Jefferson County CES

County Emphasis:

Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources while fostering habits that support overall well-being

Concentration 1:

Health and Wellbeing

Concentration 2:

Sustainability, Natural Resources and Wildlife Management, and Environment

Situation:

The health and well-being of adults and families in Kentucky are shaped by disparities in knowledge, resources, and infrastructure, leading to higher rates of chronic health conditions and lower quality of life. Kentucky 4-H addresses these challenges by fostering youth development across five domains of well-being: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual. 

 Additionally, ensuring the sustainability of Kentucky’s woodlands and natural resources requires overcoming economic pressures, limited technology access, and workforce shortages. By promoting environmental literacy, the Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program empowers young people to become proactive stewards of our planet, contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future.

County Situation:

While agriculture is Kentucky’s largest economic driver, Jefferson County’s agricultural landscape is more urban, with growing interest in home gardening, urban farming, and local food movements. Protecting natural resources is essential, as urban runoff can degrade water quality and harm the environment. Disaster preparedness is also key, given the region’s exposure to severe weather events like floods and tornadoes.

 Climate change poses additional threats by disrupting food production and distribution, raising prices, and increasing spoilage risks. To support food access, especially for underserved communities, resilient and climate-adaptive food systems are needed.

 Jefferson County enhances residents' well-being by promoting sustainable agriculture and natural resource stewardship. These efforts support food security, economic stability, and environmental quality, while also fostering community connection and providing educational opportunities related to sustainable practices and resource management.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Routinely meeting guidelines and recommendations for health behaviors that promote wellness and quality of life, and increasing 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 
• Sustainability of agricultural and forestry operations is increased and opportunities for further growth are improved.
• Youth actively adopt and apply advanced natural resources practices, demonstrating a growing commitment to the natural resources community. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Increased health-promoting behaviors, partnerships, and community support for health and safety issues. 
• 4H members will practice general wellness habits and increase physical activity 
• Implement climate resilient strategies to withstand the increased frequency of extreme weather events, promote sustainability, and adapt wildlife management.
• Youth will take responsibility and aspire to act in natural resource conservation and 

Initial Outcomes:

• Increased knowledge about health-promoting behaviors and Increased skills and confidence in making decisions related to health-promoting behaviors.
• Increased knowledge and awareness of healthy habits, practices, attitudes and beliefs towards healthy habits among 4-Hers.  
• Increase the awareness of sustainable forest management practices, economic pressures and technological barriers facing woodland owners and other interested individuals.  
• Youth will gain knowledge and develop skills in natural resources and environmental sciences and understand how their actions and choices impact natural resources and the environment.

Evaluation:

Outcome	Increased knowledge about health-promoting behaviors
Indicator	Number of participants who reported/demonstrates improved knowledge, skills, opinions, or confidence regarding health-promoting behavior as a result of participating in a health and well-being program.
Method	Observation by Agent or self-reported surveys
Timeline	Post-program/curricula survey administration

 

Outcome	Increased confidence and motivation to engage in health-promoting behaviors
Indicator	Number of participants who reported/demonstrates improved knowledge, skills, opinions, or confidence regarding a health-promoting behavior as a result of participating in a health and well-being program
Method	Self-reported surveys
Timeline	Post-program/curricula survey administration or follow up evaluation

 

Outcome	Increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors
Indicator	Number of participants who reported intentions to implement a behavior learned from a health and well-being program
Method	Demonstration or self-reported surveys
Timeline	Post-program/curricula survey administration

 

Outcome	Increased awareness of wildlife, forestry, and natural resources issues
Indicator	Number of participants who reported that they gained knowledge of wildlife.  Number of participants who reported they gained their awareness of forestry.  Number of participants who reported they gained their awareness of natural resources.
Method	Survey (Self-Assessment of Learning Gains)
Timeline	At program

 

Outcome	Increased awareness of natural resources and animal science
Indicator	Number of youth who reported that they have identified their interest in natural resources and applied the skills they learned in natural resources to other areas of their life, including at home, school, and other programs.   Number of youth who reported that they understand how their actions and choices impact natural resources and the environment.     Number of youth who reported that they understand natural resources concepts and ideas.  Number of youth who reported that they have set goals to become a good steward of natural resources.
Method	Survey
Timeline	At the program, follow up with the group

Learning Opportunities:

Audience	Families and Individuals
Project or Activity	Family & Community Health
Content or Curriculum	Publications, presentations, trainings, demonstrations, Health Bulletins, Pathways to Wellness, resources for early care and education settings, Health Literacy for the Win, Health Family Guides, Healthy Homemakers, Vaccine and on-site clinic opportunities, chronic disease prevention programs and materials, health fairs, hygiene education
Inputs	Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, health coalitions, healthcare providers, health departments, non-profits, faith-based organizations, schools, company health & wellness, community centers, etc.
Date(s)	Ongoing

 

Audience	Families & Individuals
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, Cook Wild Ky, Food as Health Toolkit, Recovery Garden Toolkit, Family Mealtime, maternal and child health program materials
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 and wellness, Homemakers, farmers’ markets, local farms/growers/producers, commodity groups, community centers, etc
Date(s)	Ongoing

 

