Family Health, Wellbeing, and SafetyPlan of Work
Metcalfe County CES
County Emphasis:
Family Health, Wellbeing, and Safety
Concentration 1:
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery
Concentration 2:
Mental Health and Well-Being
Concentration 3:
Family and Youth Development
Concentration 4:
Connected & Resilient Communities
Situation:
In Kentucky, disparities in health-promoting knowledge, resources, and infrastructure contribute to higher rates of chronic health conditions and lower quality of life. Prevention, early detection, and care are essential to maintain and/or improve quality of life.
Substance use and substance use disorder are persistent public health problems in Kentucky. Kentucky youth fare worse than their US counterparts in terms of numerous indicators of drug use and drug-related harm including cigarette and smokeless tobacco use, vaping, alcohol use, and illicit drug use such as opioid and methamphetamine use. Accordingly, the recent University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Needs Assessment (2023) indicated substance use prevention is the primary concern among most Kentucky counties.
In Kentucky, 43% of adults report signs or symptoms of anxiety or depression across their lifespan. At the same time, suicide is a leading cause of preventable death in Kentucky for individuals aged 10-34, and those over the age of 59. Concern over the state of mental health and access to care was echoed in the Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment, where respondents listed “improved access to mental health and wellbeing resources” as one of the top 6 priority issues.
Family and Youth Development programming is essential for fostering healthy, supportive environments where both children and adults can thrive. By offering structured activities and educational workshops, UK Extension aims to build strong family bonds equipping our constituents with critical life skills. Guided by the Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-being, our programming promotes resilience and positive relationships, which are two of the key concerns identified in the top 15 needs of Kentucky’s statewide needs assessment. Investing in such programs can prevent future challenges by supporting early intervention and personal growth.
County Situation:
Metcalfe County is a rural, Appalachian Kentucky County with 30.6 % of households reporting one or more residents aged 65+. The percentage of residents reporting their health status as fair to poor is at 23.6%. Twelve percent of our population aged twenty and over, are diagnosed with Diabetes. Roughly a third of the population reports no leisure time physical activity. Residents report an average of 5.1 unhealthy and 6.1 mentally unhealthy days in the past thirty days. Adequate access to locations for physical activity are available to 59.8% of our population.
The five-year County total for substance use related emergency room visits is 374, 113 of which were non-fatal drug overdoses, with 8 fatal drug overdose cases. The Metcalfe County justice system does hold drug court. The County, however, does not house substance use treatment or recovery support facilities/programs. Metcalfe County individuals who need access to these services, generally do so in neighboring Barren County.
Minimizing Youth substance use, support for substance use/recovery, reducing youth obesity through exercise/nutrition education, minimizing youth bullying and/or school violence, strengthening youth-adult and peer to peer relationships, coping strategies to support youth wellbeing, improved access to mental health/wellbeing resources, stronger parenting and relationship building skills, senior citizen support programs, educational opportunities to promote healthy homes, and building life skills of community members are included in Metcalfe County’s top identified issues from the most recent Extension Community needs assessment that are directly related to this County emphasis.
Long-Term Outcomes:
- Increased use of self-care and other coping strategies by community members and 4-H/YD participants.
- Reduced substance use among community and 4 – H/YD program participants.
- Increased support network
Intermediate Outcomes:
- Increased healthy relationships across generations that support healthy community, nurturing behaviors, and quality time together.
- Enhanced community partnership that equitably support family health (e.g., FRISC, Health Depart., DAIL, AAA,).
- Enhanced community partnerships that target recovery from substance use disorder and Youth substance use prevention.
Initial Outcomes:
- Increased knowledge about nurturing parenting and caregiving across the life span.
- Increased awareness of community resources to support healthy families.
- Increased knowledge about addiction as a chronic disorder for community and 4-H/YD program participants.
- Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use (i.e. substance use refusal skills).
Evaluation:
Initial Outcomes:
- Increased knowledge about nurturing parenting and caregiver support across the lifespan;
- Increased awareness of community resources to support healthy families.
Indicator:
Number of participants who reported increased knowledge of nurturing parenting and/or caregiver support practices; Number of participants who reported seeking support from local community organizations and/or its individual member.
Method:
Self-reported surveys
Timeline:
Post-program/curricula survey administration, repeated self-reported surveys and/or follow-up evaluations to capture behavior change over time.
