owsley, Letcher, Leslie, Lee, Knott, and Breathitt. Led by the collaborative efforts of the Quicksand Area Extension Agents, this annual event focused on providing cost-effective holiday ideas to reduce financial stress while enhancing seasonal celebrations. Describe the Issue or Situation The holiday season often brings joy but al
Full Story
4-H Health Science Career Exploration Club
Author: Dora Centers
Major Program: Health & Wellbeing
In our rural community employment opportunities tend to be limited but one area our region has a high demand for is the healthcare industry. During the fall of 2024-25 program year the 4-H Health Science Club was established. The fall activity included a day with UK Physical Therapy collaborating with the UK Engineering Department the 4-Her’s created adaptions for toys for children with disabilities. In addition to club meetings and speakers in the field within the
Full Story
4-H Career Exploration Passport & Professional Introductions
Author: Dora Centers
Major Program: Workforce Preparation – 4-H Youth Development
Youth life skill training opportunities and strengthening youth workforce readiness were identified as priority issues for Knott County in the 2023 UK Community Needs Assessment. In order to address these needs, in a collaborative effort with Knott Co 4-H, FYRSCs, and eighteen community partners, all 8th grade and sophomore students throughout the county were provided the opportunity to engage in a career exploration day. Eighteen community partners
Full Story
Living with Alpha-gal Syndrome Webinar
Author: Lorie Adams
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Describe the Issue or SituationWhile still considered “rare” relative to other medical issues in the state, Kentucky is one of the states with the most cases of alpha-gal syndrome in the US, according to the CDC, with some Kentucky counties presenting the highest cases per capita in the country. This condition is developed in some people after a bit from a lone star tick. There is no known treatment for alpha-gal syndrome. Instead, lifestyle changes can be made that help manage and r
Full Story
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