Audience	Families and Individuals
Project or Activity	Family & Community Health
Content or Curriculum	Publications, presentations, trainings, demonstrations, Health Bulletins, Pathways to Wellness, resources for early care and education settings, Health Literacy for the Win, Health Family Guides, Healthy Homemakers, Vaccine and on-site clinic opportunities, chronic disease prevention programs and materials, health fairs, hygiene education
Inputs	Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, health coalitions, healthcare providers, health departments, non-profits, faith-based organizations, schools, company health & wellness, community centers, etc.
Date(s)	Ongoing

 

Audience	4-H Members
Project or Activity	4-H Natural Resources Projects, fishing and wildlife projects (e.g., insect collections, leaf collections, leaf print collections, wood science projects, rock, mineral, and/or fossil collections, fishing classes)
Content or Curriculum	Entomology, Forestry, Wood Science, Geology; Curriculum - National and State-Level Research-Based, Vetted Publications, Curricula, and Educational Resources, supplies from fish and wildlife
Inputs	4-H programs in natural resources in which youth experience a sense of belonging, developmental relationships, explore their spark, and are actively engaged in opportunities that are meaningful to them.     Volunteers with knowledge in fishing Accredited volunteers in natural resources.     Research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system.     Funding opportunities from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.     Funding from local, state, and federal sources, and grants.     Engagement of staff, volunteers and youth in delivering the program
Date(s)	4-H Program Year (September 1 – August 31)

 

Audience	4-H Members
Project or Activity	4-H Shooting Sports Program
Content or Curriculum	National 4-H Shooting Sports Training Curriculum
Inputs	4-H programs in natural resources in which youth experience a sense of belonging, develop relationships, explore their spark, and are actively engaged in opportunities that are meaningful to them.     Accredited volunteers in 4-H Shooting Sports.     Research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system.     Funding opportunities from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.     Funding from local, state, and federal sources, and grants.     Engagement of staff, volunteers and youth in delivering the program.
Date(s)	4-H Program Year (September 1 – August 31)

 

Audience	4-H Members
Project or Activity	Jr. MANRRS
Content or Curriculum	Exploring Food Science, Afterschool Agriculture, Step Up to Leadership, Build Your Future, Cooking, Communications
Inputs	4-H programs in natural resources in which youth experience a sense of belonging, develop relationships, explore their spark, and are actively engaged in opportunities that are meaningful to them.     Accredited volunteers in natural resources, Jr. MANNRS liaisons with 4-H State office    Research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system.     Funding opportunities from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.     Funding from local, state, and federal sources, and grants.     Engagement of staff, volunteers and youth in delivering the program
Date(s)	4-H Program Year (September 1 – August 31)

 

Audience	4-H Members
Project or Activity	4-H Embryology
Content or Curriculum	Hatching with My Peeps, Hatching classroom projects, Embryology in The Classroom
Inputs	4-H programs in animal science in which youth have experiential activities dealing with the life sciences for use in the classroom.  Youth experience a sense of belonging, developmental relationships, explore their spark, and are actively engaged in opportunities that are meaningful to them.    Research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system.     Funding opportunities from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.     Funding from local, state, and federal sources, and grants.     Engagement of staff, volunteers and youth in delivering the program
Date(s)	4-H Program Year (September 1 – August 31)

 

Audience	4-H Members
Project or Activity	Nutrition and Food Preparation
Content or Curriculum	Jump Into Food and Fitness, Science in the kitchen, Plate it up
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(s)	4-H Program Year (September 1 – August 31)

Evaluation:

Outcome	Increased knowledge about health-promoting behaviors
Indicator	Number of participants who reported/demonstrates improved knowledge, skills, opinions, or confidence regarding health-promoting behavior as a result of participating in a health and well-being program.
Method	Observation by Agent or self-reported surveys
Timeline	Post-program/curricula survey administration

 

Outcome	Increased confidence and motivation to engage in health-promoting behaviors
Indicator	Number of participants who reported/demonstrates improved knowledge, skills, opinions, or confidence regarding a health-promoting behavior as a result of participating in a health and well-being program
Method	Self-reported surveys
Timeline	Post-program/curricula survey administration or follow up evaluation

 

Outcome	Increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors
Indicator	Number of participants who reported intentions to implement a behavior learned from a health and well-being program
Method	Demonstration or self-reported surveys
Timeline	Post-program/curricula survey administration

 

Outcome	Increased awareness of wildlife, forestry, and natural resources issues
Indicator	Number of participants who reported that they gained knowledge of wildlife.  Number of participants who reported they gained their awareness of forestry.  Number of participants who reported they gained their awareness of natural resources.
Method	Survey (Self-Assessment of Learning Gains)
Timeline	At program

 

Outcome	Increased awareness of natural resources and animal science
Indicator	Number of youth who reported that they have identified their interest in natural resources and applied the skills they learned in natural resources to other areas of their life, including at home, school, and other programs.   Number of youth who reported that they understand how their actions and choices impact natural resources and the environment.     Number of youth who reported that they understand natural resources concepts and ideas.  Number of youth who reported that they have set goals to become a good steward of natural resources.
Method	Survey
Timeline	At the program, follow up with the group