According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Kentucky has the third highest rate of substance abuse deaths at 23.6 out of every 100,000 deaths (Kentucky Safety). The SAMHSA also states that substance abuse disorders can create parent-child relationship issues such as neglect of parenting responsibilities and a lack of connection with children. One way to work toward overcoming such issues and create a stronger parent-child relationship is to provide fun and safe activities for parents and children to complete together.

The Menifee County Family and Consumer Sciences/ 4-H Agent collaborated with the Bath County FCS Agent to conduct a virtual Stories, Songs and Stretches program to benefit members of both counties. The agents worked together to produce videos that included reading of the Stories, Songs and Stretches books with movement demonstrations and sing-alongs. Each agent then created individual, private Facebook pages in which members of the community could join and where the weekly videos were posted and viewed. The Menifee County Stories, Songs and Stretches group included seven adult members who participated with their 3-6 year old child(ren).

 In addition to the videos, participants received an activity bag each week which generally included a children’s book, a learning activity and a craft. Each activity bag also included a “Keys to Great Parenting” publication for parents and guardians to gain knowledge and ideas of how to connect with their children. One parent participant that participated in Menifee County’s virtual Stories, Songs and Stretches program stated “Our daughter loves the program. It gives us one in one time together and my oldest daughter also loves helping her sister with the activities.”

Link to one of the privately shared stories, songs and stretches programs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvosbHbNQxo

(cssp224), S. (n.d.). Kentucky Safety and Prevention Alignment Network. Retrieved January 06, 2021, from http://www.safekentucky.org/index.php/top-menu-injury-data/42-injury-reports/57-kentucky-drug-abuse-injury-reports