Welcome to Kentucky Family Policy

This blog is dedicated to examining issues facing the Commonwealth of Kentucky and providing a nonpartisan, family perspective on public policy making. We hope to provide a forum for Kentuckians to review and discuss current legislative actions and the issues such actions are attempting to address. The opinions expressed herein belong solely to the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Kentucky, its affiliates, or its representatives.

What the authors of this blog will contribute:
1) Summarize current state, national, and international research related to topics relevant to current legilative actions.
2) Describe Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service programs and activities currently addressing issues related to legilative actions in the various counties.
3) Provide expert commentaries via podcasts and videocasts on issues relevant to current legilative actions.

Please see "Priority Bills" section on the right for a short list of the most current legislative actions relevant to the family focus of this blog

Monday, January 25, 2010

Accessing Nutritious Food in Breckinridge

In order to address the alarming increase in childhood obesity, the Breckinridge County Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent continues to partner with the Breckinridge County Headstart program to provide the LEAP (Literacy, Eating and Activity for Primary) program. The program is now in 5 schools (9 classrooms, approximately 140 students a month). All students participate in answering questions about the story, nutrition and importance of physical activity. Each month a newsletter is sent home with the child to the families about the books that were read, a healthy recipe and activities to do as a family. The Breckinridge County Extension Agent visited the parent meetings at each school and provided information on nutrition, physical activity and budgeting to the parents.

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

Nurturing Families in Breathitt County

In order to address poor literacy rates in Breathitt County an Extension Homemaker Leader training entitled "Feeding Hungry Young Minds Through Storybook Adventures" was taught in 8 counties and reached 61 leaders. Those attending learned the importance of early literacy activities, listened to several examples of children’s literature, and had a hands-on experience with children’s activities that partnered with the books. Evaluations showed 86% planned to encourage parents and grandparents to read to young children. In addition, the LEAP (Literacy, Eating, Activity for Primary) program was used with 10 preschool classrooms for a total of 220 students. This program combines reading with food tasting activities.

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

Making Beneficial Lifestyle Choices in Bracken County

In order to instill good healthy living habits, children need to learn early in life about the importance of eating healthy foods. 54 children participated in Bracken County’s LEAP (Literacy, Eating, Activity, for Pre-School Children) Programs. The LEAP Curriculum was taught with the help of the teachers and extension staff. Nine books were read and lessons were given every 2 weeks for 5 months. A newsletter went home with each student after the lesson. Students learned healthy snacks to eat, the importance of physical activity, food safety, and eating more fruits and vegetables. As a result of this program 90% of the children tried a food they had never tried before and 85% could name the food groups on the food pyramid.

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

Accessing Nutritious Food in Boyle County

In order to address community concerns about childhood obesity, Boyle County Extension offered the "Exploring My Pyramid with Professor Popcorn" series to schools in the 2008-09 school year. Fifty K, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-grade classrooms requested the series totaling 1,036 students. Another six pre-school classes in county schools requested a modified version of the vegetables lesson for their 96 students. One teacher commented, "Our students learned tons about nutrition! I think it is a great program because many of my students REALLY needed to learn about what is good for them and what is not to stay healthy!"

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

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Nurturing Families in Boyd County

Some families for a combination of many reasons, struggle to provide for the basic safety, physical, emotional, educational, and nurturing needs of children. Boyd County increased 25% over previous years in the need for foster parents due to child neglect by parents. Early supportive education for parents facing particular challenges can play a critical role in preventing child abuse and neglect. This can enhance young children’s development, later school achievement, and life-long social competence. To reach local parents the Family and Consumer Science Agent in Boyd County taught a combination of adult and child activities to teach nurturing skills to families. 200 families were reached in this series of planned activities for youth and adult participants.

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

Monday, January 4, 2010

Accessing Nutritious Food in Bourbon County

Economic hard times and environmental concerns have led to an increase in home food preservation. People are raising gardens and need to know what to do to safely keep the food they are growing. Starting in the summer of 2008 and continuing to date, there was a 50% increase in questions, requests for publications, canner testing, and office visits related to home food preservation from previous years. In addition, six classes were taught in food preservation including canning, freezing, and drying. Approximately 100 people attended the classes. Evaluations showed that 50% of participants did can, freeze, dry or preserve food after they attended the classes. One woman stated that her family ate their own fresh food all throughout the year.

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

Accessing Nutritious Food in Boone County

In order to address community concerns over childhood obesity, Boone County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension taught the Literacy, Eating and Activity for Pre-schoolers (LEAP) program to 570 pre-school children in local daycare centers. The curriculum focused on the importance of eating fruits and vegetables through experiencing new foods, listening to a story, and participating in a hands-on activity. As a result of this program, 100% tried a new fruit or vegetable, 73% of the children could name at least one health benefit of eating fruits and vegetables and 100% of the children participated in physical activity. Daycare employees and teachers commented that because of LEAP, the children were more likely to eat vegetables during lunch now and to try new fruits and vegetables than prior to LEAP.

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

Nurturing Families in Bell County

In response to community concerns about how poor parenting skills may be contributing to student behavior problems in schools, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension provided workshops and valuable information to local families. The fifteen parents that participated received information on child development, teaching self-control, caring for health, and the importance of talking and reading with their child. Follow up discussion showed that 90% of the parents do activities with their child that are age appropriate and can recognize when an activity may be too difficult for their child. 100% of parents reported that they now interact with their child more by playing or reading a book to them. Also, 65% now use non-violent discipline to teach their child self-control and use time out or redirection instead of spanking.

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

Accessing Nutritious Food in Bath County

The Bath County Nutrition Education Program (NEP) paraprofessional taught 89 limited resource families how to serve more nutritious meals, to keep foods safe, and to utilize local food resources effectively. 99% of families made an improvement in the nutritional quality of their diet. 80% of NEP graduate families consumed a higher quality diet due to planning meals using the MyPyramid food guide, considering healthy choices, and using the "Nutrition Facts" label. 46% of families increased their frequency of moderate physical activity for 30 minutes per day. 64% of families demonstrated an improvement in safe food handling practices and hand washing behavior. 99% of families were able to use community food resources, such as food pantries, less often due to increased skill at food resource management.

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

Nurturing Families in Barren County

The Community Action of Southern Kentucky Foster Grandparent program reaches out to people who are over age 60 and are economically disadvantaged. Currently, 43% of Foster Grandparents are from minority populations. In an effort to teach basic money management skills the Foster Grandparent program partnered with Barren County Cooperative Extension Service to offer the series, Small Steps to Health and Wealth. This program was designed to help the 95 participants set small goals to increase their well-being and financial management. As a result of the program 100 percent of participants reported an increase in knowledge concerning wise eating and activity behaviors. 80 percent of participants indicated that knowledge was gained concerning personal financial behaviors and 75 percent reported setting either a financial or health related goal.

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