LaRue County CES

County Emphasis:

Community Wellness and Health Promotion

Concentration 1:

Food Safety, Quality, and Access

Concentration 2:

Health and Wellbeing

Concentration 3:

Substance Use Prevention and Recovery

Concentration 4:

Financial Security and Economic Well-Being

Situation:

It is proven that people who have access to and consume their daily dietary requirements of fresh fruits and vegetables are less likely to suffer from chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease and have an increased quality of life. Having the knowledge and skills to prepare or preserve fresh fruits and vegetables presents an additional barrier beyond obtaining fresh food access.

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.

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.

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).

A disproportionate number of Kentuckians live in economically distressed communities (39% of Kentuckians, compared to 15% nationally). Further, most Kentucky households are concerned with financially sustaining a quality of life that allows them to survive and thrive in an economically challenged society. From housing to grocery expenses, the cost of living continues to rise, and households are ill-equipped to adjust. Securing financial stability is vital for the well-being of state constituents.

In a 2023 University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment, with nearly 28,000 responses from across the state, Building Financial Literacy and/or Resource Management Skills was among the top 10 state-identified priority issues reported by Kentuckians, and Efforts that Support Local & Small businesses was among the top 10 Community & Economic Development needs in the state.

County Situation:

With a goal of increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, the LaRue County Cooperative Extension Service aims to increase access to fresh food, as well as increase knowledge and awareness of how to select, store, safely prepare, process, and preserve these foods. CES prioritizes statewide partnership development that helps us meet our goals and objectives. We collaborate with statewide agencies including Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Community Farm Alliance, KY Farm to School Network, Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife and others to help build statewide systems that increase access and usage of fresh fruits and vegetables. These programs benefit Kentuckians because they support food access policy, systems and environmental changes in communities and across the state. They increase knowledge of how to grow, prepare, and preserve fresh fruits and vegetables.

LaRue County Cooperative Extension is uniquely positioned, both with deep connections in the county and with guidance of transdisciplinary team of specialists, to address the holistic needs of Kentuckians who use drugs including mental health, fair housing, second-chance employment, nutrition and physical health, and much more. 

Cooperative Extension is also well-positioned with deep collaborative community ties to support evidence-based prevention programming. Such programs may target substance use directly or indirectly by focusing on pertinent risk and protective factors and promoting overall well-being for Kentucky youth.

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.  To address these issues, LaRue County 4-H creates opportunities for youth in the five domains of physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual health and well-being.

LaRue County CES Extension is committed to improving the financial security and economic well-being of families across the Commonwealth. Related FCS programming is designed to help Kentuckians become more economically resilient by promoting financial literacy education, comprehensive family resource management skills, and small business engagement and support.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Individuals and families of all incomes levels have access to affordable and nutritious foods Decrease in the number of Kentuckians with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. More Kentuckians routinely met the guidelines for the consumption of (locally-grown) fresh fruits and vegetables. Youth increase educational outcomes.   Increased availability and accessibility to community-based health resources. Reduced rate and burden of non-communicable chronic diseases and injury. Improved quality of life Increased financial literacy skills

Intermediate Outcomes:

Increase in the number of farmers’ markets and local food retailers that accept one or more food benefits as payment. Improved dietary habits through: consumption of more fruits and vegetables, a variety of proteins and the number of meals prepared at home. Youth will practice making wise nutrition choices.      Youth will eat a variety of healthy foods daily. 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 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 Implementation of financial literacy and resource management strategies/skills

Initial Outcomes:

Increased awareness of Extension resources and programs supporting food access. Improved skills related to safe food preparation and food preservation. Youth will practice food safety.   Youth will access nutritious foods.   Youth will prepare nutritious foods.   Increased awareness of community resources to support prevention and recovery Increased confidence making decision related to substance use (i.e. substance use refusal skills) Increased confidence and motivation to use destigmatized language Increased intentions to employ health-promoting behaviors (e.g., exercise, healthy nutrition, positive coping, etc.). Youth will increase knowledge in understanding personal financial management.

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Learning Opportunities:

Audience: General Public, Seniors, WIC participants

Project or Activity: LaRue County Farmers’ Market, POP Club

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Nutrition Education Program resources, Farmers' Market Toolkit

Inputs:Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, Kentucky Nutrition Education Program, programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, facilities, health department, non-profits, schools, faith-based organizations, Homemakers, community centers, farmers, farmers’ markets, etc.

Date: June-August (annually)

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Food Preservation classes

Content or Curriculum: KY FCS food preservation publications

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Date: April-September (annually)

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality

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 

Clothing Volunteers 

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: March (annually)

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Recovery Captial 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

Audience: Communities

Project or Activity: Local & Small Business Support

Content or Curriculum: Small Business Roadmap, SBDC publications, Growing Our Own, Economic Development Collaborative resources, Economic Subject Matter resources CEDIK Vibrant Economies toolkit, Creative Economy Program, KFMN, Market Ready Producer Training

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, small businesses, volunteers, community partners, non-project organizations, schools, farms, community centers, etc

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity:Community Health Fair

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: September (annually)

Audience: Families & Individuals, Farmers, Youth

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, www.planeatmove.com, Super Star Chef, Farm to School, Hunger in Kentucky, Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary Youth ( LEAP)

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, volunteers, faith-based organization, 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: Ongoing

Audience: Individuals, Families, Employees

Project or Activity:Development of Financial Literacy Skills

Content or Curriculum: Use Less. Spend Less. Stress Less. curriculum; publications; MONEYWI$E newsletter and podcasts; PROFIT; Recovering Your Finances curriculum; OneOp; Big Blue Book Club; In the Face of Disaster; Leader Lessons; Money Habitudes; etc. 

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, non-profit organizations, schools, financial entities and organizations, businesses, etc.

Date: Ongoing

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