In many Kentucky counties, limited resources and the environment may serve as barriers for healthy lifestyle choices related to nutrition and physical activity. As a novel strategy to improve the environment surrounding McLean County residents, the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with Beech Grove Chapel United Methodist Church to implement Faithful Families. Through this program, participants are challenged to improve nutrition, increase physical activity practices, practice food safety, and improve food resource management. 

Twelve adults participated in the 9-week program. As a result of the program, 83% improved food shopping management, 42% utilized food labels for making healthy food choices more, and 67% reported consuming at least 4-6 servings of fruits and/or vegetables. In regard to physical activity, 50% of participants adopted physical activity practices 3 or more days per week. 

In addition to individual behavior change, a large component of the Faithful Families curriculum is to improve the policies, systems, and environment (PSE) within the faith-based organization to encourage and promote a healthy lifestyle by making one PSE-level change within the faith organization within one year of beginning the program. Making this positive change within the organization will not only impact the participants in the program, but also reach the other members of the congregation as well. As a result of Faithful Families, the Beech Grove Chapel United Methodist implemented a written policy to require water and healthy beverage choices be available at all prepared meals to increase water consumption and decrease sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. In addition, physical activity will be built into church-related events and more physical activity opportunities will be created by the church. For example, funding is being sought by the faith organization to host “Run for God” and “Walk by Faith” 5k events during the fall of 2019.