Making Beneficial Lifestyle Choices in Ballard County

Ballard County Extension participated in and helped organize a community coalition of health minded organizations who received a $40,000 Local Data for Local Action grant from the Foundation for Healthy Kentuckians. Over 400 surveys were returned for analysis. Six Town Hall Meetings in five areas of the county were held to discuss the results of the survey and to begin a dialogue with community members to address some of the community’s health concerns. Two major concerns were identified for community action: 1) Ballard County’s youth are using alcohol and drugs, and there is a need for after school and weekend youth activities; 2) families and individuals are overweight and obese, and there is a need for families to increase physical activity.

To view the entire Building Strong Families for Ballard County profile please click here.

Accessing Nutritious Food in Anderson County

In response to many teens' lack of basic living skills, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension provided county youth simple cooking lessons. Once a month for four months, local youth participated in the program "Kids in the Kitchen." During this time ten youth were taught how to prepare healthy meals. These meals included festive foods, breakfast foods, quick breads, and fun snacks. Participants learned to make new foods and learned important kitchen skills including how to correctly measure, how to use a knife, food safety, and nutritious meal-planning. Post test results showed that 100% of kids started helping with meals at home and even prepared what they had learned for their families. They also reported that they learned how to measure correctly and how to handle a knife.

To view the entire Building Strong Families for Anderson County profile please click here.

Nurturing Families in Allen County

In response to the recent economic recession, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension worked to address the devastating mental and emotional health pressures on individuals and families in the county. The “Blue to You” pilot curriculum was implemented with five focus groups which totaled 105 participants. 76% of men increased knowledge regarding signs and symptoms of depression, 95% now know the different types of treatment, and 78% now know how to help other men with depression. All of the women who participated became aware of depression signs and symptoms, and 90% now know where to get help for a man with depression. 88% of teen participants now know how to help another teen with depression, 86% know where to access community help, and 90% increased knowledge regarding combination therapy.

To view the entire Building Strong Families for Allen County profile please click here.

Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities in Adair County

In recognition that community infrastructures have an impact on our health, Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension implemented the “Second Sunday” event. It was designed to increase our community’s awareness about the importance of physical activity and healthy living. The FCS agent collaborated with several community leaders and partners. Over 140 people of all ages including groups of friends, neighbors, and church groups participated in walking, biking, and pushing strollers on the closed section of KY 439 and Indian Drive. The distance was about 4 miles roundtrip. 95% finished the whole walk. Participants were provided with fresh fruit and water throughout the event. One participant told us, “Wish there were more events like this with safe places to walk.”

To view the entire Building Strong Families for Adair County profile please click here.

Family and Consumer Sciences Featured Programs in Kentucky

During 2008 – 2009, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension collected detailed impact data for three specific programs. The following outcomes were documented through these programs.

• 39% of participants in “Weight – the Reality Series – Body Image” succeeded in losing 5% of their initial weight during the program.
• 75% of children who participated in “LEAP – Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Preschool” increased their level of physical activity.
• 41% of participants in “Small Steps to Health and Wealth” changed at least one behavior such as reducing calorie intake, increasing physical activity, reducing expenses, or increasing income.

To view the entire Building Strong Families for Kentucky profile please click here.

Family and consumer sciences agents to host frugal bridal program

Contributed by Katie Pratt

In the current economy, it is hard for many people to afford necessities, much less save money for additional expenses, such as weddings. To help brides-to-be discover more affordable wedding choices, family and consumer sciences agents with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service will host The Frugal Bride.

The cost-saving bridal program will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. Aug. 2 at Providence Christian Church at Brannon Crossing in Nicholasville. It is open to future brides and their fiancés, family members and wedding planners across the state.

“The main thing we want the participants to take away from this is you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a beautiful wedding. There are options,” said Tamera Thomas, Franklin County family and consumer sciences agent.

Topics on the agenda include He Said, She Said- A guide to couple’s communication, online shopping safety, money management for married couples, Legal info 101- What you need to know, and bridal beauty under $400. Three breakout sessions will include photography, bridal beauty and calligraphy. A bridal fashion show, trends for the upcoming seasons and exhibits also are planned.

“This will be different from other bridal shows in that there will be an educational component to it,” said Mary Hixson, Garrard County family and consumer sciences agent. “We hope that the information they receive helps them not only plan their wedding, but with their marriage,” said Marisa Aull, Jessamine County family and consumer sciences agent.

Agents and presenters will display store-bought and handmade wedding essentials and will compare the two, talk about the costs of each and the time required to make the handmade item. “There are many things that can be handmade including headpieces, veils, garters, ring bearer pillows, wedding favors and decorations,” Hixson said.

Attendees will be able to sample potential low-costs choices for wedding foods and drinks at the workshop, and the agents will discuss the cost, ingredients and number of servings each recipe makes. Sample place settings also will be displayed. The cost to attend is $12 per person and $20 for two people. Those who attend the calligraphy breakout session will need to add $7 per person to the registration fee. As part of the registration fee, each bride-to-be will receive a one-year membership to their county’s Extension Homemakers club and a one-year subscription to the Beautiful Bride Newsletter the agents are developing. They will also receive a goody bag and can register for door prizes at the event.

Preregistration is required and due by July 30. Interested individuals can get information from any county extension office in central Kentucky by contacting Hixson at 859-792-3026, Aull at 859-885-4811 or Thomas at 502-695-9035.

For Our Kids: The Importance of Effective and Sufficient Child Support

For Our Kids: The Importance of Effective and Sufficient Child Support

This post is related to prefiled bill BR 65 in the Kentucky Legislature

Contributed by Erik L. Carlton, M.S., Project Director—Bluegrass Healthy Marriage Initiative, University of Kentucky Department of Family Studies

1. On average, only 56% of the child support payments due to families are actually being made.
2. Child support is critical to economic stability for moderate and low income families.
3. Child support is linked to several positive outcomes for children such as cognitive development, academic achievement, and fewer behavior problems.
4. Effective child support enforcement increases child support payments and nonresidential parent involvement.

The Kentucky Division of Child Support Enforcement (CSE; Cabinet for Health and Family Services) holds that, “Every child has a legal right to financial support from both parents.” (CHFS, 2008). Yet according to data from CSE, for the past five years only an average of 56% payments due are actually made, accounting for $388 million of the $693 million in child support obligations owed each year. This varies by county, but is below the national average (60%). While the reasons for this payment shortfall are multi-faceted, it is clear that children in Kentucky are not receiving the financial child support they need. This has important implications for child well-being because:

· The number of single parent families is increasing across the nation. Single parent families experience financial hardships because welfare does not provide adequate income (Cook et al., 2008; Huang, 2005).
· Stirling and Aldrich (2008) have shown that, compared to well-being when intact, well-being for mothers and children dropped 37%, but only 16% for fathers. Additionally, 73% of low income single mothers and children live in poverty, compared to 28% of low income fathers.
· Child support is a critical source of income and economic stability for moderate- and low-income families (Center for Law & Social Policy, 2004).
· Single parent families, especially single mothers and their children experience social exclusion and societal marginalization (Cook & Marjoribanks, 2005).
· Child support is linked to several positives child outcomes such cognitive development (Argys et al., 1998), as well as academic achievement in older children and fewer behavioral problems (Knox, 1996; Graham, et al., 1994; Knox & Bane, 1994; and McLanahan et al. 1994).
· Father involvement is strongly correlated and child support payment is potentially correlated with lower food insecurity in homes of single mothers (Garasky, 2007).
· Effective child support enforcement policies and programs have been shown to significantly increase child support payments and nonresidential parent involvement (Huang, 2006)
· Regular support reduces poverty and welfare use, and increases child well-being (Turetsky, 2005).
· Because domestic violence has such serious effects on victims’ economic security and ability to provide for themselves, providing child support for victims of domestic violence is especially important in enabling victims to achieve and maintain independence from their abusive spouses/partners (Yearwood et al., 2008; McGee, 2004; Rusbult & Martz, 1995; Strube & Barbour, 1983).

