The Casey County 4-H Program in collaboration with the University of Kentucky Robert Wood Johnson Foundation created a Health Ambassador Program where high school students are trained on specific healthy habits and present to 3^rd grade students in the Casey County Public Schools. High school students apply to be a Casey Health Ambassador, go through a selection process, and meet with the 4-H agent to understand the trainings and presentations in which are required for the ambassadors. The ambassadors present once a month the 3^rd grade classrooms focusing on one subject per month: physical and mental health, eating a healthy diet, personal safety, oral health, and avoiding nicotine. 

A total of six ambassadors were chosen for the 2022-2023 school year. The Casey Health Ambassadors were assigned a classroom at two elementary schools and received training prior to presenting to their assignment. Through the Health Ambassadors presentations, the high school students learned about healthy practices and educated youth on said healthy practices while developing public speaking skills and developing mentorship with their students. Over the duration of the five-month program, the six ambassadors presented to nearly 100 3^rd grade students. At the conclusion of the program students were prompted with questions to measure their knowledge gained/change in behavior. Below are a few results:

1. 81% Understand how to reduce stress in a healthy way
2. 87% Wash their hands more often (as a result of the program) to reduce the spread of germs
3. 82% Understand the dangers and addictive properties of nicotine

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded the Casey Health Ambassador Program with $42,000 to provide two $1000 scholarships to graduating ambassadors who apply. In 2021-2022 one student was awarded a $1000 scholarship that was applied to her secondary education at Asbury College. This year (2022-2023) two students were awarded a $1000 scholarship both to be applied to their secondary education at the University of Kentucky. These funds will provide scholarship funding for eligible graduating seniors in the Health Ambassador Program for at least 20 years. 

The next school year we plan to recruit additional high school students as health ambassadors to reach our final elementary school’s 3^rd grade students.