COVID-19 is a public health crisis for both physical and mental well-being.  According to David Weisenhorn, UK Senior Specialist for Parenting and Child Development, “the uncertainty around COVID-19 is even harder for children.”  Morgan County Extension service aimed to support mental health among youth and families during this crisis while following CDC and social distancing guidelines.  The goal of the 4-H program was to provide hands-on programming for youth, using a non-traditional delivery mode. The Morgan County Extension Staff worked together to select educational materials that complimented a variety of topics and core programs.  The Grab-n-Go kits were developed at the end of March and concluded at the end of June.  The kits could be picked up safely outside the extension office and offered the same days of the week as the school lunch pick up days.  This effort coordinated family travel to avoid “extra” trips from home that may have exposed family to the virus.   

     According to the CDC (2020), people of all ages, especially those with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for Covid-19 and severe illness, particularly if the underlying medical conditions are not well controlled.  This is because Covid-19 is a "novel virus"— meaning it is a new virus to which people have never been previously exposed and therefore do not have immunity. As scientists work to learn more about it, they recognize that while nearly everyone will be exposed to it at some point, most people will not develop a serious or life-threatening illness (CDC, 2020). But, like any illness affecting older adults and people with compromised immune systems, Covid-19 becomes challenging to fight and leaves at risk individuals who become infected more susceptible to serious complications making it more difficult to recover.  The rate of preventive flu vaccinations is 34% compared to the state average of 45%.  

     With nearly half the households in Morgan County having one or more persons ages 65 or 65 and over, the need to share vital information on what the Covid – 19 virus is, how to prevent, pre-cautions to use, symptoms, appropriate methods of cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing became top priority.  In order to reach as many households as possible Morgan County Extension Agents collaborated on the best methods to communicate with Morgan County residents.  Utilizing the resources of the UK College of Agriculture Food and Environment Cooperative Extension Service, the Centers for Disease Control, State resources and ingenuity

     The Extension Staff teamed together to provide fun, educational non-traditional kits to assist in offsetting some of the negative stress in the unavoidable situation. 

     The Extension Staff wanted to promote hands on learning projects – During Earth Day the Grab-n-Go kits were designed to encourage youth and families to make bird feeders out of recyclable materials while getting outside.  Each kit contained a bird watching Sleuth guide so youth could keep up with their daily sightings.  FCS agent provided recipes and supplies for Green cleaners.

      Through a collaboration with the Soil Conservation the Grab-n-Go kits for Arbor Day was part of the tree seedling give away.  In the kits youth received a tree cookie and a lesson about a trees life span and how to adopt a tree.  The ANR agent provided in the kits the proper way to plant a seedling and tree identification resources.  

     The Extension staff have recorded lessons for clients to follow along. –Hummingbird feeders, Importance of Growing Sweet Potatoes, Cooking Dried Beans

Extension staff provided resources to local teachers to incorporate into NTI lessons to students. The 4-H Agent shared live caterpillar life cycle kits with over 350 youth and 12 classrooms.  Teachers were able to conduct google classroom sessions for students to be able to share and document each of the cycles and then celebrate with a butterfly release.  Family Resource Center director stated these supplemental lessons allowed them to document extended learning hours. Youth also received kits on how to make replicas of the metamorphosis of a caterpillar.

      Kits were to encourage family time and promote staying “Healthy at Home”.  At a time of crisis, food, clothing and shelter become of paramount significance.   Family kits included life skills on sharing and learning bread making skills.  The kit, Make it Together for Mom included supplies for making fresh bread as a treat for Mother’s Day.  The earliest packets included information on the virus itself, how to stay healthy, the importance of hand washing, social distancing, utilizing food supplies in the pantry, cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing.  They progressed to share additional hands on skills and sharing family time safely at home.

Kits included:  “Hit the Deck” and have a “grate” time grilling.  This resource included selecting an outdoor grill, cleaning the grill, grilling safety and encouraging youth to participate in the fun while making grilled veggie bundles and outdoor quesadillas.  Incorporating fun while learning as families reconnected to communicate, learn and teach important life skills, while adjusting to the “new normal” on an almost daily basis.  

“Grow your own salad” incorporated growing lettuces learning about 15 different salad greens and making a fresh “lighter” dressing.   

Staying active as a family and/or with grandparents’ kits included pedometers, water bottles, the walking challenge and many outdoor activities to promote health and wellness.

Participants were eager to “pick up” their kits and share with family.  This new method of programming was a means to get the information to the people in a safe and timely manner.  New crisis call for new methods.  Adapting to the change, sharing research based information and helping families cope have been challenging but highly rewarding.  One parent commented:  “My son can’t wait to get the new kit.  We are enjoying and learning so much together, thanks so much for providing them for us.”