With these statistics and study findings in mind, it seems important that we address ways to increase both the financial (monetary) and positive emotional (nonmonetary) involvement of parents in the lives of their children. The University of Kentucky Bluegrass Healthy Marriage Initiative (BHMI; http://www.bluegrassmarriage.org/) is currently working with CSE to encourage responsible parental involvement in the lives of children through the formation and maintenance of healthy marriages and the support of healthy co-parenting relationships.

Please contact Derek Feldman for a full list of references if interested.

Recommendations to prevent childhood obesity

Practical recommendations for policy-makers to help prevent childhood obesity

1. Increasing access to parks and recreation centers
2. Improving safety for bicyclists and pedestrians
3. Offering healthier foods in schools
4. Attracting grocery stores that provide healthy, affordable foods to lower-income communities

Childhood obesity is a serious problem facing our Kentucky counties and the entire U.S. Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has created the Action Strategies Toolkit to provide guidance to policy-makers. The toolkit offers practical examples, including increasing access to parks and recreation centers, improving safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, offering healthier foods in schools, and attracting grocery stores that provide healthy, affordable foods to lower-income communities.

Download full toolkit and executive summary at http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/product.jsp?id=42514

East Kentucky Homemakers go the distance for children's home

East Kentucky Homemakers go the distance for children’s home

Contributed by Aimee Nielson

LIBERTY, Ky., (May 27, 2009) – It takes more than 10 dozen eggs each morning to make breakfast at the Galilean Children’s Home, but that statistic fits right in with the home’s theme: “Where normal is the exception.” More than 95 percent of support for the Casey County home comes from private donations of time, food, supplies and money. Some University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Homemakers in eastern Kentucky have embraced the home and gather supplies throughout the year in hopes of making life a little easier for children and special-needs adults residing there.

Leslie County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences Nanette Banks recalled a visit to the Galilean home several years ago. A few homemakers toured the facilities including the Angel House, a haven for babies whose mothers are in prison, and the Blessing House, a place for older children and adults with physical and mental challenges. “It’s a blessing to see some of the things you don’t normally see,” Banks said. “It makes you realize that there are good people, people who will give others a chance at life. None of our homemakers came out of that tour with a dry eye; even the men had tears in their eyes. Since then, we decided to make the home one of our community service projects and bring donated items each year.”

Homemakers collect baby care items and personal hygiene items as well as homemade baby quilts and blankets to add a personal touch. They travel more than two hours at least twice a year to personally deliver the items and catch up with beloved residents. “We wanted to do something for them, so we got busy making quilts,” said Homemaker Virginia Melton. “We just wanted to put things together to bring to them, and it has touched my life. It changes you when you come down here.”

Melton has a special affection toward children at the home since she and other Homemakers have raised children of their own with special needs and physical challenges. “It really makes you appreciate what you have and makes me love my own child even more,” she said. “These kids need our help; they are doing a wonderful thing here.”
Lucille Smith, also a Leslie County Homemaker, said she’s learned a lot by visiting the home and bringing items to make life there easier. “This is a blessing to come and see this,” she said. “It makes me see how blessed I am and that my family is well; we are just so fortunate.”

Jerry Tucker and his late wife Sandy founded the home in 1986. They fought their own battles with infertility and focused their energies on helping children whose parents did not have the ability to care for them. “We were married for 45 years before she died two years ago,” Jerry Tucker said. “We were childless for seven years and then we adopted a baby from a private agency from an unwed mother. We just felt after we adopted him and then our two daughters were born, which were miracle babies, we wanted to spend the rest of our lives working with kids and so forth.” All in all, the Tuckers have adopted more than 30 children, and cared for more than 800 children through the years, rescuing many of them from situations of abuse, neglect and other circumstances.

Banks said the Leslie County Homemakers use the home’s published needs list to focus their collections of supplies toward items the home really needs. The list and more information at the home are available online at http://www.galileanhome.org/

Taste of the Month brings hard-to-find foods to east Kentucky school

Taste of the Month brings hard-to-find foods to east Kentucky school

By Aimee Nielson
BOONEVILLE, Ky., (May 13, 2009) – Boiled shrimp, provolone cheese, fresh mandarin oranges – these items may sound pretty common to folks living in metropolitan areas. But, for those in rural communities, these items are hard to come by.

“Several years ago, I was doing a 4-H lesson on quesadillas, and the kids didn’t have a clue what they were; we didn’t have any Mexican restaurants here,” recalled Natasha Lucas, family consumer sciences University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension agent in Owsley County. “I thought it was really sad that our kids didn’t know about many foods, because they are just not exposed to much beyond the basics. I wanted to do some kind of food exposure program then but didn’t have the funds.”

That all changed about three years ago when funding became available through the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program, so Lucas worked with Owsley County Middle and High School officials to start Taste of the Month. Each month Lucas and Sherry Becknell, Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program assistant in Owsley County, pick a hard-to-find food item and hand out samples during lunch time to seventh through 12th graders.

“Most of the kids will give it a try, and they’ve told me they look forward to seeing what we’re going to try next,” Lucas said. “We try to only offer healthy, fresh foods that aren’t available in our grocery stores. For example, this month we handed out samples of fresh mandarin oranges. In our grocery store, you can’t find that. You can only get the canned variety.”
Owsley County Health Educator Oneida McIntosh said the program has really expanded the students’ palettes.

“Here at Owsley County High School we really strive to educate our children about healthy food choices – in the cafeteria and at home,” McIntosh said. “We want them to see that just because something looks different, they don’t have to snarl their noses; they just need to give new things a chance. This small taste gives them a chance to change their perspective.”

Whitley McIntosh, an OCHS junior, has been active in 4-H since fourth grade. She looks forward to the items Lucas and Becknell bring each month and also looks forward to hearing what’s going on in 4-H. “It’s interesting to get to try new things you haven’t tried before,” she said. “I really liked the different fruits and cheeses.”Another junior at the school, Michael Hensley agreed. “They give us a new variety of food to try,” he said. “Our grocery store doesn’t have choices like that. It’s just a really neat experience being able to try new things every month.”

Oneida McIntosh said she encourages students to seek out the items they try when they go shopping with their parents in larger areas, such as Hazard. “Just like many times I may not have access to a lot of the foods I need for a particular recipe (in Owsley County),” she said. “I have to go somewhere else to get it. They shouldn’t be too discouraged; just add an item to the shopping list to pick up while you’re out.”

Beyond the Taste of the Month event, Lucas also works with Oneida McIntosh in classrooms, where they teach lessons on how to prepare dishes with the foods they sample.