Initial Outcomes:
1. Increased knowledge about addiction as a chronic disorder for community and 4-H/YD program participants.
2. Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use (i.e. substance use refusal skills).
Indicators:
Number of participants who reported intended behavior change as a result of participation in substance use prevention and/or recovery programming.
Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills.
Number of participants who reported an increased knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery (or related subject matter)
Method:
Self-reported surveys
Timeline:
Post-program
Intermediate Outcome:
Increased healthy relationships across generations that support healthy communication, nurturing behaviors, and quality time together. (intermediate)
Indicator:
Number of participants who reported they enhanced healthy relationships.
Number of participants who reported that they extended any type of support to another parent, grandparent, older adult, or relative raising a child.
Method:
Self-reported surveys
Timeline:
Ongoing/as changes are made and projects progress.
Intermediate Outcome:
Enhanced community partnership that equitably support family health (e.g., FRISC, Health Depart., DAIL, AAA,)
Indicator:
Number of participants who reported seeking support from local community organizations and/or its individual member.
Method:
Self-reported surveys
Timeline:
Repeated self-reported surveys and/or follow-up evaluations to capture behavior change over time
Intermediate Outcome:
Enhanced community partnerships that target recovery from substance use disorder and Youth substance use prevention..
Indicator:
Number of partnerships with community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals to address substance use/recovery in the community
Method:
Program metrics agents will track, and report based on their activities and partnerships related to substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery)
Timeline:
Post-program/curricula survey administration (ST) and follow-up survey (BC).
Long-term Outcome:
Increased support network (among County residents and 4 – H/YD program participants.)
Indicator:
Increased number of supports/groups available to residents who are caregivers, or who are in recovery in the community, increased number of organizations that provide substance use prevention/recovery support and caregiver education/support activities, in the community.
Method:
Tracking of available community supports and support service agencies
Timeline:
Year to year comparison
Long-term Outcome:
Increased use of self-care and other coping strategies by community members and 4-H/YD participants.
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
Long-term Outcome:
Reduced substance use among community and 4 – H/YD program participants
Indicator:
Decreasing percentages of reported substance use among County residents. Reduced substance use related ER visits and hospitalizations.
Method:
Comparison of related KY by the Numbers data.
Timeline:
Annually.
Learning Opportunities:
Audience:
Families and Individuals
Project or Activity:
Family & Community Health
Content or Curriculum:
Publications, presentations, trainings, demonstrations, Health Bulletins, resources for early care and education settings, Health Family Guides, Healthy Homemakers, chronic disease prevention programs and materials, hygiene education, The Mind Body Connection, Stories, Songs, Stretches, Move Your Way, Fit Blue, Dental Hygiene publications, Foot Care Publications, Youth and adult mental health first aid.
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:
Ongoing
Audience:
Families and Individuals
Project or Activity:
Caregiver Support
Content or Curriculum:
Publications, Family Caregiver Health Bulletins, Share Space Agreements, Health Coalitions, Health Partners, Move Your Way, County Walking Challenges; Nutrition for Older Adults, AARP Prepare to Care, In the Face of Disaster Toolkit; Indoor Air Quality; Strong Bones for Life: Prevent Osteoporosis and Nourish Your Bones and Joints; Understanding and Coping with Farm Stress; Understanding Suicide; Savvy Online Grocery Shopping; Tips for Managing Stress Eating; Transferring Cherished Possessions; Emergency Health Information Cards; Consumer Protection; Scams; Mastering Mindfulness; Healthy Bladder Habits; Kick Kentucky Cancer; Mental Health and Well-Being Series; The Mind/Body Connection; Mental Health Matters; How to Help Military Families; 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s; Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease; Understanding Disabilities, Homeschool family programs, Youth and adult mental health first aid.
Inputs:
Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners; facilities, health coalitions, healthcare providers, health department, non-profits, schools, company health & wellness, faith-based organizations, Homemakers, community centers, etc.
Date:
Ongoing.
Audience:
Families and Individuals.
Project or Activity:
Communication/Relationships Across the Lifespan.
