Success Stories - Kentucky Extension Reporting System

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Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Cooperative Extension Service

Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Impacts

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Fiscal Year: 2025

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Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025

Success StoriesKentucky Extension Reporting System

Nutrition Program on Healthy Meal Planning for Seniors Brings Success in Hardin County-Dec. 2024(YEAR 2024)

Author: Chandra DeRamus

Major Program: Family Development General

Nutrition Program on Healthy Meal Planning for Seniors Brings Success in Hardin County-Dec. 2024(YEAR 2024)

Title: Nutrition Program on Healthy Meal Planning for Seniors Brings Success in Hardin CountyPlanning Unit: Hardin County CESMajor Program: General NutritionOver the last several months the price of groceries has increased around the world. In some states such as Kentucky within Hardin County they are seeing a shift in the way that people are dealing with this sudden change. This makes it a lot more challenging for some families in particular seniors to afford groceries because the majority of t

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2025 Annual Community Baby Shower

Author: Katelyn Squires

Major Program: Family Development General

2025 Annual Community Baby Shower

In today’s society we are seeing an increase in pregnancies and growing families. We are also living in an ever-changing economy that is hard on growing families and individuals. Green County Help, Hope, and Hands (extension group) and Green County Extension partnered with the Green River Early Childhood Collaborative to host the Annual Community Baby Shower. This was the first year that was partnered with the Green River Early Childhood Collaborative, and it will definitely not be the las

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Children, Youth and Families at Risk Professional Development and Technical Assistance

Author: Kerri Ashurst

Major Program: Family Development General

Dr. Ashurst has been a Federal Coach for USDA's Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Professional Development and Technical Assistance (PDTA) Center since January 2019. This is a multi-state subcontract with the University of Minnesota and Pennsylvania State University as the national leads. During the reporting period, Dr. Ashurst had a contract for 45% of her time as a federal coach. She was assigned to oversee grants in Maryland, North Carolina State/North Carolina A&T, Wiscon

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UK Camp Kesem 2025

Author: Kerri Ashurst

Major Program: Family Development General

amp Kesem is a nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders working with children and families who are coping with the aftermath of a cancer diagnosis of a parent. They are the largest national organization dedicated to this unique population with over 100 college chapters in the country. There are 5 million children coping with a parent's cancer diagnosis.  Kesem supports these children through and beyond their parent's cancer with free and creative progr

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Empowering Families Through Estate Planning Education

Author: Joni Phelps

Major Program: Family Development General

Many individuals and families in rural Kentucky lack the necessary knowledge to prepare estate plans that protect their assets, reduce legal burdens, and ensure proper care for their loved ones. Confusion around wills, trusts, power of attorney, probate processes, and guardianship often results in families being unprepared in times of crisis. Without proactive planning, families may face costly legal processes, conflicts, or the unintended distribution of property.To address these challenges, th

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Metcalfe County Family and Consumer Sciences Program Advisory Council - Annual Baby Safety Fair

Author: Lynn Blankenship

Major Program: Family Development General

Stronger parenting and relationship building skills is included in the top fifteen identified issues/needs for family and individual development, from the most recent survey of Extension.  According to the 2024 Kentucky Child Fatality Review, in 2023 SUID or sudden unidentified infant death was the leading cause for infant death in Kentucky.  Annually, motor vehicle related cause of death for all children under age 18 is included in the top five causes of child deaths in Kentucky. &nbs

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Ohana Day brings families and Community together

Author: Rebecca Woodall

Major Program: Family Development General

Ohana Day brings families and Community together

There is a local park in a disadvantaged neighborhood.   In the summer, a lot of kids hang out there all day with only a few pieces of playground equipment to play on. Most of the activities in town are on the other side of town. I have noticed a lack of organized activity in the area, which leads to the kids finding trouble.   Our FCS program decided to have a Family fun day to encourage bonding and healthy living.  We decided to call the day Ohana Day.   We partnered w

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Hardin & LaRue County Community Baby Shower Promoting Healthy Choices for New Moms and Families -(June 2025)

Author: Chandra DeRamus

Major Program: Family Development General

Hardin & LaRue County Community Baby Shower Promoting Healthy Choices for New Moms and Families -(June 2025)

Within Hardin County, a disproportionate number of Kentucky families live in economically distressed communities (39% of Kentucky.) From housing to grocery store expenses, the cost of living continues to rise, and households are ill-equipped to adjust to the rising cost of living. This makes it really challenging for parents to afford an affordable home and raise children without feeling strain in their budget.As a result of the economic strain on families our local community organization, Commu

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Supporting New Mothers: The Return of the World's Greatest Baby Shower in Christian County

