Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Development And Piloting Of A Novel Evaluation Tool For Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Anne R. Lindsay, Kelly Webber, Julie C. Parker, Ingrid K. Richards Adams, Rafida Idris, Laura Hubbs-Tait, Karen Chapman-Novakofski

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Childhood obesity remains chronic and high in the U.S., driven by factors including poor dietary habits and lack of physical activity. Interventions that address multiple causal factors may be the most appropriate strategy to address rising childhood obesity rates. The Cooperative Extension Service offers programs across the country to address causal factors of childhood obesity, but few coordinated or concerted efforts have been made to determine overlap, reduce duplication, or identify best practices in programming. To fill this gap, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Multistate Project W3005 Extension Workgroup sought to develop a novel tool to compare programs …

Exploring Extension Agent Capacity And Readiness To Adopt Policy, Systems And Environmental Change Approaches, Lisa T. Washburn, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Natalie Jones, Lauren E. Kennedy, Soghra Jarvandi

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Introduction: Enhanced Extension outreach strategies combine traditional direct education programs with public health approaches like policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change. However, the Cooperative Extension system and county-based Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension agents have historically prioritized direct education programming and diffusion of enhanced outreach strategies has varied. Extension personnel may lack capacity and readiness for successful PSE change implementation. This study explored perceived acceptability, capacity, and readiness for PSE change work among FCS Extension agents in two states.

Method: A survey was developed framed by selected domains from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research: Intervention Characteristics, Inner Setting, …

Process Evaluation Of The Early Implementation Stages Of Thenational Diabetes Prevention Program Through Kentucky Cooperative Extension: Perceptions Of Adopters And Potential Adopters, Nicole Breazeale, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Katherine Counts, Lovoria B. Williams

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

With the growing demand for lifestyle change programs that prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes onset, community organizations with broad reach should be explored for national dissemination of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). This study evaluates the early implementation of the NDPP through Cooperative Extension in four Kentucky counties and explores the feasibility of scaling up the program to additional counties. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 12 Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agents – four who were participating in the pilot (adopters) and eight who had no experience with the NDPP (potential adopters). Five …

Process Evaluation Of The Early Implementation Stages Of The National Diabetes Prevention Program Through Kentucky Cooperative Extension: Perceptions Of Adopters And Potential Adopters, Nicole Breazeale, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Katherine Counts, Lovoria B. Williams

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

With the growing demand for lifestyle change programs that prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes onset, community organizations with broad reach should be explored for national dissemination of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). This study evaluates the early implementation of the NDPP through Cooperative Extension in four Kentucky counties and explores the feasibility of scaling up the program to additional counties. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 12 Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agents – four who were participating in the pilot (adopters) and eight who had no experience with the NDPP (potential adopters). Five …

Examining The Feasibility Of Partnering With Cooperative Extension To Advance Statewide Physical Education Policies In Oregon, Nina Taylor, Thomas Packebush, Tammy Winfield, Kathy Gunter

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Optimizing physical education (PE) is a proven approach to increase children’s physical activity. Oregon law requires elementary schools to provide PE for > 150 minutes/week. One strategy to meet the required minutes is for classroom teachers to deliver PE, which is permissible using curricula aligned to national PE standards. Be Physically Active 2Day (BEPA 2.0) is a unique classroom-based physical activity brain break curriculum aligned to PE standards. We evaluated the effectiveness of training school faculty to use BEPA 2.0 via a unique partnership with Cooperative Extension. Extension trainers (ET) were trained by a BEPA 2.0 Master Trainer (MT). School faculty …

Covid-19_Umaine News_Wagm Speaks With Johnson About Benefits Of Online Meetings, University Of Maine Division Of Marketing And Communications

Division of Marketing & Communications

Screenshot of UMaine in the News regarding Steven Johnson, a University of Maine Cooperative Extension crop specialist, talking with WAGM (Channel 8 in Presque Isle) for a story about the benefits of online meetings.

Covid-19_Umaine News_Bdn, Morning Ag Promote Extension's Maple Sugaring Bulletins, Videos, University Of Maine Division Of Marketing And Communications

Division of Marketing & Communications

Screenshot of UMaine in the News regarding in a preview of Maine Maple Sunday March 27- 28, the Bangor Daily News promoted the University of Maine Cooperative Extension's maple sugaring resources, including publications, videos and guidance for safely conducting sugar house tours during the pandemic.

Covid-19_Umaine News_Carter Recent Guest In ‘Maine Calling’ Segment About Mainers Helping Each Other During Pandemic, University Of Maine Division Of Marketing And Communications

Division of Marketing & Communications

Screenshot of UMaine in the News regarding Maine Public featuring Hannah Carter, Dean of University of Maine Cooperative Extension, on a segment of 'Maine Calling' about how Mainers have helped one another during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cooperative Extension Covid-19_Maine Families_ Virtual Coffee Break Handout, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension

Handout for a virtual series for parents and caregivers of young children organized by the University of Maine's Cooperative Extension in October and November, 2020.

Cooperative Extension Covid-19_Maine Hunger Dialogue Flier, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension

Flier for the Maine Hunger Dialogue webinar looking at food insecurity and responses during COVID-19.

Cooperative Extension Covid-19_Maine State Virtual Fair 2020, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension

Screenshot of University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H Club's Maine State Virtual Fair 2020 webpage.

Cooperative Extension Covid-19_4-H Virtual Fun Run, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension

Screenshot of webpage with the details of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H Club Virtual Fun Run along the coast of Maine.