Content or Curriculum:
4-H Y/D communications curriculum, Pathways to Wellness, Shared Space Agreements, Mindfulness Walking Trails/Trail development, Active Community Toolkit, Be More Guide, resources for early care and education settings, food system work/farmers’ markets/community gardens, SNAP-Ed toolkit; Memory Banking/Life Story; AARP Prepare to Care; Kick Kentucky Cancer; Living with Loss; Mental Health Matters; In the Face of Disaster Toolkit; How to Help Military Families; Understanding Risky Adolescent Behavior and Healthy Brain Development; Grandparents and Grandchildren Together, other approved, related resources, Mental Health First Aid.
Inputs:
Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, volunteers, grant funds, local organizations and community partners, health coalitions, Nutrition Education Program, local farms/growers/producers, key stakeholders, elected officials, Department of Transportation, employee health and wellness, schools, etc.
Date:
Ongoing
Audience:
Families & Individuals
Project or Activity:
Physical Activity
Content or Curriculum:
Publications, Story Walks, Shared Space Agreements, Health Coalitions, Health Partners, Move Your Way, Families on the Move, County Walking Challenges, Mindfulness Trails, Fit Tips, Fit Blue, Mind Body Connection exercises, Hiking for Health, Stories Songs and Stretches, gross motor development and stretching exercises, 4-H physical activity curriculum materials
Inputs:
Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, facilities, health coalitions, healthcare providers, health department, non-profits, schools, company health & wellness, faith-based organizations, Homemakers, community centers, etc.
Evaluation:
Initial Outcomes:
- Increased knowledge about nurturing parenting and caregiver support across the lifespan;
- Increased awareness of community resources to support healthy families.
Indicator:
Number of participants who reported increased knowledge of nurturing parenting and/or caregiver support practices; Number of participants who reported seeking support from local community organizations and/or its individual member.
Method:
Self-reported surveys
Timeline:
Post-program/curricula survey administration, repeated self-reported surveys and/or follow-up evaluations to capture behavior change over time.
Initial Outcomes:
1. Increased knowledge about addiction as a chronic disorder for community and 4-H/YD program participants.
2. Increased confidence making decisions related to substance use (i.e. substance use refusal skills).
Indicators:
Number of participants who reported intended behavior change as a result of participation in substance use prevention and/or recovery programming.
Number of participants who reported that they intend to use self-care strategies to improve their recovery and/or substance refusal skills.
Number of participants who reported an increased knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery (or related subject matter)
Method:
Self-reported surveys
Timeline:
Post-program
Intermediate Outcome:
Increased healthy relationships across generations that support healthy communication, nurturing behaviors, and quality time together. (intermediate)
Indicator:
Number of participants who reported they enhanced healthy relationships.
Number of participants who reported that they extended any type of support to another parent, grandparent, older adult, or relative raising a child.
Method:
Self-reported surveys
Timeline:
Ongoing/as changes are made and projects progress.
Intermediate Outcome:
Enhanced community partnership that equitably support family health (e.g., FRISC, Health Depart., DAIL, AAA,)
Indicator:
Number of participants who reported seeking support from local community organizations and/or its individual member.
Method:
Self-reported surveys
Timeline:
Repeated self-reported surveys and/or follow-up evaluations to capture behavior change over time
Intermediate Outcome:
Enhanced community partnerships that target recovery from substance use disorder and Youth substance use prevention..
Indicator:
Number of partnerships with community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals to address substance use/recovery in the community
Method:
Program metrics agents will track, and report based on their activities and partnerships related to substance use prevention, addiction, and/or recovery)
Timeline:
Post-program/curricula survey administration (ST) and follow-up survey (BC).
Long-term Outcome:
Increased support network (among County residents and 4 – H/YD program participants.)
Indicator:
Increased number of supports/groups available to residents who are caregivers, or who are in recovery in the community, increased number of organizations that provide substance use prevention/recovery support and caregiver education/support activities, in the community.
Method:
Tracking of available community supports and support service agencies
Timeline:
Year to year comparison
Long-term Outcome:
Increased use of self-care and other coping strategies by community members and 4-H/YD participants.
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
Long-term Outcome:
Reduced substance use among community and 4 – H/YD program participants
Indicator:
Decreasing percentages of reported substance use among County residents. Reduced substance use related ER visits and hospitalizations.
Method:
Comparison of related KY by the Numbers data.
Timeline:
Annually.
- Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
- S107 Ag. Science Center North
- Lexington, KY 40546-0091
- +1 (859) 257-4302
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