Edmonson County CES

County Emphasis:

Implementing Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Concentration 1:

Health and Wellbeing

Concentration 2:

Food Safety, Quality, and Access

Concentration 3:

Mental Health and Well-Being

Situation:

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

County Situation:

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Increased availability and accessibility to community-based health resources
• Youth will increase contributions to their communities through applying critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication learning in the 4-H Health and Well-Being Core Content Area.
• Increased organizational/site/community support for health-promoting behaviors that equitably address community health or safety issues
• Increased access to mental health care and resources for all

Intermediate Outcomes:

Increased organizational/site/community support for health-promoting behaviors that equitably address community health or safety issues.

Improved dietary habits through: consumption of more fruits and vegetables, a variety of proteins and the number of meals prepared at home.

Increased advocacy for mental health and wellbeing resources

Initial Outcomes:

Increased knowledge about health-promoting behaviors 

Increased awareness of Extension resources and programs supporting food access.

Increased knowledge of mental health and well-being resources (interpersonal and community-based)

Evaluation:

Outcome: Short Term  

Indicator: 

• Number of youth who reported that they learned the difference between healthy and unhealthy snacks. 
• Number of youth who reported that they learned about safe food handling and preparation.  
• Number of youth who reported that they learned about kitchen safety.  
• Number of youth who reported that they have identified an interest in Family Consumer Sciences. 
• Number of youth who reported an increased knowledge of egg and/or poultry food safety practices.
• Number of youth who demonstrated/reported improved egg and/or poultry cooking skills.

Method: Evaluation Provided by Animal Food Sciences Department

Timeline: Immediate Post Program

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Outcome: Medium Term  

Indicator: 

• Number of youth who reported that they applied skills and/or knowledge to prepare healthy snacks for self or family.  
• Number of youth who reported that they practiced safe food handling and preparation.  
• Number of youth who reported that they practiced kitchen safety. 
• Number of youth who reported that they have used the skills   and/or knowledge gained to complete a Family Consumer Sciences Project. 

Method: Standard Evaluation Tool for Family Consumer Sciences: Survey

Timeline: End of the program year

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Outcome: Long Term

Indicator: Long-term evaluation will be conducted using the National 4-H Index Study. 

Method: Standard Evaluation Tool for Family Consumer Sciences: Survey 

Timeline: 1 or more years  

Adult

Outcome: Increased knowledge about health-promoting behaviors (e.g., how to prepare nutritious foods, benefits of routine vaccinations/screenings) (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported/demonstrates improved knowledge, skills, opinions, or confidence regarding a health-promoting behavior as a result of a participating in a health and well-being program

Method: Observation by Agent or self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration 

Outcome: Increased knowledge of self-care and other coping strategies

Indicator: Number of participants who intend to adopt self-care strategies to improve their own mental health and well-being.

Method: Post-participation survey/evaluation results

Timeline: On-going; Surveys should be administered immediately after a program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth  

Project or Activity: Health Rocks

Content or Curriculum: 

Audience: Individuals & Farmers

Project or Activity: Nutrition Education

Content or Curriculum: Nutrition Education Program, SNAP-Ed toolkit, Publications, Faithful Families, Cook Together Eat Together, Savor the Flavor, Dining with Diabetes, Plate it up! Kentucky Proud, Food as Health Toolkit, Family Mealtime, maternal and child health program materials, www.planeatmove.com, Super Star Chef, Farm to School, Hunger in Kentucky

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, volunteers, faith-based organizations, health coalitions, healthcare Providers and local clinics, health department, non-profits, schools, company health & wellness, 4-H, Homemakers, farmers’ markets, local farmers/growers/producers, commodity groups, community centers, etc. 

Dates: Ongoing

4-H Health Rocks! Curriculum.  

Additional resources include Healthy Bodies: Teaching Kids What They Need to Know  

Substance Abuse  

Mental Health Services Administration. 

Inputs: 

4-H Family and Consumer Sciences programs in which youth experience a sense of belonging, and developmental relationships, explore their spark, and actively engage in meaningful opportunities.  

Accredited and certified volunteers in 4-H FCS projects. 

Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association  

Four residential camping facilities.  

Cooperative Extension Educational facilities.  

Utilization of approved research-based curriculum. 

Outreach of the Cooperative Extension Land-Grant System.  

Funding from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.  

Funding from local, state, and federal sources.  

Engagement of youth and volunteers in program delivery. 

Engaging communities in identifying and implementing programming based on local needs

Date: September 1 – August 30

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Mental Health Education Programming

Content or Curriculum: Adult Mental Health First Aid, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), CODE RED, ACT (Awareness, Communication, and Triage and Treat) for Farm Families, Understanding and Coping with Trauma after Natural Disasters, After the Storm, Blue to You  

Inputs: Programmatic materials, state specialist support, staff training, facilities, community partners (health coalitions, schools, local non-profits, etc.) UK Healthcare mental health resources, 988 community resources.

Date: Ongoing; 2025-2029

Evaluation:

Outcome: Short Term  

Indicator: 

• Number of youth who reported that they learned the difference between healthy and unhealthy snacks. 
• Number of youth who reported that they learned about safe food handling and preparation.  
• Number of youth who reported that they learned about kitchen safety.  
• Number of youth who reported that they have identified an interest in Family Consumer Sciences. 
• Number of youth who reported an increased knowledge of egg and/or poultry food safety practices.
• Number of youth who demonstrated/reported improved egg and/or poultry cooking skills.

Method: Evaluation Provided by Animal Food Sciences Department

Timeline: Immediate Post Program

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Outcome: Medium Term  

Indicator: 

• Number of youth who reported that they applied skills and/or knowledge to prepare healthy snacks for self or family.  
• Number of youth who reported that they practiced safe food handling and preparation.  
• Number of youth who reported that they practiced kitchen safety. 
• Number of youth who reported that they have used the skills   and/or knowledge gained to complete a Family Consumer Sciences Project. 

Method: Standard Evaluation Tool for Family Consumer Sciences: Survey

Timeline: End of the program year

---

Outcome: Long Term

Indicator: Long-term evaluation will be conducted using the National 4-H Index Study. 

Method: Standard Evaluation Tool for Family Consumer Sciences: Survey 

Timeline: 1 or more years  

Adult

Outcome: Increased knowledge about health-promoting behaviors (e.g., how to prepare nutritious foods, benefits of routine vaccinations/screenings) (initial)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported/demonstrates improved knowledge, skills, opinions, or confidence regarding a health-promoting behavior as a result of a participating in a health and well-being program

Method: Observation by Agent or self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration 

Outcome: Increased knowledge of self-care and other coping strategies

Indicator: Number of participants who intend to adopt self-care strategies to improve their own mental health and well-being.

Method: Post-participation survey/evaluation results

Timeline: On-going; Surveys should be administered immediately after a program