Martin County Drug Court

Making Healthier Choices

According to 2015 KYHealthFacts.org, approximately 3,981Martin County residents received assistance from the Supplemental NutritionAssistance Program (SNAP). A large majority of these individuals are drug dependentand participate in the Martin County Drug Court Program. 90% of attendeessuffer with inaccessibility to nutritious foods and practice unhealthy eatinghabits. 

To address the issue and these individuals, The SupplementalNutrition Education Program partnered with Martin County Drug Court to offer a7-week program to 12 males and 7 females to teach hands-on nutrition educationto limited resource audiences focusing on buying and preparing healthy foods,developing cooking skills, adopting new healthy lifestyle behaviors, foodsafety, managing SNAP resources, and the importance of physical activity. 

As a result of this program, 100% of participants learnedthe importance of healthier eating habits, food safety, and the importance ofphysical activity. 82.4% of participants increased their intake of fruits,vegetables, grains, and protein foods and 52.9% increased their physical activity.One participant stopped by the Extension Office to tell me her and her familywere cooking more at home and eating more fruit and vegetables. They were alsobeing more mindful when cooking with oils – they use healthier cooking oilsnow. The participant has also lost weight and feels better as a result of the7-week SNAP-Ed program.