Cooperative Extension Covid-19_Services & Programs Webpages, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension

Screenshots of various University of Maine Cooperative Extension webpages featuring announcements regarding various programs, services, and publications provide by the Cooperative Extension during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cooperative Extension Covid-19_Food Safety Information For Maine Consumers, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension

Food Safety Information for Maine Consumers created by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Cooperative Extension Covid-19_Master Gardener Volunteer Policy, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension

Screenshot of various University of Maine Cooperative Extension webpages featuring the Master Gardner Volunteer Policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cooperative Extension Covid-19_4-H Quaranteen Virtual Science Cafés Webpage, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension

Screenshots from University of Maine Cooperative Extension webpage showing various Maine 4-H online QuaranTEEN Virtual Science Cafés programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cooperative Extension Covid-19_Farming & Livestock Webpages, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension

Screenshots of various University of Maine Cooperative Extension webpages featuring guidance and resources regarding farming and livestock during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Promoting Healthy Lifestyles For Extension Employees: An Exploratory Study, Joseph L. Donaldson, Karen L. Franck

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Employee health is regarded as a strategic advantage with individual, organizational, and societal benefits. This study sought to describe the major health issues, motivations, barriers, and needs related to healthy lifestyles for Cooperative Extension employees. A total of 16 focus groups were conducted throughout Tennessee with 105 participants. Separate focus groups were conducted with seven groups of University of Tennessee Extension employees: administrative assistants, county agents, county directors, program assistants, departmental faculty, administrators, and professional staff. Findings indicate chronic stress as the dominant health issue. Respondents were motivated to stay healthy to be role models for good health, among other …

Health And Wellness: Leading Cooperative Extension From Concept To Action, Bonnie Braun, Michelle Rodgers

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This article describes the health and wellness journey of Cooperative Extension from a task force to action teams. It provides background on (a) Extension health and wellness programming, (b) establishment of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) Health and Wellness Task Force, (c) acceptance of the Task Force Report, and (d) appointment of the ECOP Action Teams. The article explains the opportunity to align an Extension system around a health framework, as well as actions and vision for the new Culture of Health partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The article draws on articles published in the …

The Role Of Cooperative Extension In Chronic Disease Prevention And Management: Perspectives From Professionals In The Field, Daniel Remley, David Buys, Linda Cronk, Valerie Duffy, Julie Garden-Robinson, Marcel Horowitz, Bernestine Mcgee, Cindy Nelson, Suzanne M. Prevedel, Marla Reicks, Tamara Warren

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Chronic diseases are strongly associated with premature death and increased health care costs. Nearly half of American adults report they have one or more chronic health conditions. Cooperative Extension is calling for refocus to refine and align with broader efforts to promote public health by supporting the prevention and management of chronic disease. The success of this refocus is dependent on a shared vision between funding agencies, stakeholders, and Extension. As part of developing this shared vision, the Chronic Disease Health Implementation Team surveyed 152 Extension administrators, faculty, and Extension Agents/Educators to determine their perception of the role of Extension …

The National Framework For Health And Wellness: (Re)Framing The Work Of Cooperative Extension For The Next Century, David Buys, Sonja Koukel

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Cooperative Extension is at a crossroads and has increasing opportunities to articulate its existing role and future growth in impacting the health and wellness of the individuals and communities it serves. This is important because the health outcomes in the U.S. are poorer than any other developed nation, health expenditures are high, challenges with navigating the health system are immense, and opportunities to intervene and remove barriers to improving the nation’s health and wellness abound. This article provides suggestions as a follow-up to the reports featured in this special issue of the Journal of Human Sciences and Extension from the …

Cooperative Extension And Health Literacy: A National Focus, Sonja Koukel, Cathy Newkirk, Sarah Bercaw, Belinda Letto, Fatemeh Malekian

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Health literacy is often defined as the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions. Research shows that 30 million Americans have Below Basic health literacy skills. People with low health literacy skills contribute to higher utilization of health care services. This equates to an excess of $230 billion a year in health care costs linked to low literacy in the United States. The primary responsibility for improving health literacy lies with public health professionals and the health care and public health systems. However, …

Health In All Policies: Working Across Sectors In Cooperative Extension To Promote Health For All, Michele Walsh, Deborah John, Nicole Peritore, Andrea Morris, Carolyn Bird, Marion Ceraso, Sarah Eichberger, Rachel Novotny, Laura Stephenson, Suzanne Stluka, Roberta Riportella

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

A Health in All Policies approach engages cross-sector stakeholders to collaboratively improve systems that drive population health. We, the members of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP)’s Health in All Policies Action Team, propose that adopting a Health in All Policies approach within the national Cooperative Extension System will better prepare us to contribute meaningfully to improving the nation’s health. We first explain the Health in All Policies approach and argue for why and how it is relevant for Extension. We then present insights gathered from Extension Family and Consumer Sciences program leaders and state specialists to assess …

What’S In Your Water? Development And Evaluation Of The Virginia Household Water Quality Program And Virginia Master Well Owner Network, Brian Benham, Erin Ling, Peter Ziegler, Leigh Anne Krometis

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Approximately one-fifth of Virginians (about 1.7 million people) rely on private water supplies (e.g., wells, springs, cisterns) for their household water. Unlike public water systems, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not regulate private systems. As a result, private water system owners are solely responsible for system maintenance and water quality but are often unaware of common issues and lack access to objective information. We report on the development and evaluation of the Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VAHWQP), an ongoing Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) program that provides affordable water testing and education about private water supply system maintenance and …