Research Accomplishment Reports 2007

Health Education Through Extension Leadership

A. Vail
Extension Administration

 

Project Description

During 2006-2007 HEEL initiated pilot programs Small Steps to Health and Wealth and Alzheimer Awareness in 27 Kentucky counties. A partnership with the UK Sanders Brown Center on Aging, the 20-county Appalachian pilot project reached more than 3,000 women and obtained $30,000 in funding. Both programs are now being implemented across the state.

Several HEEL programs and partnerships have made significant impacts on Kentucky. More than $47,000 in funding through the KOMEN Foundation, the Kentucky Cabinet for Public Health, the American Cancer Society, USDA and HEEL was obtained for the Team Up nine-county breast and cervical pilot now in its fourth year with increases in screening rates of never or rarely screened women in the nine pilot counties compared to nine control counties that have not shown any improvement as a result of the collaboration.

HEEL received $30,000 in computer equipment and broadband access in partnership with Aztra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals and the National Council on Aging to enroll low income eligible participants in the Medicare Part D program in urban communities in metro Louisville and Jefferson County. Partners include the Jefferson County Extension Office, the mayor's office, the health department, and the many community ministries serving this urban area, as well as the Jewish Family and Vocational Center. The impact has been to coordinate efforts to better assist the enrollment of participants with increases in enrollment expected.

HEEL's substance abuse Youth and Adult Partnerships interventions in 19 western Kentucky counties and now beginning in five eastern Kentucky counties, has resulted in teens gaining confidence and skill sets to mentor younger youth in developing the capacity to avoid substance abuse. This intervention received $10,000 in funding as a University Commonwealth Collaborative, one of 24 designated programs.

New collaborations have begun with the Kentucky Governor's Office of Wellness and Physical Activity, the Kentucky Department of Education, and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Physical Activity Division to build a more effective partnership to increase physical activity in the state.

A partnership with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department of Public Health, Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, in an osteoporosis partnership is resulting in HEEL staff being instrumental in the development of a resource kit to be used by county extension agents. Both have the potential to improve access to health education and services across Kentucky by integrating the Extension network into the outreach efforts of public health.

A partnership with regional Morehead State University and the University of Louisville to develop a culturally competent model obesity prevention program that can be implemented across the Appalachian region utilizes HEEL's expertise and the Extension system to appropriately design community based interventions that are locally driven.

Impact

The Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service made 1,342,932 contacts throughout the state on health programs from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007. The data reported reflects 544,195 contacts made with limited resource audiences and 157,463 contacts with youth. HEEL supported the Extension system through programs such as LEAP, Get Moving Kentucky, Weight the Reality Series, Substance Abuse, Chronic Disease Prevention, Youth and 4-H nutrition and physical activity programs, with 137.87 full time equivalents (FTEs) expended by Extension in changing the health status of Kentuckians. Agents in 13 counties reported more than $981,000 in cost benefits to Extension clientele in improved health through the LEAP (the Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Pre-School Children) program during this time period. Agents reported 90% of the children involved now ask for fruits and vegetables as a snack and 85% of the children were participating in physical activity through their involvement in LEAP. Eighty-three (83) counties reported significant impact with 13,667 individuals through the Get Moving Kentucky and physical activity programs with $21,075 reported in cost benefits mainly through the savings of medical expenses due to improved health. Since 2001, the year prior to the funding of the HEEL program, FTEs and contacts in health programming reported by the Extension system have increased 100%.

Publications

Burnham, D. 2007. When a Loved One is Abusing Drugs (brochure). University of Kentucky.

Mattacola, M., Rice, L. 2007. Development of Information Regarding Susceptibility to Heat Illness Using the Cooperative Extension Agency Model in Kentucky. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 16: 277-281.

Murray, D. 2006. Kentucky Responds to Meth Production and Use. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences. 98(2):61-62.

Riley, P. 2007. Smoking and Pregnancy (fact sheet). University of Kentucky.

Riley, P. 2007. Stroke, Reduce Your Risk (fact sheet). University of Kentucky.

Riley, P. 2007. Women and Heart Disease (fact sheet). University of Kentucky.

Scutchfield, D., Harris, T., Tanner, B., and Murray, D. 2007. Academic Health Centers and Cooperative Extension Service: A Model for a Working Partnership. Journal of Extension. 45:1.

Whipple, C. 2007. Alzheimer Disease: Getting the Facts (brochure). University of Kentucky.