Strengthening Tennessee Families

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fcs.tennessee.edu

Tennessee Shapes Up

Johnson County, TN

“This class keeps me going!” That’s how one participant describes Johnson County’s Arthritis Foundation exercise program.

Extension Agent Sarah Ransom leads the series of classes for six to eight weeks, twice a week, in the spring, summer and fall. While class participation generally ranges from three to 12 people, its popularity often brings new clientele. “Exercise is an important part of living — providing energy, better mobility, lower stress levels and more,” she said. “We have held several classes, and they have provided physical and emotional benefits to the participants in the county. Everyone who has participated has reported enjoying the program,” Ransom continued. The arthritis exercise program incorporates an educational component, as well as a component that includes gentle movements that strengthen the body through stretching, building balance and increasing endurance. Ransom describes it as a “phenomenal program,” and her participants seem to agree. One reported less knee pain after participating in one series of the classes. “Before coming into class, my knee hurt to move, and I couldn’t walk right. But after this, I didn’t even notice it at first, but I wasn’t having to walk stiffly,” the participant shared. Another stated that because the movements are so gentle and low-impact, she doesn’t worry about injuring herself. Ransom partners with the senior center, community center and health department for materials, locations and even guest speakers for the classes. The need for the program was discovered during discussion with the partners, health council members and other county stakeholders. Interviews with participants show that the program has immediate impacts, as well as some intermediate. Ransom continues gathering personal testimonies from past participants to track the program’s long-term level of impact.

Exercise is an important part

of living — providing energy, better mobility,

lower stress levels and more.

Clean & Healthy Homes

Tennessee Choices for Better Health

Tennessee Shapes Up

Because our home environments affect our health, this program area focuses on teaching about hazards, preventions and treatments for asthma, lead poisoning and household injuries. Of participants surveyed:

This program area focuses on information that addresses the prevalence of chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, arthritis and cancer in Tennessee. Of participants surveyed:

Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and decreasing consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks are key outcomes for this program area to help adults and youth in Tennessee improve health. Of participants surveyed:

Tennessee Saves

Tennessee Families

Because Tennesseans spend too much and save too little, this program area focuses on financial planning activities like bankruptcy and homebuyer education and high school teacher training. Of participants surveyed:

This topic area has helped provide afterschool programming to more than 800 at-risk children across the state, and in those programs, children are presented experiential, “learn by doing” activities. Of participants surveyed:

Learned how regular housecleaning can reduce health hazards

Have maintained a regular exercise routine

Increased vegetable consumption

Increased math and reading grades by a letter grade at the end of the year

Learned how to make a spending plan

Learned the importance of household moisture control

Plan to get age- and gender-appropriate cancer screenings

Decreased sugary drink consumption

Significantly reduced the number of office referrals

Increased their overall financial management skills

Learned the effects of environmental tobacco smoke on children’s health

Have had fewer doctor or emergency room visits

Increased fruit consumption

Increased literacy levels

Better understood credit reporting and scoring and wise use of credit

70%

70%

59%

42%

99%

94%

55%

67%

39%

96%

80%

92%

35%

72%

97%

Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Data Source: University of Tennessee Extension. (2015). SUPER Reporting System.

University of Tennessee and Tennessee State University Family and Consumer Science Extension Agents provide educational programs

for all ages in a total of five topic areas throughout the state.