Chandra DeRamus

Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agent

Hardin County 

Success Story: September 2021

“Kentucky State University Promotes Community Health Program Collaborations in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic”

As the world is in the midst of a global pandemic, with the corona virus communities are dealing with the new normal of being impacted by new mask guidelines and policies.  While these guidelines are helpful and much needed, some families still have questions about the effectiveness of the policies and requests that ask individuals to either where a mask or get vaccinated to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.  Within the state of Kentucky over 665,994 people have contracted the COVID-19 virus.   According to Kentucky by the Numbers, which is responsible for reporting covid-19 numbers to the public, several counties within Kentucky have had about 234,000 COVID cases within Region 3 of Kentucky which includes the following counties: Breckinridge, Bullitt, Grayson, Hardin, Henry, Jefferson, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, and Washington. Hardin county has seen approximately 16,216 cases and accounts for about 24% of Kentucky’s COVID cases.   In order to spread awareness about the COVID-19 virus, Kentucky State University’s (KSU) Cooperative Extension has collaborated with various community partners to reach its goal of improving the overall health outcomes of the community by conducting programs that provide information on how people can maintain a healthy overall lifestyle. 

            Over the last several months’, a Family and Consumer Science Extension agent partnered with several community organizations to share information about the corona virus with a program called, “Skip Covid.”  The program was aimed at getting information about people’s perceptions and misconceptions about the covid-19 vaccine and their thoughts on whether they believed that the vaccine is a help to the community or not.  In addition, the program was created to disseminate fact sheets and resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that will help consumers in making better informed decisions on their health. 

The organizations that were involved in the Skip Covid Project were the following community organizations: SperoHealth, University of Kentucky Healthcare, Kentucky Moms w/Communicare, Kentucky Career Skills, and Blue Anthem. SperoHealth is a community health hospital that specializes in assisting individuals with a drug addiction with a recovery plan and a wellness plan to make sure that patients stay committed to the recovery process. In partnership with KSU, SperoHealth sponsored a Community Cookout Health Event that gave local community organizations a chance to feature what resources that they had available to provide for the program participants.  While this program was geared towards helping to promote recovery month, SperoHealth also provided a way for individuals to receive free HIV Testing and hepatitis C testing.  The average cost of an HIV test is about $85 to $150.  The average cost of a hepatitis C test is about $55 to $75 nationwide.   For several individuals money can become a barrier to them knowing their current health status.  Programs like the one that was hosted by SperoHealth for the community in Elizabethtown helped to not only raise awareness to the idea that people do struggle with drug addiction, but it helped several people to know their status which is half the battle when it comes to improving overall health.  

The Community Cookout Health program made it possible for a KSU family and consumer agent to provide over 200 program participants with fact sheets & resource guides on what the covid-19 virus is and how to prevent it by getting a vaccination or wearing a mask.  Another resource that was provided was the covid-19 vaccination locator app.   The covid-19 vaccination locator app was designed to help individuals locate the closest location nearest to their geographical location to get a covid-19 vaccination from anywhere in the United States.  In addition, the participants received a Grab and Go Health Kit that included a brochure on how to wear a mask, two blue face masks, and a micro usb flash drive. With this information in hand, people could get some basic information about the covid-19 vaccine and how it helps the body to prevent infection.  The guides and fact sheets that were provided also helped to just answer questions for some people who have some reservations about taking the covid-19 vaccine. 

During the program, several participants shared testimonials about their experiences with the covid-19 Virus and how it has impacted their families.   One participant shared a testimonial story of losing some family members to the covid-19 virus.  She shared that after that experience she now share’s her experience of losing loved one’s to the covid-19 virus with others and encourages people to take the COVID-19 vaccine to prevent them from getting the virus.   She also encourages people to wear a mask in crowds. 

The other community outreach program that has been a great partnership with KSU is with the Department of Community Based Services in Kentucky (DCBS).  This program features sharing resources and fact sheets about immunizations and COVID-19 to an audience of young mothers and children with DCBS.  About 175 copies of fact sheets were shared with information about the COVID-19 virus, fact sheets from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on immunizations, and some Chop Chop magazines at the center for children.   Several of the people that visit the Child Protection Services office depend on these materials to keep them aware of what is going on in the health community around them.  The distribution of materials is completed about 3 to 4 times a year with a different health related focus. All of these resources were shared to promote improved outcomes for the underserved audiences and clientele with Hardin County.  As a result of these publications and resources being taken to the DCBS office in Elizabethtown, KY a number of the clients get to learn about ways that they can improve upon their personal health outcomes and the health outcomes of their children.   The Chop Chop magazines that are provided at the center, gives the parents some healthier options on preparing meals.  The parents’ are also able to get updated resources and information on when they should get their children vaccinated and at what age.  If the parents’ follow the vaccination schedule, they improve the overall health of their children and help to stop the spread of disease by protecting their own children with vaccinations.  The DCBS center serves as a central location for parents to get this information for their families.  

            In closing next year, the university plans on continuing the work into the community to foster meaningful collaborations that assist families with improving their overall health and well-being. Throughout the rest of the year various programs will be featured to continue out with promoting improved health outcomes amongst families. (Please see some pictures from the various programs below.)

Pictured Above: Kentucky State University Skip Covid Project Table Display at Community Cookout Event in September 2021

Pictured Above: SperoHealth hospital group sponsors for Community Health Cookout Event. 

Pictured Above: Participants at the Community Cookout Event waiting to get program resources at the University of Kentucky Healthcare table. 

Pictured Above: A participant at the Community Cookout event gets a health consultation with a professional from Kentucky Moms (Communicare) -KY-Moms MATR (Maternal Assistance Towards Recovery)

Success Story Sept 24 2021 Community Health Programs in Hardin Difference for Citizens Part 2.pdf