Community Health and WellbeingPlan of Work
Grayson County CES
County Emphasis:
Community Health and Wellbeing
Concentration 1:
Health and Wellbeing
Concentration 2:
Mental Health and Well-Being
Concentration 3:
Food Safety, Quality, and Access
Concentration 4:
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery
Situation:
The opportunities and resources available to support the health and well-being of adults and families in Kentucky vary widely. 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. Yet, this burden is often placed on individuals to navigate the healthcare system and traditional public health entities. Additionally, for decades, little attention has been given to the external factors that undoubtedly affect health such as access to care, education, nutritious foods, and safe physical spaces. These same issues and concerns were echoed throughout the 2023 UK Cooperative Extension Community Assessment. Within the top 15 priority issues identified by Kentuckians, “ensuring individuals and families have access to affordable nutritious foods” was #4 and “reducing youth obesity through nutrition education and/or exercise” was #8. Guided by the Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-being, UK Extension aims to become a critical public health partner for addressing disparities in health-promoting knowledge, resources, and infrastructure through comprehensive health, nutrition, and wellness programming that supports adult physical health and well-being.
Youth Focus
Thriving youth are healthy, productive, and engaged (Arnold, 2024). According to Kentucky Kids Count Database (AECF, 2023) 41% of Kentucky teenagers are obese or overweight. Youth are also experiencing alarming levels of negativity about themselves, their confidence in the future, and their ability to find contentment in life (McKinsey & Company, 2022). 30% of youth are chronically absent (United States Department of Education, 2024). The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Needs Assessment (2024) identified key priorities issues related to health and wellbeing as need for improved access to mental health and wellbeing resources, reducing youth obesity through nutrition education and/or exercise, minimizing bullying and/or school violence. To address these issues, Kentucky 4-H creates opportunities for youth in the five domains of physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual health and well-being.
County Situation:
In Grayson County, Kentucky, access to resources that support adult and family health varies widely. Disparities in health knowledge, services, and infrastructure have contributed to higher rates of chronic diseases and a lower quality of life. While prevention, early detection, and care are critical, individuals are often left to navigate complex healthcare systems alone. Broader factors like access to healthcare, education, nutritious foods, and safe spaces have been historically overlooked. The 2023 UK Cooperative Extension Community Assessment echoed these concerns, with “access to affordable, nutritious foods” ranked #4 and “reducing youth obesity through nutrition education and/or exercise” ranked #8 among top priorities. Guided by the Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-being, UK Extension in Grayson County is working to close gaps in health resources through comprehensive wellness programming that supports adult health and well-being.
Youth Focus
Healthy, engaged youth are essential to thriving communities. In Grayson County, 41% of teens are overweight or obese (Kentucky Kids Count, 2023), and 30% experience chronic absenteeism (U.S. Department of Education, 2024). Youth also report declining self-confidence and future outlooks (McKinsey & Company, 2022). The 2024 UK Cooperative Extension Needs Assessment identified priorities like expanding mental health access, reducing youth obesity, and addressing bullying and violence. In response, Grayson County 4-H fosters youth development across five key domains: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual well-being.
Long-Term Outcomes:
Adult
Routinely meeting guidelines and recommendations for health behaviors that promote wellness and quality of life
Community environments that equitably support health-promoting behaviors where people live, learn, work, and play
Increased availability and accessibility to community-based health resources
Reduced rate and burden of non-communicable chronic diseases and injury
Decreased health disparity prevalence in Kentucky counties
Improved quality of life
Reduced incidence of mental health crises and suicide
Increased access to mental health care and resources for all
More Kentuckians routinely met the guidelines for the consumption of (locally-grown) fresh fruits and vegetables.
Youth
Kentucky 4-H members report decreased obesity.
Increased number of 4-Hers who pursue employment in the health and wellbeing field.
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 self-reflection and exploration of personal values and beliefs related to mental health and wellbeing among 4-Hers
Intermediate Outcomes:
Adult
Increased health-promoting behaviors that support family, community, and occupational health and safety
Increased and/or strengthened partnerships to address community health or safety issues
Increased organizational/site/community support for health-promoting behaviors that equitably address community health or safety issues
Increased advocacy for mental health and wellbeing resources
Increased partnerships (number or strength) to address mental health and wellbeing issues within the community
Increase in the number of farmers’ markets and local food retailers that accept one or more food benefits as payment.
Youth
4-H members will practice general wellness habits.
Increased self-reflection and exploration of personal values and beliefs related to health and well-being among 4-Hers.
4-H members will increase physical activity.
Increased self-reflection and exploration of personal values and beliefs related to mental health and wellbeing among 4-Hers
Initial Outcomes:
Adult
Health promoting behaviors include but are not to, regular physical activity, safe preparation and consumption of nutritious foods, vaccinations, moderate or no consumption of alcohol, avoiding/reducing/eliminating tobacco use, health screenings, sleep, stress management, health literacy, pest prevention/reduction/management, and occupational safety.
Increased knowledge about health-promoting behaviors.
Increased awareness of community resources to support health-promoting behaviors.
Increased confidence in making decisions related to health-promoting behaviors.
Improved skills related to health-promoting behaviors.
Increased ability to recognize and respond to a mental health concern related to health-promoting behaviors
Increase the number of partnerships and/or coalitions involved in promoting awareness of local food systems, healthy eating, and active living (e.g. Program councils, Health Advisory Boards, etc.).
Youth
Increased knowledge of positive mental health practices
Increased knowledge and awareness of healthy habits and practices among 4-Hers.
Improved attitudes and beliefs towards healthy habits and practices among 4-Hers.
Increased knowledge of general wellness practices
Evaluation:
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
Outcome: Increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors (e.g. vaccinations, screenings, preparation/consumption of nutritious foods, active living, pest prevention) (initial)
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 and/or strengthened partnerships to address community health issues (intermediate)
Indicator: Number of community partners (community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals) worked with to offer health and well-being programming in the community
Method: Agent record of community partnerships utilized in programming
Timeline: Ongoing; Each partnership should be reported once per reporting period
Outcome: Increased partnerships (number or strength) to address mental health and well-being issues within the community
Indicator: Number of partnerships with community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals to address mental health and well-being in the community.
Method: Agent record of community partnerships utilized in programming
Timeline: Ongoing; Each partnership should be reported once per reporting interval
Youth
Outcome: Short Term
Indicator:
- Number of partnerships with community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals to address mental health and wellbeing for youth in the community.
- Number of youth who reported an increased knowledge of how to respond to mental health concerns.
- Number of youth who intend to adopt self-care strategies to improve their own mental health and wellbeing.
- Number of youth who intend to adopt strategies to support or promote mental health and wellbeing in their community.
- Number of youth who reported intended behavior change as a result of participation in mental health and wellbeing programming.
Method: Survey
Timeline: Immediately post-program
Outcome: Medium Term
Indicator:
- Number of youth who adopted self-care strategies to improve their own mental health and wellbeing.
- Number of youth who adopted strategies to support or promote mental health and wellbeing in their community.
- Number of youth who reported behavior change as a result of participation in mental health and wellbeing programming.
Method: Survey
Timeline: 3-6 Months post-program
Outcome: Long Term
Indicator: Long-term evaluation will be conducted using the National 4-H Index Study.
Method: Survey or Interview
Timeline: 1+ years
Learning Opportunities:
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
Audience: Communities
Project or Activity: School, Community or Recovery Gardens
Content or Curriculum: NEP “Grow your own” publications, Hort. Dept. publications, youth gardening curriculum, Recovery Garden Toolkit
Inputs: Gardening materials, paid staff, community partners, 4-H, volunteers, grant funds, local organizations and community partners, schools, recovery centers, Nutrition Education Program
Dates: Ongoing
Audience: Communities
Project or Activity: Farmers’ Market
Content or Curriculum: Farmers’ Market Toolkit
Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, facilities, health department, non-profits, schools, faith-based organizations, Homemakers, community centers, farmers, farmers’ markets, etc.
