Strengthening Tennessee Families

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fcs.tennessee.edu

Tennessee Choices for Better Health

Obion C

ounty, TN

Obion County Extension Agent Benita Giffin has teamed up with numerous healthcare partners to offer TEAM UP Tennessee, a cervical and breast cancer awareness

program, for more than five years. “TEAM UP Tennessee is a grant through the state. Needs were assessed based on the number of breast and cervical cancer rates in the state,” she said. And although UT Extension coordinates exhibit booths, door prizes, partners and marketing, many organizations participate. They include Baptist Memorial Hospital of Union City, Obion County Health Department, Obion County Cancer Support Group, Women’s Clinic of Union City, Kizer Pharmacy Prosthesis Department, Kenton Pharmacy, Healthier Tennessee, Tennova Healthcare, Blue Care, Obion County Cancer Agency Home Town Walk of Hope, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Pathways, Tennessee Community Services Agency, Baptist Memorial Hospital Hospice, Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition, Fulton County Extension and Health Quest. “We were extremely blessed to have so many professionals to show up at the breast cancer expo,” Giffin said. The event itself was held at the Obion County Public Library with a total of 62 people attending. Giffin said she also held additional two breast cancer awareness meetings for a total of 35 more women over the year. One participant who was treated for breast cancer after learning about early detection from the program told Giffin that she was a role model for her. “She praised me for sharing my story and TEAM UP Tennessee breast cancer education. When she was dealt her breast cancer diagnosis, she said the whole process was easier for her because I shared so much with her,” Giffin said. That participant said, “Benita has made breast cancer another bump in the road of my life. I will survive this too.”

Benita has made breast

cancer another bump in the road

of my life. I will survive

this too.

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.