Author: Tiffany Bolinger

Major Program: Family Development General

After a multi-year hiatus, the World’s Greatest Baby Shower made a powerful comeback in Christian County thanks to the leadership of the Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent and a coalition of dedicated community partners. The event welcomed 49 participants, including expectant and new mothers along with their guests, for a day centered around education, empowerment, and support.The event featured a community resource fair, an engaging seminar from a UK Extension Nutrition Specialist

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Super Success of Kindergarten Readiness Event

Author: Rebecca Woodall

Major Program: Family Development General

Super Success of Kindergarten Readiness Event

According to the Early Childhood Profile, approximately 49% of children in Caldwell and Crittenden counties are not ready for kindergarten. With most children aged 0-5 in this area not enrolled in childcare, families need access to alternative educational programs that build kindergarten readiness skills. To address this need, the Caldwell and Crittenden Family and Consumer Sciences Agents partnered with the George Coon Public Library and the Caldwell, Crittenden, and Lyon Regional Collabor

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Simpson County Community Baby Shower

Author: Megan Treadway

Major Program: Family Development General

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the early years of a child’s life are very important for later health and development, and parents and caregivers need support and the right resources to aid in that development. The Area Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences partnered with the Simpson County Health Coalition to provide a Community Baby Shower for new and expecting parents in Simpson County. Families received resources from many community partners, including tho

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Preschool Pumpkin Days

Author: Megan Treadway

Major Program: Family Development General

According to the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood, only 44.1% of Kentucky children and 43.5% of Logan County children were ready to enter kindergarten in 2022. The Kentucky State University Area Agent for Family and Consumer Science and the Logan County Cooperative Extension Service, in partnership with the Allen, Logan, and Simpson County Early Childhood Council, seek to improve kindergarten readiness in Logan County by engaging and educating families with children ages three to five.

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FCS Supports Kinship Families

Author: David Weisenhorn

Major Program: Family Development General

Title: FCS Supports Kinship FamiliesRelevance: More than 8 million children in the United States are being raised by relatives. In Kentucky, 125,706 children live in homes where a family member—often a grandparent or other relative—is the head of household. This places Kentucky among the states with the highest kinship care populations. As the number of kinship families has grown, so have their needs for financial stability, emotional support, and access to educational and behavioral

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FCS Supports New Parents

Author: David Weisenhorn

Major Program: Family Development General

Title: FCS Supporting New ParentsRelevance: Becoming a parent presents a multitude of challenges, primarily revolving around not knowing what to expect, exhaustion, identity shifts, relationship changes, and anxieties about your baby's well-being. These experiences can take a toll on a parent’s mental and emotional health, requiring adjustment and support. Responsive, supportive caregiving during this period not only strengthens the parent-child bond but also helps children develop sec

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Providing New Familes a "Best Start"

Author: Brooke Hogancamp

Major Program: Family Development General

The Four River Counties Regional Collaborative has provided high quality early childhood education for over 20 years in Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman counties. The Best Start Family Event was created with the intention of helping those families from prenatal to age two, as this has always been an underrepresented audience in the work of the collaborative. The goal of this event is to teach families about health and nutrition, parenting, safety, available area resources, and the importan

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Living with Alpha Gal Syndrome

Author: Paul Sizemore

Major Program: Family Development General

While still considered “rare” relative to other medical issues in the state, Kentucky is one of the states with the most cases of alpha-gal syndrome in the US, according to the CDC, with some Kentucky counties presenting the highest cases per capita in the country. This condition is developed in some people after a bite from a lone star tick. There is no known treatment for alpha-gal syndrome. Instead, lifestyle changes can be made that help manage and reduce the symptoms. This inclu

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Inspiring Grandchildren to be Grand Cooks

Author: Macey Stewart

Major Program: Family Development General

Getting children involved with cooking supports their development in many ways. But changes in culture, family structure, and food costs have led to changes in cooking at home. With fewer chances to learn and practice cooking, there are concerns that cooking skills will be lost in younger generations. The Johnson County Extension Office hosted Leader Lessons for 15 people with a session called Inspiring Children to Become Grand Cooks. This program highlighted the important role older adults

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2025 Best Start Family Event

Author: Sarah Drysdale

Major Program: Family Development General

2025 Best Start Family Event

The Four River Counties Regional Collaborative has provided high quality early childhood education for over 20 years in Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman counties. The Best Start Family Event was created with the intention of helping those families from prenatal to age two, as this has always been an underrepresented audience in the work of the collaborative. The goal of this event is to teach families about health and nutrition, parenting, safety, available area resources, and the importan

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Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
S107 Ag. Science Center North
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
+1 (859) 257-4302

© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment