Starting in September of the 2022-23 4-H program year, Powell county received a grant to help with the cost of the Health Rocks! curriculum.  This grant was obtained with help from Dr. Isaac Hilpp.  Health Rocks! is designed for middle school students, along with using high school teen leaders as the facilitators.  After receiving the grant, Powell 4-H was able to work in partnership with the Powell County High School FRC Student Council and the Powell County Middle School Health Teacher.  These partnerships allowed us to have our target audience for the program, as well as teens to use as facilitators. 

The health program at PCMS is 6 weeks long, so a new group of students rotates each grading period.  Health Rocks! is designed to include 10 hours of education about drugs, alcohol, vaping abuse, etc.  12 high school leaders made a schedule themselves to take turns visiting and teaching all health students for 10 hours during the 6 week period.  After completing their 2nd 6 weeks group this week, they are professional facilitators of the program and will continue throughout the school year with new groups.

Feedback from the middle school students and teachers has been overly positive.  Students feel included during the lessons, and enjoying learning from the high school students (much more than they would other teachers or adults).  Teachers are impressed with how much many students opened up through the program, relating to it with their own personal experiences.

By the end of the school year, this program will have served all 6th, 7th, and 8th students at Powell County Middle School.  Currently, 2 groups have completed 10 hours of education each, reaching 110 students.  The proposed outcome of this program is to see a decrease in underage drug, alcohol, and vaping abuse in the school system, as well as the community.