Author: Hazel Jackson
Planning Unit: Rockcastle County CES
Major Program: Nurturing Families (general)
Plan of Work: Parenting program Nurturing Parenting
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
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.
The problem There are many needs within our communities in Kentucky. The 80 Extension Homemaker memb... Read More
The problem Research Shows the 24% of Americans aged 65 and older are socially isolated and 43% of ... Read More
According to 2017 data from the State of Obesity website, the obesity rate for children ages 10 to 1... Read More
A typical 4-day 4-H Camp session offers upwards of 80 hours of direct, uninterrupted contact between... Read More