4-H and Youth Leadership Development

Contributed by Nicole Stork-Hestad, UK Graduate Student

Talking with Mr. Mark Mains about his work with extension offices over the past 11 years is like asking a 5 year old to talk about their favorite superhero. His eyes light up and you are hit head-on with the passion he has for the work he is doing. Mark works closely with the 4-H Development program which he described as “informal education” in a formal setting. As an Extension Specialist for 4-H Youth Development, Mark proceeded to enlighten me on the ends in and outs of 4-H as it relates to Legislation, education, and its impact on Kentucky youths.

Just as a refresher, the 4-H program is self-defined as “a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills” for youths between the ages of 9 and 18 (although the Cloverbuds’ program is becoming more popular for ages 5-8). Programs of involvement range from camping to international exchange and the meetings are usually held in more public areas, at schools in particular. Funding for the program comes from a variety of sources including individual donors to the USDA. 4-H relies on paid employees, as well as parents, volunteers, and alumni to keep the program going.

When asked to relate his work to current legislatives acts, Marks eyes widened. “My greatest concern, right now, is our standards,” he said. Apparently the Kentucky Education Reform Act, commonly referred to as KERA, is under heavy revision this session. The 4-H program’s guidelines and standards for their school involvement had previously been measured against the yardstick that KERA had provided. With the phasing out of the old rule book, Mark is concerned with keeping the 4-H programs above reproach. He stressed that 4-H’s goal is to meet the needs of the students involved; the whole point of the program is to positively impact Kentucky’s youth.

The kids involved present their own matters to state government and (with a little help from 4-H workers, like Mark) win their cases. Mark recounted that $2 million was given to the 4-H camping fund just recently because the youth spoke up for their programs. “We need to ‘Wow’ Legislation with impact and involvement,” Mains concluded. Which I don’t believe is going to be a problem since the 2008 data revealed there to be approximately 230,000 youth members alone. 4-H is providing youth who have something to say the opportunities to be proactive with their state government.

Direct Links:
Statistics related to Kentucky 4-H http://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/4h/about4h/statistics/pdf/Market%20Share%20Report%20-%202008.pdf
Home web site: http://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/4h/about4h/index.htm
News Article on KERA reform: http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/684937.html

College Financial Awareness

Contributed by Nicole Stork-Hestad, UK Graduate Student

Ah, college- noted around the nation as the best years of your life. University students from California to Maine are spring break-ing, pulling all-nighters, and cramming every ounce of “knowledge” possible into their four years of freedom to get the most out of college experience. However, something that most students fail to add to their educational outfitting is financial preparedness; knowledge of topics concerning credit card use and debt management could be especially constructive as they areas apply to the majority of persons in postsecondary education.

House Bill 83 (BR388), which is currently in committee, poses to “require public postsecondary institutions to provide new undergraduates with information regarding credit cards and debt management and encourage them [the educational institutions] to conduct informational sessions” pertaining to credit cards and debt management for students to voluntarily attend. Basically, as apart of orientation week, incoming freshman and transfer students would receive some kind of reading material (pamphlet, booklet, brochure, etc…) concerning credit card use and debt management in their welcome packets and maybe have a session or two on financial awareness (particularly concerning credit card use and debt management).

To get some perspective on the effectiveness of the bill, I asked Dr. Hyungsoo Kim what his thoughts about the new bill were and how he speculated it would be of aid to incoming students. Dr. Kim teaches personal and family finance courses at the University of Kentucky through the Family Studies Department. “Obviously young folks need more knowledge and skills to manage their personal resources,” Kim says. There is a definite sense of prevention or catch-‘em-early mentality that this bill offers.

However, he also commented to me that he finds more than half of his undergraduate students do not work to support their lifestyle; most are still financially supported by parents or guardians. “The number one issue” he says is “actually they don’t manage because they don’t have any income… They don’t think they need this kind of thing…[They] don’t feel that it is real.” He believes that money management reading materials will lost on these incoming students because they will have a lack of interest in being budgeters sense the need to be financially responsible is not an urgent one.

A possible solution to this lack of interest would be to offer the same materials and voluntary sessions to outbound students who are looking to graduate. Kim acknowledges that, “as they get older, more exposed, they will need more information.” Nothing wakes up a graduating senior like smell of being financially independent, or in some cases financially cut-off, from his/her parents. A genuine concern for being financially stable after graduation could spark the desire to attend a lecture series by guest financial speakers, similar to how a job fair has more attending second semester juniors and graduating seniors.

Never-the-less, should it pass, HB 83 will have our freshman (and probably soon after our recycling bins) armed with provided reading material on subjects such as “How to Use Your Credit Card Responsibly” and “Pay Those Student Loans In a Timely Fashion.”

Breastfeeding and public policy

Contributed by Nicole Stork-Hestad, UK Graduate Student

I once overheard a conversation at a high school basketball game involving the mother of a newborn and an older gentleman, both of which were “feeding.” The gentleman was enjoying a hot dog and nachos, while the mother had just begun breastfeeding her infant. The gentleman was apparently appalled; so much so that he remarked to the mother, “You shouldn’t do that out here! It’s indecent. Why don’t you go on back to the bathroom and do that.” To which the mother replied, “When you eat your dinner in the bathroom, so will my baby.”

There are a lot of negative opinions about mothers who breastfeed in public, most of which can be summed into one word, “shouldn’t.” One article states that there are several reasons for this the discriminations: (1) Breastfeeding is inherently sexual due to breast exposure, (2) Breastfeeding is a form of exhibitionism/attention-seeking, and (3) Breastfeeding is unnecessary; bottle feeding is just as good and does not expose anything.

However, this article always commends those state legislations that are starting to disagree and admit their recognition of the rights of both mother and child to breastfeed in public. Hence, breastfeeding has become a legal issue. “When breastfeeding women leave their homes and attempt to integrate breastfeeding into their public and professional lives, they face barriers to breastfeeding that require legal protection” (Shelton, 1995-1996, p. 180).

The article states that legislative support is shown through implementation of three underlying laws: (1) Exemptions of breastfeeding as public nudity or indecent exposure, (2) Permission for mothers to breastfeed in any authorized setting, and (3) Protection of rights to breastfeed through civil rights remedies. The bill concerning the reprimand for those who interfere with a mother breastfeeding in authorized public domains shows that Kentucky is behind mothers and their children, supporting both their health and their rights.

The article does give a word of caution. Most of the amendments made to support breastfeeding mothers in public and professional settings have crafty wording, stating the mothers have the right to breast their “infant” or “baby.” State citizens need to be aware of the law wording, and the effects it has on a mother wanting to continue breastfeeding her toddler or preschooler. It also warns that mothers relying only on the federal laws of breastfeeding for protection could encounter problems and limitations from private employers and property owners because the law does not extend to them.

While breastfeeding is less discriminated against and more protected than it was, further action is necessary. The article points out that, while laws are empowering women to breastfeed in public domains, accommodations for breastfeeding, or even breast pumping, are still very limited, especially in the workplace. While legally exempt from prosecution, and even legally allowed to bring suit against any interfering persons, accommodation for breastfeeding (i.e. a clean environment, a private/designated area, and time to do so) are still very much lacking. There is still room for improvement in this matter; a battle has been won, but the war for breastfeeding continues.

Raising an Active Family

Raising an active family
Sources: Carole Gnatuk, senior extension specialist for child development
Debbie Murray, associate director for Health Education through Extension Leadership

Most parents know children are like sponges, constantly absorbing our words and actions. By practicing healthy habits with your children, you can set them on the right course for a healthy life. One way to do this is to encourage family physical activity.

It’s not hard to be active. Simple activities, such as playing in the backyard or walking, can get family members moving and enjoying time together. Set aside a daily time to play with your children. An hour is ideal, but any amount of time you can devote would be beneficial to you and your children. Be sure to pick an activity that all or most family members enjoy doing. Change activities daily so everyone can do something they like. Creating your own ideas or games is part of the fun and will help create life-long memories.

Here are some simple ways to incorporate physical activities into family time:
· Mark off a hopscotch court on the driveway or sidewalk. Teach your children how to play and then do it together.
· Visit a farmers market. Walk and talk about the foods. Buy something to prepare at home with the children.
· Keep low-cost toys around the house that you can pick up at a moment’s notice. Flying discs, jump ropes and balls of various sizes give many choices of games to play.
· Make a kite out of items you have and go fly it. Figure out together how to make it work better if necessary.
· Plan a “wash day,” where you wash wagons, bikes, outdoor toys – and even the family dog.
· Turn up the music and dance.
· Work in a garden. Teach children how to start and take care of flowers or vegetables.
· Set limits on the amount and quality of television and video games you permit family members to watch.
· Teach your children activities you enjoyed as a child.

These are only a few ideas out of thousands of possibilities that can make your family more active and closer. Many physical activities provide an opportunity for family members to discuss their days and get to know each other better.

For more information on physical activity ideas and other healthy lifestyle choices, contact UK Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Kentucky Farms are Fun

‘Kentucky Farms are Fun’ -- especially in tough economic times
By Aimee Nielson

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., (March 11, 2009) – More and more, Kentucky farmers are inviting their neighbors, school groups and the general public to come have fun on their farms.
In the past several years, agritourism or “agritainment” has really taken off in the Bluegrass state as former tobacco farmers try to diversify and hobby farmers look for niches to supplement family-supporting income. Even amidst the economic downturn, many farms offering agritourism activities have managed to stay afloat and even thrive.

Janet Johnson, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension agent for family and consumer sciences in Allen County, recently took part in a Kentucky Farms are Fun conference in Bowling Green, where farmers offering agritainment throughout the state came together to share ideas and get inspired by some great speakers.

“Farmers, of course, are eternally optimistic about next season, next year, so there is that inherent value of living on the farm to show that we can survive,” she said. “We can make it, we can have good times. Even in bad times, families can find things to do together because you can have fun on very little.”

She said farms naturally are places that provide a family atmosphere – a place to build relationships, find friendly people and just have fun. “Almost everybody I know in this business had a good year last year. It was just a common theme all the way through our type of business,” said Bill Jackson, owner of Jackson’s Orchard near Bowling Green. Last year, he said, farmers in agritourism saw some of the economic pinch with $4 gas; however those prices did tend to keep people closer to home, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for agritourism. “I think maybe folks aren’t going to take the long vacations, but they are going to take vacations. Maybe it’s just a half-day to come out to our farm,” Jackson said. “But they are going to have time with the family; they are going to look for recreation things … to do, and we’re close to home, and we offer that opportunity. I think our business is great; I think this whole agritourism segment is perfectly positioned to grow during these times.”

Larry Snell of the Kentucky Center for Agricultural Development told farmers that good times usually follow tough times. He said farmers have been dealing with uncertain economies for a long time, since they not only have to deal with the general economy but also with the weather.
“You’ve gone through tough times before,” he said. “You’ve survived them very well. You need to be a person that sees the glass as half full rather than half empty. The sun goes up, and the sun goes down, and in between those times, we can accomplish a lot. From what I hear, yes, people have less money, but they aren’t going to give up vacations and entertainment. They may cut down length and distance, but that is an opportunity for us in Kentucky, and we can offer them fun, enjoyable and affordable fun, on our farms.”

UK Cooperative Extension Service has offices in every county and farmers can contact them or the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for more information about agritourism. Kentuckians interested in finding a nearby agritourism opportunity can visit http://www.kentuckyfarmsarefun.com/ and search by attraction or region.

The Career to Pathways Act

SB43, The Career to Pathways Act, was introduced by Senator Jack Westwood. It is similar to the bill (SB32) introduced in the 2008 Kentucky General Assembly session. Last year’s bill, which did pass the Senate but was not considered by the House, was endorsed by the Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education (KACTE) , other Career and Technical Education (CTE) associations, and many supporters of CTE programs. The bill formally changes the name of programs from vocational education to CTE. It defines a “chronically low performing school” and requires such schools to implement comprehensive school reform plans stressing individual graduation plans and small learning communities. It directs the Department of Education to develop career readiness standards in English, reading and math. It authorizes CTE accessibility funds, career guidance coaches, career academies, and a CTE facilities fund, and it directs local districts include CTE capital needs in their facility plans. It calls for evidence-based models for at-risk students and establishing five regional training programs for teachers to learn the models. Those items requiring funding will be implemented when the money becomes available. For more information contact the Kentucky Department of Education or Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education.

Partnership for Fit Kentucky

This post is related to House Bill 11 and Senate Bill 6

Kentucky children are ranked third in the country for being overweight or for being at-risk for overweight lifestyles (http://www.fitky.org/). The 2009 study “Partnership for a Fit Kentucky” reports that weight-related illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease, are on the rise and contribute to a health care cost in Kentucky of over $1 billion dollars. Academic performance by children should not be affected by an increase in PE programs at schools. Studies have shown that increased physical activity by a child does not negatively affect a student’s academic performance (http://www.ijbnpa.org/).

Sponsored by the Council of State Governments SCORE / Southern Collaborative to Reduce Obesity Efforts, the mission of Partnership for a Fit Kentucky is to “support policy and environmental changes that promote healthy eating and active lifestyles. The focus is on building healthy nutrition and physical environments in six venues: Early Childhood, Schools, Family and Communities, Worksites, Built Environment and Healthcare” (p. 32).

House Bill 11 proposes physical activity at school for children in grades K-5 be more regulated, with increased duration and frequency. Senate Bill 6 proposes an increase in physical activity at schools with preschool through eighth grade programs.

Spotlight Series: Lewis County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Lewis

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Lewis County where the FCS agent partnered with the medical facility, Primary Plus, to provide an educational prevention event “Love Your Heart Day.” The event allowed women to have a free a heart health screening that included cholesterol (Total, LDL, & HDL), triglycerides, glucose, blood pressure, height, weight body fat percentage, and nutritional counseling. This event was attended by 43 women in the community. A local business hung red dresses in their windows for one week to symbolize heart health. The local visitor center also hung a banner during the month of February, which is National Heart Month, to help remind people of the message.

For more information about the needs of families in Lewis County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Lewis County Family and Consumer Extension Profile

Spotlight Series: Letcher County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Letcher

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Letcher County where a "Diabetics Can Party, Too" cooking school was planned by the FCS agent and the District Health Department dietitian to show there are delicious foods that will fit the guidelines of the diabetic health plan, but still be more "party-like." Diabetes is a very common health problem in the local area, but it is generally manageable with the proper diet, health practices, and medications. Approximately 100 participants attended the 4 events with 54 participants from Letcher County. The committee members shared nutrition and food preparation information, health tips, and prepared and served 7 recipes of a variety of foods.

For more information about the needs of families in Letcher County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Letcher County Family and Consumer Extension Profile

Spotlight Series: Leslie County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Leslie

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Leslie County where the FCS agent collaborated with the Leslie County school system and COLLY (County Of Leslie Lifting Youth) to promote dental health to 800 first, second, and third grade students. The youth were presented two lessons on the importance of taking care of their teeth and how nutrition was relevant to the overall health of their teeth. A packet of oral health information was given to each student. Students tracked their brushing and flossing habits for one month. The completed forms indicated that 89% of the students reported brushing or rinsed their mouths out twice a day, flossing one time per day, and eating at least 1 healthy snack per day.

For more information about the needs of families in Leslie County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Leslie County Family and Consumer Extension Profile

Spotlight Series: Lee County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Lee

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Lee County where the FCS agent collaborated with the Lee County School system to implement the "Jump into Food and Fitness" curriculum to all fourth grad students. Lee County is considered one of Kentucky’s least healthy counties, ranked 115th of 120. The curriculum was used as a school enrichment program to teach sixty-five youth the importance of making healthy food choices and being physically active. Participants planned and prepared a Thanksgiving meal using correct serving sizes and My Pyramid to incorporate all of the food groups. Sixty-six percent of the students reported adopting one new nutrition habit.

For more information about the needs of families in Lee County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Lee County Family and Consumer Extension Profile

Spotlight Series: Lawrence County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Lawrence

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Lawrence County where the Extension Service, Health Department, and Three Rivers Medical Center (TRMC) "teamed-up" to promote lung health education and lung cancer prevention with grant funds from Health Education through Extension Leadership (HEEL). Two community events (Blaine & Louisa) were held providing health screenings including 54 lung function tests given by TRMC. Thirty-five home radon testing kits were provided to homeowners by the Kentucky Department of Public Health. Overall, approximately 383 adults/youth gained knowledge of the consequences of lung cancer risks not only from tobacco, but also from environmental factors such as radon gas. In addition, 10 smokers received nicotine replacement therapy and 13-week Cooper-Clayton cessation counseling sessions.

For more information about the needs of families in Lawrence County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Lawrence County Family and Consumer Extension Profile

Spotlight Series: Laurel County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Laurel

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Laurel County where the YMCA, Extension Service, and St. Joseph of London joined together to expand our the summer feeding program. Approximately 50% of Laurel County children are eligible for free and reduced lunch, and many are concerned that children will not receive a sufficient amount of nutrition during the summer months. The Summer Feeding Program is a federally funded program that provides free food in the summer for children through age eighteen. Over the years we have expanded from one site to 49 sites. We served over 42,000 children in 2007. The Extension Service staffed five sites by recruiting over 100 volunteers to take food to these children.

For more information about the needs of families in Laurel County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Laurel County Family and Consumer Extension Profile

Spotlight Series: LaRue County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": LaRue

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in LaRue County where staff members at two elementary schools had the opportunity to participate in a 10 week program that promoted physical activity through "Get Moving" and healthy weight management through "Weight the Reality Series" taught by the FCS agent. Weekly weigh-ins and educational topics were offered at the two elementary schools, and 49 faculty and staff members participated in the program. Thirty people completed the entire 10 week program and three persons reached the goal of losing at least 7% of their body weight during the program. A total of 201 lbs. were lost by all. Average weight loss per individual was 6.93 lbs., and 85% of the participants reported positive behavior changes.

For more information about the needs of families in LaRue County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full LaRue County Family and Consumer Extension Profile

Spotlight Series: Knox County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Knox

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Knox County where 160 youths participated in a series of lessons highlighting the food pyramid, food’s role in the body, where food comes from, and understanding the importance of physical activity. At the end of four lessons, 90 percent of student participants could place food items on the food guide pyramid correctly. Seventy-five percent of student participants could identify at least one vitamin/mineral in each food group, such as calcium in dairy, and correctly describe its role (calcium is for strong bones). All the students participated in physical activity with 50 percent of students reporting an increase in activity at home.

For more information about the needs of families in Knox County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Knox County Family and Consumer Extension Profile.

Spotlight Series: Knott County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Knott

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Knott County where the local Cabinet for Families and Children referred 16 adults and 13 children ages 5 and under for participation in a pilot parenting program. Three public school employees and one community member led the children's program. The county Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Paraprofessional (EFNEP) assistant taught a nutrition lesson at each session. The FCS agent and a volunteer led the parenting sessions. End-of-the-program evaluations indicated that parents considered the group discussions the most beneficial. Three parents indicated they were spending more time with their children, using more appropriate discipline methods and were more active with their children.

For more information about the needs of families in Knott County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Knott County Family and Consumer Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Warren County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Warren

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Warren County where the FCS agent collaborated with 4-H, Warren County School Systems, and other local business partners to conduct “Get Moving in the Classroom.” Six forty-five minute lessons on physical activity, nutrition education, and healthy lifestyle choices were aligned to KERA Core Content. Teachers received a teacher’s resource guide with all lesson plans and useful resources to facilitate and increase physical activity in the classroom on a daily basis. Based on student surveys, they quickly increased physical activity levels by an average of 35 minutes daily and made positive nutritional selections. At the conclusion of the program, 92% of the students reported that they enjoyed being physically active.

For more information about the needs of families in Warren County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Warren County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Trigg County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Trigg

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Trigg County where nutrition education programs sponsored by Cooperative Extension are held at the Housing Authority community building to reach at risk youth. The participants prepare their own nutritious snacks and lunch and participate in physical activity. The Terrific Tuesdays program is a leader led program for youth 2nd – 8th grade. Once a month a lesson is taught where the kids make food items that are nutritious and tasty. Eighty percent of the youth indicated they have increased physical activity at home; 65% reported they were reading nutrition labels; and 63% were eating more fruits and vegetables.



For more information about the needs of families in Trigg County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Trigg County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

Spotlight Series: Kenton County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Kenton

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Kenton County where the FCS agent combined two lessons, “Discovering Treasures from the Past” and “Revitalizing Your Community through Historic Preservation,” and provided them to Extension Homemakers and community education participants who found value in the past as well as learning steps to protect or care for the homes that remain. The program offered insight into the value of historical homes within the individual communities; architectural styles common in the area; and evaluating doorways and roof styles. Extension Homemakers were also educated about the economic impact of historic preservation and the importance of using “best practices” to insure that national standards are met when trying to rehabilitate old structures.

For more information about the needs of families in Kenton County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Kenton County Family and Consumer Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Todd County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Todd County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Todd County where the FCS agent collaborated with six other community agencies to sponsor an educational program for expectant mothers focused on the importance of pre-natal care and well-child care. An end-of-the-meeting evaluation administered to the mothers measured knowledge gained through the program. Thirty-six (83%) increased their knowledge about caring for teeth during infancy; 43 (100%) planned to clean their baby’s gums and mouth daily with a washcloth; and 41 (98%) planned to be more conscious about the sleeping habits of infants. Thirty-one (72%) learned more about shaken baby syndrome; forty (93%) learned more about basic baby care; and all reported acquiring knowledge about the importance of product safety and recalls.

