Describe the Issue or Situation.

As the Lee County 4-H Youth Development Agent, I have worked with multiple youth in the county who struggle with anxiety and depression. Knowing this, I am always looking for ways that our 4-H program can support the youth of Lee County through well-being and coping skills.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

The Lee County Extension Service was approached by the Lee County Health Department about collaborating on a program to promote family engagement. After some discussion, it was decided that we would reach out to other organizations and vendors to partner and facilitate an open house type event. The event would offer multiple opportunities for families to learn about and participate in inexpensive activities that they could do together at home that would strengthen family bonds through engagement and also promote personal well being. I chose to focus on the well being aspect of our event and decided to construct sensory bottles with the participants. Sensory bottles can be used as a calming tool for individuals with anxiety. They are also used as an emotional regulation tool for individuals who struggle coping with complex emotions.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

There were 94 youth who participated in the event. Fortunately, the sensory bottle station was a hit as each youth that passed by our booth decided to construct their own including a few of the parents. Participants ranged in ages from 6 to 18 and were both male and female. Demographic information was not collected, however, White, Latino and Black ethnicities were observed participating in the event.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.

Of the 94 youth who participated in the event, 90 stated that they would use the sensory bottle when they felt themselves becoming angry or frustrated.