Health promotion programs have long focused on education about personal health behaviors like tobacco and alcohol use, diet, and physical activity. Personal behaviors have an important role in health, but they are not the whole story. The conditions in which people live, work, learn, and play have an even greater influence on one’s quantity and quality of life. These conditions include social and environmental factors such as housing, access to and quality of health care, education, social support, and income. 

According to the County Health Rankings, Grayson County ranks well below the state average for health factors in Kentucky. 

In response to the need for programming that supports individuals where they live, work, learn, and play, the Grayson County Extension Service offered Pathways to Wellness in early 2024. Pathways to Wellness bridges individual-focused health promotion programming with policy, systems, and environmental efforts by generating conversations and big and small ideas about changing factors that influence health of people in the community. Nine people took part in this series of four interactive lessons. Participants in the program represented healthcare workers, homemakers, and CASA volunteers in the community.

The goal of Pathways to Wellness is to prompt action to promote a culture of health through increasing knowledge about social determinants of health and increasing beliefs in the ability of individuals and the community to take action to change factors in the environment that promote health for all people. Of those who completed surveys, 88% reported increased understanding of social determinants of health. Participants also reported increased understanding of the influence of the conditions of the environments where people live, work, and play have on individual (63%) and community (75%) health. Participants also reported confidence in their (88%) or their community’s (88%) ability to support changes that make healthy choices easier and accessible in the community. Additionally, participants reported plans to discuss program content with a variety people who did not attend, including family members, co-workers, friends, and neighbors. 

The Pathways to Wellness program brings to light many factors related to health and wellness that are often forgotten or not even thought about. The program will continue to be offered to leaders and members of our community to spark new conversations and ideas surrounding what it means to be healthy.