In 2010 a Canadian longitudinal study showed a distinct relationship between family meals and lower adolescent delinquency, school problems and substance abuse.  In the years since, more studies have shown that family meals are one of the numerous positive interactions and activities related to positive communication between parents and children.  During the fall of 2017,  the Rockcastle County Extension Service started an conscious effort to offer programs that give families the opportunity to attend programs as a family unit.  

The first program moved to this format was the Santa's Worshop in December 2017.     15 youth attended with 8 of those having a parent, grandparent, or guardian attend as well.  Since this has traditionally been a youth only program, not all children opted to have an adult attend.  One grandparent who has custody of her 2 grand-daughters attended with the children.  As the girls created their Christmas gifts and decorations they also collected the directions for each item.  In a later program, the grandmother related that the younger of the two daughters had been crafting with her mother, saying,  "They have found that they are both good at crafting and it is something that they can do together that doesn't require...... (mom) to take the girls anywhere."

Additional family programs that will be offered in the next year include:  Family Fun Hikes,   Healthy Choices/ What's in the Doctor's Bag, Fall Family Mealtime Challenge, and Holiday Traditions.   Further outcomes will be added as programs are completed.