Author: Anna Meador
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
According the Community Assessment conducted in 2019, Allen County community members identified these three areas of need in their community: More support for families with mental and emotional health issuesStronger parenting and relationship building skillsAvailability of substance use prevention programsIn response to these community concerns, Allen County Cooperative Extension Agents, Anna Meador and Kelly Burgess, partnered with community organizations in order to present the Strengthen
Author: Mary Beth Riley
4-H Teen Club members place stickers on beer cases with informational messageFor years many in local agencies and organizations have partnered together to combat substance abuse and mental health. The Champions Coalition for a Drug Free Lyon County has partnered with 4-H Youth Development multiple times during the program year. The largest project that was presented this year was the TATU program, TATU stands for teens, against, tobacco use. During the TATU program Lyon County 4-H Teen Club memb
Author: Brandon Darst
We always concentrate on the physical impact COVID has had on our youth but we tend to overlook the mental impact. We are talking about childhood trauma like we have never seen before because the impacts effects youth in different ways. According to Sage Journal, "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of children and adolescents is multifaceted and substantial. Survey studies regarding child and adolescent mental health amid COVID-19 indicated that anxiety, depression,
Author: Ella Fourqurean
Farmers and persons residing in rural areas consistently report elevated levels of stress associated with farming and rural living. The combined effects of farming, rural mental health challenges and their stressors have shown associations with higher rates of suicide in farming occupations and in Kentucky. To address rural mental health challenges, farm stress, and suicide among youth and in rural communities, a mutual partnership was created between the UK Cooperative Extension Service and the
Author: Carrie Derossett
One substantial bi-product of the pandemic was that in many instances the fun was taken away. With social distancing and limited access to things, we found ourselves in a world that seemed to be summed up as – CANCELLED. The fun was taken out of our lives and taken away from our youth. As schools were closed to visitors in 2021, Logan County Extension partnered with our Family Resource Youth Service Centers to try to bring some of that happiness and fun back to the classroom. We began gard
Author: Molly Jordan
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol is the most abuse substance among adolescents in the United States. As the end of the school year approaches, proms and graduations mark memorable nights in a young person’s life. The Bracken County 4-H and the Bracken County FRYSC, understood that part of combating underage drinking is being open and honest about the outcomes of alcohol. The Safe and Sober Prom event is a collaboration between Bracken County 4-H,
Author: Carissa Miske
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services reports that 10% of adolescents self-report illicit drug use in the past month. Substance use prevention programming is critical to the prevention, delayed onset, and/or early identification of substance use. The Life Skills Training (LST) program, developed by Botvin and colleagues, is one of the most successful substance use prevention programs available for use. It teaches a variety of personal self-management skills and social s
Author: Tracie Goodman
Beginning in early 2022, myself and Leah VanMeter started the Botvin Lifeskills program with two 6th grade classes (approximately 60 students) at the McCreary County Middle School. The goal of this program was to help prevent substance abuse through a series of lessons which focused on developing life skills to help deal with societal pressures, anxiety, anger, and media influence. During the course of this program, we helped students to recognize the signs and symptoms of anxiety and anger, and
Author: Lee Ann McCuiston
Mental health, already a pressing issue for young people, has become an acute concern for millions after the year 2020 due to Covid issues and feelings of loneliness. One in five people in households with children (21%) have reported feeling down, depressed or hopeless in the previous week. Realizing the need for improved resiliency in youth, the Todd County 4-H program provided a mindfulness training to 35 youth during the summer migrant program in a day camp setting. Youth learned
Author: Lena Mallory
The 4-H Thriving Model is the science-grounded in practice that describes the “magic” of 4-H. This model takes the science to explain the growth/thriving process of youth because of their 4-H involvement. Moving from the Developmental Context (4-H Programs) to Youth Thriving (Social, Emotional and Cognitive Learning) to Development Outcomes (Positive Youth Development) to Long-Term Outcomes. The 4-H Thriving Model is best envisioned through w
Author: Amy Branstetter
There is a strong need for continued substance abuse prevention and intervention in Metcalfe County. Substance use/abuse issues continue to negatively impact a number of families in our community. According to our recent County Extension Community Assessment, “issues related to drugs and substance abuse in Metcalfe County”. There has been a large number of youth that have started vaping this is a gateway to other abuse issues. To address the variety of substance abuse issues imp
Author: Misty Wilmoth
The LaRue County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the Family Resource Youth Service Center to offer the Truth and Consequences program to all 195 LaRue County High School ninth graders in February 2022. District Court Judge Derek Reed spoke to the entire freshman class about issues related to drug use. Each student then drew for a scenario which took them to various stops in the high school gym. A "parent" volunteer accompanied them and helped to discuss c
Author: Jessica Morris
Drug and alcohol prevention is something we have pushed to the forefront here in Wolfe County. Our high school students are using drugs and alcohol at an alarming rate. Vaping has increased with major negative effects. During school this year Wolfe County High School has had numerous scary situations where students have overdosed or required serious medical aid due to a vape containing other substances. Thankfully, they were all able to be saved and have been able to receive help. When prom was
Author: Sharee Schoonover
Livingston County 4-H Partnered with Livingston Family & Consumer Sciences, Cardinal Connection, and the Livingston County family First Council to conduct a one-day program for 9th-grade students entitled, Truth & Consequences: The Choice is YOURS. Several community partners who work in the judicial and health fields volunteered to enact their roles in this simulation, and additional volunteers were used as “parents” to guide the students through the simulation, with some stu
Author: Lora Stewart
Project clubs and after school clubs are vital to provide an important sense of community at a school and give students an opportunity to delve into interests of all kinds. Clubs of all kinds and of all different ages provide the opportunity to dive into an interest that encourages life skills and personal growth. They are the ultimate in experimental learning, giving them the leadership and power to make their own decisions as they grow into their role as a club leader. (The foundat
Healthy Living is a mission of our Extension Service. Substance use and abuse is a component of the education we provide.There is a strong need for continued substance abuse prevention and intervention in Metcalfe County. Substance use issues continue to negatively impact a large number in our community. According to the recent Kentucky Extension Community Assessment, the issues related to drugs and substance abuse in Metcalfe County need to be addressed. The assessment also indicated that &ldqu
Author: Ryan Spicer
According to the CDC, If cigarette smoking continues at the current rate among youth in this country, 5.6 million of today’s Americans younger than 18 will die early from a smoking-related illness. That’s about 1 of every 13 Americans aged 17 years or younger who are alive today. To combat this issue in Breathitt County the 4-H agent for 4-H Youth development designed an educational program to deliver information to youth about the different types of tobacco, and their effects on the