For more information about the needs of families in Todd County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Todd County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

Spotlight Series: Johnson County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Johnson County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Johnson County where the FCS program leadership advocates the integration of activities that complement the tourism mission. By creating tourism friendly activities, supporting local tourism related venues, and fostering hospitality programs and skills, the FCS program has been successful in enhancing a portion of income produced by this market and in increasing community leadership. Last year’s FCS tourism leadership activities included: 1) teaching leadership skills to 100 Extension Homemakers by using the Southeast Kentucky Tourism Development Association’s Leadership Toolbox; 2) leading SEKTDA’s hospitality training, which included 30 Extension Homemaker leaders; and 3) the development of the area’s first agri-tourism loop connecting 10 separate agricultural related businesses into one marketable, united loop.

For more information about the needs of families in Johnson County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Johnson County Family and Consumer Extension Profile

"Spotlight Series": Spencer County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Spencer County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Spencer County where “Chronic Disease Self-Management,” is taught by the FCS agent in collaboration with the district health department, focused on living a healthy life with chronic conditions. Nine residents who suffered from chronic disease participated in this small group intervention. The program was based on self-efficacy theory and emphasized problem solving, decision making, and confidence building. Topics included: overview of self-management, making action plans, relaxation and cognitive symptom management, dealing with anger/fear/frustrations, advance directives, communication skills, making treatment decisions, and dealing with Depression. Many report that they will continue monitoring their chronic conditions so that they can live long and productive lives.

For more information about the needs of families in Spencer County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Spencer County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Simpson County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Simpson County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Simpson County where the FCS agent conducted the ten-week “Weight the Reality Series” program to educate clients about healthy eating and physical activity. The net weight loss of all participants was 180.4 pounds. The average loss in waist circumference was 1.4 inches. Resulted include: 91% of participants now monitor their weight on a regular basis; 83% feel they have become effective in managing their weight; 67% report eating 3-4 low fat or non-fat dairy products on a daily basis; 67% measure and control portions; and 67% keep a journal of their food intake and physical activity.

For more information about the needs of families in Simpson County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Simpson County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Shelby County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Shelby County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Shelby County where the FCS agent and Family Resource Center coordinator, and 22 Extension volunteers staffed thirteen food and nutrition stations in “Kids in the Kitchen.” Elementary age youth participated in cooking, nutrition, and food safety activities. Adults and youth family members participated in the hands-on foods adventures to practice hand washing and learn new cooking skills and recipes. End-of-session surveys completed by the 46 participants revealed: 94% practiced correct measuring techniques; 97% learned about dairy foods, calcium and their bones; and 94% learned other valuable nutrition information.

For more information about the needs of families in Shelby County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please clisk here to see the full Shelby County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Scott County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Scott County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Scott County where the number of people with diabetes and kidney disease is growing. The Kentucky Chapter of the National Kidney Foundation partnered with the FCS agent and the diabetes coalition to conduct a screening event at the Scott County Extension Center. Eighty-nine people were screened for kidney disease. The FCS agent assisted other partnering agencies with the recruitment of volunteers to take medical histories and draw blood. The screenings provided at this event were free to the participants and had a retail value of $700 - $800. Lives may have been saved by screening these at-risk individuals.1

For more information about the needs of families in Scott County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Scott County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

Spotlight Series: Jessamine County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Jessamine County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Jessamine County where the FCS agent offered a family financial series entitled "Save Today for Tomorrow,” and Moneysmart, (an Extension and FDIC program), in collaboration with community partners. Twenty-seven families received a quarterly newsletter and access to all sessions that included: estate planning, planning for the holidays, dealing with financial institutions, taxes, and saving for college educations. Ninety-four percent of the families indicated that the information they received was beneficial in their budgeting and financial planning. The average amount saved or debt reduced was $ 2,800 per family during 2007-2008 year.

For more information about the needs of families in Jessamine County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Jessamine County Family and Consumer Extension Profile

"Spotlight Series": Russell County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Russell County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Russell County where Local Hispanic families are involved in growing a community garden with assistance from the U.K. Cooperative Extension Service, Kentucky State University, and community volunteers. A local farmer provided the ground for the garden plot along with the equipment to prepare the ground and care for the garden. Approximately 100 bags of fresh garden produce were frozen and 100 jars of food were preserved according to USDA guidelines. Items that were canned include green beans, salsa, tomatillos, and tomatoes. It is believed that as many as thirty Hispanic families benefited from the 2007 Community Garden Project.

For more information about the needs of families in Russell County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Russell County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Rowan County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Rowan County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Rowan County where the UK Cooperative Extension Service's Family and Consumer Sciences agent was recruited to assist in forming the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Morehead. The Institute offers free/low cost classes for those aged 55 and older who are interested in learning new skills, expanding current skills, or who just have an interest in lifelong learning. Thirteen classes were offered with approximately 120 people enrolled. The spring semester concluded with a week-long fitness camp attended by 20 participants and plans are underway for the 2008-2009 academic year's classes.

For more information about the needs of families in Rowan County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Rowan County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

Spotlight Series: Jefferson County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Jefferson

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Jefferson County where a Jefferson County Extension Homemaker Club partnered with the Kentucky Refugee Ministries to furnish an apartment for a family of refugees from Burma. Approximately $11,000 dollars worth of items were donated to furnish the apartment. “We are trying to help them learn about cooking and simple things that we take for granted. They had to learn about electricity and everything in the kitchen.” The club members have volunteered over 900 hours to give aid, valued at $13,500. They have helped this family overcome the challenges of settling into their new country, which will help them become successful citizens and contribute to the economic development of Metro Louisville.

For more information about the needs of families in Jefferson County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Jefferson County Family and Consumer Extension Profile

"Spotlight Series": Rockcastle County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Rockcastle County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Rockcastle County where the Rockcastle County Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program paraprofessional taught 89 limited resource families how to serve more nutritious meals, to keep foods safe and to utilize local food resources effectively. Evaluations documented that: 100% of families made some positive improvement in the nutritional quality of their diet; 76% of families consumed a diet of higher quality because they learned how to plan meals using the food guide pyramid, consider healthy choices and use the "Nutrition Facts" label; 80% of families learned to plan meals ahead of time and use a grocery list to guide food selections; and 77% showed improvement in food price comparison behavior.

For more information about the needs of families in Rockcastle County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Rockcastle County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Robertson County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Robertson County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Robertson County where 35 Extension Homemakers program learned about risk factors, how to collect family health history data, and prepared their own family health histories through the program, "Family Health History". One participant reported that she not only completed the health history for herself, but she also gathered health history from her mother (who is in a nursing home) and shared the information with her son and daughter-in-law for the benefit of her grandchildren. The Extension Homemaker supplied the daughter-in-law with worksheets and she too is completing a family health history, so that the grandchildren will have diagnostic records from both sides of the family.

For more information about the needs of families in Robertson County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Robertson County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Pulaski County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Pulaski County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Pulaski County where three incidences of staph infection in the county necessitated the need to educate more than 1,200 elementary students about Staphylococcus Aureus, commonly known as staph. Students were taught to identify the signs and symptoms of staph, how the disease spreads, and steps to prevent or decrease the spread of staph. Each of the students participated in the "six steps of hand washing." Glow germ lotion was applied to their hands to see if they were washing their hands correctly with students practicing the techniques. The teachers and aides found they also needed to take more time in washing their hands correctly.

For more information about the needs of families in Pulaski County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Pulaski County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

Spotlight Series: Jackson County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Jackson County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Jackson County where the Jackson and Knox County FCS agents partnered to provide low cost training to 150 personnel from 20 different childcare organizations including in-home day cares, licensed day care organizations, and Family Resource Youth Service Centers. Childcare providers/organizations saved approximately $4500.00 in training and travel costs by attending these trainings offered locally by Extension. A six-month follow-up report indicated: 75% used stress management skills in working in the child care center; 80% evaluated their center environment and made changes including implementing curriculums; adding more reading and structured play time, restructuring centers, creating more effective schedules and using developmentally appropriate practices; and 50% were able to implement positive discipline techniques.

For more information about the needs of families in Jackson County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Jackson County Family and Consumer Extension Profile

"Spotlight Series": Powell County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Powell County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Powell County the FCS agent partnered with the local health department to present the “Keep the Beat” program, which addressed symptoms of heart disease, physical activity, prevention methods, cooking methods, and changes in eating habits in order to address the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease. The FCS agent presented fat facts, food label definitions, ways to reduce sodium, heart healthy recipe substitutes and cooking methods. One participant expressed that she had been suffering from heart disease for 20 years and had gotten more information from this program than any other source. She stated she now knew ways to prepare her food in a healthier way.

For more information about the needs of families in Powell County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Powell County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Pike County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Pike County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Pike County where the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Council identified the need for increased educational efforts extended to grandparent raising grandchildren. A support group has been formed, and participating grandparents reported being more equipped with knowledge to meet the responsibilities of parenting for a second time. One grandparent shared she was struggling with depression prior to her involvement in the support group and was spending all of her time at home. This grandmother has attended several events with the group and has reported finding positive ways to cope with stress. As a result, the grandchild will benefit from the positive outlook and interaction with the grandparent.

For more information about the needs of families in Pike County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Pike County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Perry County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Perry County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Perry County where Diabuddies, a diabetes support group that meets bi-monthly and is made up of members from at least 15 different community organizations. Diabuddies members help plan events to promote prevention and management of diabetes. The FCS agent writes the Diabuddies Newsletter, a quarterly newsletter targeted to the diabetic audience. The newsletter goes to doctor offices, clinics, and directly to members who have attended diabetes support group meetings. Each edition includes an article on diabetes management, weight control, diabetes prevention, a recipe, and a listing of upcoming events. There are approximately 2,000 hard copies sent out each quarter plus the electronic copies.

For more information about the needs of families in Perry County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Perry County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Pendleton County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Pendleton County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Pendleton County where he County Extension offered a “Get Moving Kentucky” nine-week program to every sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, in collaboration with the local middle school. A total of 631 students set a goal to increase the number of steps taken each week. The average student walked over 11,000 steps with many students recording a steady increase in steps from the first week to the final week of the program. Follow up evaluations indicated that 84% of the youth enjoyed being physically active; 73% reported the program encouraged them to try new physical activities; and 78% reported they were more physically active since participating in the program.

For more information about the needs of families in Pendleton County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Pendleton County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Owsley County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Owsley County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Owsley County where the FCS Extension agent assisted Spools & Ink, a local embroidery business, to expand into a sublimination and screenprinting business. In addition to assisting the owner with the paperwork required to become a legitimate business, advertising and marketing trainings have been provided. After attending an E-commerce training with the FCS agent, the business owner is now developing a web presence with more knowledge of how consumers search for an embroidery business. The business has nearly doubled in size, added two new lines of products and has moved the business from a home-based operation to a store front.

For more information about the needs of families in Owsley County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Owsley County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Owen County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Owen County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Owen County where new leaders become involved in the community, they need education on available resources. The local Chamber of Commerce, with leadership from the Owen County Cooperative Extension Service, organized a Leadership Owen County Program to train new individuals to serve in leadership roles. The 2008 leadership class included 24 individuals who attended training sessions on education, health care, services to children, agriculture, and government. Each month, members of different teams write a guest column in the local newspaper discussing each training session. Over the past seven years, members of the leadership classes have developed several community service projects including the Owen County Farm & Craft Market (6th year in operation) and the Owen County Vision Project.

For more information about the needs of families in Owen County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Owen County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Oldham County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Oldham County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of educational programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Oldham County where the members of the Share and Sample Homemaker Club and the FCS agent, in cooperation with the Presbyterian Church in LaGrange, provide the Angel Food Ministry to Oldham County residents. One unit of Angel Food groceries can feed a family of four for about a week or a senior for almost a month for a much reduced cost of $30. The food is fresh, canned, and frozen, and the menu varies monthly. During the scheduled monthly pickup time, the FCS agent prepares samples of nutritious recipes with the Angel Food products. Money saving ideas are offered with meal planning assistance to participating families. The program is available to all.

For more information about the needs of families in Oldham County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Oldham County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.


Oldham County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Ohio County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Ohio County


Cooperative Extension provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Ohio county where the FCS Extension More Matters Challenge Program reached a total of 350 students and 350 parents in an effort to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. This four week educational series taught the importance of fruits and vegetables in the diet and tracked consumption through a classroom challenge competition. Nearly 50% of the students returned challenge forms each week. The first week, students reported eating an average of 20 serving of fruits and vegetables a week. By the third week, they were reporting an average of 32.5 servings of fruits and vegetables. Teachers reported seeing more fruit snacks sent to school instead of cookies and candy.

For more information about the needs of families in Ohio County and how Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click to see the full Ohio County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Nicholas County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Nicholas County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Nicholas County where the County Extension Homemakers support local troops and their families by sponsoring meals for spouses and their children during military support meetings. They also started an adopt-a-soldier program in which each homemaker sponsored one soldier in the 2nd Battalion and sent weekly care packages. During special holidays, Extension Homemakers sent each soldier a phone card allowing him/her to talk to loved ones. The project created the demand for another truck to pick up the mail. The Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery made national headlines because they received more mail and care packages in army history, according to the USA Today and the Lexington Herald Leader.

For more information about the needs of families in Nicholas County and how UK Cooperative Extension Service is providing services, please click here to see the full Nicholas County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Nelson County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Nelson County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Nelson County where the FCS program used the Derma Scan machine at Nelson County's annual garden tour to give individuals the opportunity to see skin damage already caused by the sun. All participants were shocked to see the damage. Information and a display was set-up to include examples of melanoma, how to tell if a mole needs to be checked, and the effects a tanning bed on skin. The use of sunscreen and hats were strongly recommended. Those with young children were also encouraged to lather their children with a high SPF sunscreen.

Fore more information about the needs of families in Nelson County and how UK Cooperative Extension Service is providing services, please click here to see the full Nelson County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Muhlenberg County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Muhlenberg County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Muhlenberg County where the Muhlenberg County FCS program provides several programs to families to strengthen future financial stability. “Using Your Money Wisely” was taught to 13 future college students before they left home for their freshman year at college. Students worked on budgets for college spending and learned wise credit card use. “Paying for College 101” was attended by 13 students and 4 parents. A counselor with the KY Higher Education Assistance Authority worked with students and parents on how to fill out the FAFSA forms. Ninety percent of those in attendance did not know how to access or where to turn for financial aid before the workshop.

For more information about the needs of families in Muhlenberg County and how UK Cooperative Extension in providing services, please click here to see the full Muhlenberg County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Morgan County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Morgan County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Morgan County where Morgan County residents face health challenges including smoking, a lack of physical activity, and diabetes. FCS Extension conducted a series of educational programs on health, including specific men's health topics. Issues addressed included heart disease, choosing healthy foods, increasing physical activity and prostate cancer. The importance of early screening was emphasized. An underserved audience of men was reached through the local Mountain Telephone Cooperative, as part of their safety training sessions. Seventy-four participants reported learning the importance of a healthy diet, lifestyle, early detection and testing, and increasing physical activity for their own and their family's health.