Dates: Ongoing
Audience: Families & Individuals
Project or Activity: Physical, Environmental, and Occupational Safety
Content or Curriculum: Publications, presentations, trainings, demonstrations, In the Face of Disaster, Pest Control Short Course, Stop the Bleed, … … …
Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, businesses, creative entrepreneurs, local farms/growers/producers, commodity groups, housing authorities
Date: Ongoing/seasonal
Audience: Communities
Project or Activity: Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) Approaches
Content or Curriculum: Pathways to Wellness, Faithful Families, Story Walks, Shared Space Agreements, parks and trail development, Active Community Toolkit, resources for early case and education settings, food system work (e.g. farmers’ markets, backpack programs, community gardens), SNAP-Ed toolkit, creating and Maintaining Health Coalitions, Arts in Health publications, CEDIK Healthy Communities toolkit
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 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
Audience: Youth and adults, general public
Project or Activity: Farm Safety Day
Content or Curriculum: Progressive Ag Farm Safety Day curriculum and local community partners' safety materials
Inputs: UK Publications, agents, FSA, NRCS commodity groups, local farmers, schools, community partners
Date: Annually fall/spring
Audience: Elementary youth
Project or Activity: Ag Literacy in the Classroom
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Agriculture & Environment in the Classroom curriculum, National 4-H Curriculum (Natural Resources/Agriculture)
Inputs: Agents, classroom teachers
Date: school calendar year annually (August through May)
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: Ongoing
Audience: Families & Individuals
Project or Activity: Physical Activity
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Faithful Families, Story Walks, Health and wellness Ambassadors, Shared Space Agreements, Health Coalitions, WIN, Health Partners, Bingocize, Walk Your Way, Families on the Move, County Walking Challenges, Mindfulness Trails, Fit Tips, Hiking for Health
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/seasonal
Audience: Individuals & Farmers
Project or Activity: Home Based Micro Processing
Content or Curriculum: HBMP Training materials
Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, facilities, health department, State of Kentucky, KDA, non-profits, schools, faith-based organizations, Homemakers, community centers, farmers, farmers’ markets, etc.
Dates: Ongoing
Audience: Individuals & Farmers
Project or Activity: Food Preservation
Content or Curriculum: Food preservation curriculum, So Easy to Preserve materials, National Center for Home Food Preservation materials.
Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, facilities, health department, State of Kentucky, KDA, non-profits, schools, faith-based organizations, Homemakers, community centers, farmers, farmers’ markets, etc.
Dates: Spring/Fall
Audience: Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: Recovery Capital Building
Content or Curriculum: Healthy Choices for Your Recovering Body (HCYRB), Recovering Your Finances (RYF), Recovery Gardens, Positive Employability, Question. Persuade. Refer (QPR), Mind Art Recovery Kentucky
Inputs: Programmatic materials, community partners, ASAP Boards and Community Coalitions, residential treatment centers, detention centers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and clergy
Date: Ongoing
Evaluation:
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
Outcome: Increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors (e.g. vaccinations, screenings, preparation/consumption of nutritious foods, active living, pest prevention) (initial)
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 and/or strengthened partnerships to address community health issues (intermediate)
Indicator: Number of community partners (community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals) worked with to offer health and well-being programming in the community
Method: Agent record of community partnerships utilized in programming
Timeline: Ongoing; Each partnership should be reported once per reporting period
Outcome: Increased partnerships (number or strength) to address mental health and well-being issues within the community
Indicator: Number of partnerships with community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals to address mental health and well-being in the community.
Method: Agent record of community partnerships utilized in programming
Timeline: Ongoing; Each partnership should be reported once per reporting interval
Youth
Outcome: Short Term
Indicator:
- Number of partnerships with community organizations, institutions, agencies, or individuals to address mental health and wellbeing for youth in the community.
- Number of youth who reported an increased knowledge of how to respond to mental health concerns.
- Number of youth who intend to adopt self-care strategies to improve their own mental health and wellbeing.
- Number of youth who intend to adopt strategies to support or promote mental health and wellbeing in their community.
- Number of youth who reported intended behavior change as a result of participation in mental health and wellbeing programming.
Method: Survey
Timeline: Immediately post-program
Outcome: Medium Term
Indicator:
- Number of youth who adopted self-care strategies to improve their own mental health and wellbeing.
- Number of youth who adopted strategies to support or promote mental health and wellbeing in their community.
- Number of youth who reported behavior change as a result of participation in mental health and wellbeing programming.
Method: Survey
Timeline: 3-6 Months post-program
Outcome: Long Term
Indicator: Long-term evaluation will be conducted using the National 4-H Index Study.
Method: Survey or Interview
Timeline: 1+ years
© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment