The Cooperative Extension Service (CES) has a longstanding tradition of facilitating the development and delivery of evidence-based solutions that meet the needs of local communities. Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agents and program assistants are particularly responsive to needs regarding direct nutrition and health education activities for individuals, families, and organizations. However, there has been an increased call for action to go beyond direct education programming and target the spaces in which people live, learn, work, and play. These types of changes are known as policy, systems, and environmental changes (PSE) to create healthier spaces. 

Investment of time and resources in PSE work can extend the reach of CES to different or larger groups of people and yield long-term, sustainable changes that support behavior change over time. FCS agents are perfectly poised to initiate and/or support PSE changes in their local communities. Their skills and abilities to convene diverse groups to achieve common goals, communicate across wide ranging audiences, and trusted leadership as a reliable resource are a natural fit for this type of work. However, Agents communicated a need for training to build capacity for the skills, support, and resources required to successfully implement PSE strategies.

In response to this need, Extension Specialists at the University of Kentucky developed a training to build capacity for PSE work to increase healthy eating and active living in local communities. During the annual FCS February 2020 In-Service training week, a three-hour session was offered in three locations across Kentucky. Thirty-five FCS Extension Agents and professionals attended. The interactive training incorporated a variety of methods to deliver and have individuals interact with content and each other to improve knowledge, skill, confidence, and create a roadmap for initiating or continuing PSE work in their local communities. 

In addition to training, Extension Specialists have offered ongoing support through quarterly technical assistance calls. Calls are designed to support day-to-day functions, respond to barriers or challenges, and foster an opportunity for peer support to enhance understanding and implementation of PSE efforts. The first web-based call was held in May 2020 and focused on productive partnerships. This one-hour session provided an overview to keys for successful partnerships, tools to assess effectiveness of collaborative work, and breakout groups for additional discussion and brainstorming. Sixty-four Extension professionals attended. Upcoming web-based sessions will be held in August and November 2020 and focus on other frequently asked questions or barriers, such as building active communities and leveraging/securing funds for environmental work. 

For FCS Agents to effectively implement evidence-based initiatives like PSE work that support healthy communities, distinct strategies are necessary to support their efforts. Extension Specialists are in a unique role to offer or facilitate connection with resources to achieve this. Evaluation efforts regarding the utility of this type of training and technical assistance approach are underway and will inform future endeavors to support programmatic efforts at the local level.