For more information about the needs of families in Morgan County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Morgan County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Montgomery County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Montgomery County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Montgomery County where mental health issues are a concern, especially with the aging population. Seniors experiencing problems with Alzheimer’s disease are expected to triple before 2050, which will place a huge burden on families and health care dollars. To address these issues, the FCS agent presented "Alzheimer's Disease: Getting the Fact.s” Participants reported: 100% learned about new resources for information about Alzheimer's, 92% adopted prevention strategies, and 98% knew more about the need for self-care for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. As part of the Mental Healthiness in Aging Initiative, a Montgomery County Forum was held with 18 community leaders to discuss concerns about aging, mental health and well-being. Knowledge gained will provide a better understanding of Kentuckians’ mental health.


For more information about the needs of families in Montgomery County and how UK Cooperative Extension Service is providing services, please click here to see the full Montgomery County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Monroe County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Monroe County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Monroe County where they are in the state's highest quintile for prevalence of obesity with a rate of 40%. These startling statistics led the County Extension Council to indicate increasing cardiovascular disease awareness as a major area of programming. The County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences coordinated low impact aerobics classes, Get Moving Kentucky, Portion Distortion, nutrition programming with youth, and Weight the Reality Series to reach 658 Monroe Countians. Participants reported that 100% now realize the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition, 80% have increased their amount of physical activity, and 68% of those trying to lose weight have lost weight as a result of one of the programs.

For more information about the needs of families in Monroe County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Monroe County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Metcalfe County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Metcalfe County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Metcalfe County where Extension Homemakers conducted nine educational trainings during this program year, reaching approximately 736 community members with research based information. To promote college education, the member’s provide a $700.00 scholarship annually. Active Metcalfe County Extension Homemakers reported volunteering 1,015 hours during this program year in such roles as: farmer’s market planning committee, Red Cross Blood Drives, community gardens, Relay for Life, the Chamber of Commerce, and Salvation Army. According to the Independent Sector, volunteer time is worth $16.07 per hour in Kentucky. At this rate, they contributed $16,311.00 into the Metcalfe County economy through volunteer service.

For more information about the needs of families in Metcalfe County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Metcalfe County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Mercer County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Mercer County

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Mercer County where in 2007, Mercer County Extension organized the county’s first Martin Luther King Day observance in efforts to reach underserved audiences and further encourage unity as well as make the community aware of Extension’s presence, resources, and opportunities. By hosting organizational planning meetings and facilitating volunteer resources, Extension made possible a half day program that included a community pancake breakfast, walk/march, and special program. With 255 attendees, the program included a special presentation by Dr. Aaron Thompson of EKU, recognition of student winners in essay and poster contests, music performances and keynote speaker Alvis Johnson. As a result of MLK Day 2008, Mercer County Extension has seen increased participation of African American residents in other programs.

For more information about the needs of families in Mercer County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Mercer County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Menifee County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Menifee

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Menifee County where Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program paraprofessional taught 20 limited resource families how to serve more nutritious meals, to keep foods safe, and to utilize local food resources effectively. Lifestyle changes to improve the nutritional quality of their diets were made by 100% of the families. Planning meals using the food guide pyramid, considering healthy choices, and using the nutrition facts label was reported by 40% of the families. Ninety-five percent of families demonstrated an improvement in safe food handling practices and hand washing behavior.1

For more information about the needs of families in Menifee County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Menifee County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Meade County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Meade

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Meade County where Weight the Reality series was offered to Meade County residents in the spring of 2008. Thirty-two people participated by attending weekly sessions for eight weeks during which they gained information on portion control, meal planning, basic nutrition, and exercise tips. At the end of the eight week program, a total of 174.25 pounds had been lost. Participants reported they had more energy, felt more in control of their eating habits and life, and planned to continue their newly formed habits. Currently, 5% of the participants stop by the Extension office weekly to use the scales to check their progress.1

For more information about the needs of families in Meade County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Meade County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": McLean County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": McLean

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in McLean County where an effort to address physical activity among citizens of McLean County, the Extension Service partnered with other community organizations and held its first “The Longest Day of Play.” This program is designed to promote physical activity on the longest day of sunlight in the year. This event was held at our county park on a Sunday afternoon when families typically spend the most time together. As a result, 129 people participated in the event. Ninety-nine percent said they would participate again next year. By showing different fun ways to be physically active, the participants said they would make physical activity a part of their daily schedule.1

For more information about the needs of families in McLean County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full McLean County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": McCreary County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": McCreary

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in McCreary County where the County Health Department and McCreary County Extension Service teamed up to offer a 12-week program promoting physical activity and healthy weight management from mid-January to the end of March. Weekly weigh-ins and educational topics were offered. The Extension Service provided weekly incentives and hand outs on nutrition and physical activity. Nineteen individuals participated. Twelve people completed the 12 week program, and three people reached the goal of losing at least 7% of their body weight. A total of 156 pounds were lost by all. Average weight loss per individual was 6.33 pounds. Positive behavior changes reported by 85% of participants were: controlling portion size, eating breakfast daily, eating more fruits and vegetables, and drinking more water.1

For more information about the needs of families in McCreary County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full McCreary County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": McCracken County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": McCracken

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in McCracken County where the Master Food Volunteers and the Cooperative Extension Service have been promoting local foods at the Downtown Farmers Market. There are many benefits to buying local including better tasting food, reducing energy used for transport, and keeping local money in the community. The manager of the farmer’s market stated that having cooperation with outside agencies makes it more favorable for the market to receive monies. Individual vendors stated that when the Master Food Volunteers were there promoting produce, they sold more and increased their profits by up to 20%. There was an increase in customers, and all the booths at the Downtown Farmers Market have been rented for next year.1

For more information about the needs of families in McCracken County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full McCracken County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Mason County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Mason

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Mason County has comparatively low unemployment, but a high percentage of individuals below the poverty level. Due to our area’s high use of credit, merchandise rental businesses, check cashing services, and Master Commissioner Sales, the Mason County Extension volunteers and Extension staff used the Money Crunch and Small Steps to Health and Wealth curricula to assist individuals and families with financial security. A phone survey of participants found 80% reported improving financial management skills including making a budget or spending plan. All participants reached confirmed becoming aware of the importance of starting to save and invest early in life and have identified personal or family investment goals.1

For more information about the needs of families in Mason County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Mason County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.

"Spotlight Series": Martin County

Our continuing "Spotlight Series": Martin

Cooperative Extension Service provides a range of education programming and activities to support the well-being of Kentuckians. One good example is in Martin County according to Kentucky data, heart disease is the number one cause of death in Martin County. It is common knowledge that heart disease can be linked to poor diet and lack of exercise. To combat this problem early, the FCS agent collaborated with one local elementary school to have all fourth graders participate in the Clover Cat Way to Wellness program. Students learned basic nutrition and physical fitness information. By the end of the program, students were able to read nutrition labels and the food guide pyramid and stated that they intended to eat better now that they knew what nutritious snacks they preferred.1

For more information about the needs of families in Martin County and how UK Cooperative Extension is providing services, please click here to see the full Martin County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Profile.