Rhea C ounty, TN

Strengthening Tennessee Families
Tennessee Choices for Better Health
six-week workshop recently helped show 28 Rhea County participants that they can
live well in spite of having chronic conditions.
Living Well with Chronic Conditions was a program that Extension Agent Anna Johnson
said she partnered with Rhea Richland Senior Neighbors Center to offer.
“The center is for individuals 65 and older, and the
program we offered helps participants learn to selfmanage their conditions,” she said.
It was a
The program provides a ‘toolbox’ of communication,
great way for
action planning, stress relieving, nutrition and other
strategies to help people with chronic conditions
participants to
of any kind and their caregivers achieve better
network with
management.
others who
“It was a great way for participants to network
may have the
with others who may have the same or similar
same or similar
conditions and to figure out what they can do for selfmanagement. This program is important to our county
conditions.
because it helps people to be proactive,” Johnson said.
With so many participants, Johnson said she offered
both morning and afternoon sessions.
In addition to the center where the program was offered, her promotion partners included
the State Department of Health, Area Agency on Aging and Disability, Chamber of
Commerce, Rhea County Health Council, and Dayton Herald News.
Evaluations were made at the end of the program, and Johnson said she also followed up
later to determine intermediate impacts.
“All participants reported that they were using five or more tools that were discussed,
specifically making healthier food choices and communicating with family and physicians,”
she said.
Several even reported taking notepads to doctor appointments so they could remember to
ask specific questions and jot down notes.
“
Rhea County, TN
A
fcs.tennessee.edu
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.
Tennessee Families
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:
Tennessee Shapes Up
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 Choices for
Better Health
42%
Increased math and reading grades by
a letter grade at the end of the year
39%
Increased literacy levels
72%
Significantly reduced the number
of office referrals
59%
Increased vegetable consumption
67%
Increased fruit consumption
35%
Decreased sugary drink consumption
70%
Have maintained a regular
exercise routine
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:
55%
Have had fewer doctor or emergency
room visits
92%
Plan to get age- and genderappropriate cancer screenings
Clean & Healthy Homes
70%
Learned how regular housecleaning
can reduce health hazards
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:
94%
Learned the effects of environmental
tobacco smoke on children’s health
80%
Learned the importance of household
moisture control
Tennessee Saves
99%
Learned how to make a
spending plan
96%
Better understood credit reporting
and scoring and wise use of credit
97%
Increased their overall financial
management skills
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:
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.