Perry County (2016)

2016 County Highlights
Perry County

104 S. Columbus St. Somerset, OH 43783


Phone: 740-743-1602
Director:
Theodore Wiseman
wiseman.15@osu.edu
Health and Wellness

Using social media, family and consumer sciences educators throughout Ohio are sending online nutrition, health, fitness, and general wellness email reminders to participants. The Live Healthy Live Well Email Challenge is still in progress at this time.

Somerset Elementary and Sheridan Middle School Health Walks 280 elementary students and 370 middle school students participated in the health walks. The kids were able to spin a wheel to decide which color of card they would have to answer. Each color was related to a different health topic.

Millcreek Elementary School Red Ribbon Week Presentation 350 elementary students attended a presentation regarding substance abuse prevention. The kids watched a video and then participated in a discussion about substance abuse prevention.

Sheridan Middle School S.T.A.R.S. Program Students Take Charge 24 middle school students so far have attended a program about things kids themselves can do to take charge of their health and well-being.

Perry County SNAP-Ed is just getting started providing valuable educational opportunities in our community. Our SNAP-Ed program assistant is providing classes to adults and also young children at sites throughout the county.

The SNAP-Ed program assistant is working closely with the Perry County Health Department in strategies to reduce the food insecurity in the county through education and community involvement.

SNAP-Ed is also providing indirect education by posting nutrition bulletin boards at our county courthouse and monthly seasonal information bulletins throughout the county.

Job Skills and Careers

Positive role models are crucial to the development of our young children. Enter 4-H camp counselors. We ensure counselors are ready for that role through a variety of training opportunities at the county and state levels. In Perry County, 35 4-H teens were selected through a ‘hiring’ process. These teens then complete a training and planning process, while building workforce and life skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and professionalism. Following this, the counselors were responsible for supervising and instructing 164 youth, ages 8-13, during a five-day, four-night camp. Throughout the course of serving in this role, each of the 35 teens volunteered a minimum of 64 hours, contributing at least *$18,144 worth of time to the Perry County 4-H program. (*based on 2016 Ohio minimum wage)

Thriving Across the Life Span

Today’s youth need a clear understanding of how to manage their finances. The Real Money. Real World. program gives students just that, an opportunity to understand how education and life choices affect future income. Participants learn about the costs of life expenses, such as housing, transportation, food, and child care; and how to balance “wants” with “needs.” Perry County conducted this hands-on program for 277 eighth-grade students in two school districts. Through post-program evaluation, 91 percent of participants indicated that this program gave them a better idea of what is involved in earning, spending, and managing money; and 89 percent of participants believed that participating in the program would help them in the future. Student comments also shed light on program impact: “It takes a lot of money to do the things you want;” “I will most likely watch the price of things and I will probably rethink before I beg my parents to buy me games and such;” and “One thing I will change is how I spend my money and what I spend it on. This will absolutely help me in the future.”

Successful Co-Parenting: Helping Children Cope with Divorce is a court-mandated program for couples going through a divorce or dissolution with children 18 years of age and younger. The program focuses on the emotional process of divorce and strengthening families during this transition. Ninety-eight individuals have participated in programming as of October 2016. Evaluations show that 93 percent agree or strongly agree that they learned new information; 95 percent agree or strongly agree that they plan to use the information learned in this program; 88 percent agree or strongly agree that they feel more prepared to co-parent; and 92 percent agree or strongly agree that this program was helpful.

Successful Co-Parenting: Principles of Parenting is a court mandated program for non-married individuals petitioning for custody of their child or children. The Principles of Parenting series encompasses the Challenges of Parenting, Responsibility: The Most Basic “R” and Something Better than Punishment, Discipline. Twenty-nine individuals have participated in the program as of October 2016.

Sustainable Food Systems

In 2016, Perry County 4-H members were enrolled in 545 food-producing livestock project, dictating continued need for livestock education. Enter the Assuring Quality Care for Animals signature program. Through this program, youth food animal producers complete livestock quality assurance (QA), which is mandated by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. QA provides participants with information on animal welfare and ethics, and good production practices to raise safe, high-quality food products for consumers. In Perry County, 133 youth have successfully passed an optional QA test (scores of 70 percent and higher) to opt out of the annual program for up to three years. Participating in this program prepares youth for future success in the livestock and/or agriculture fields, while working to ensure a safe food market for our nation. 

Engaged Ohioans, Vibrant Communities

For the past year, Perry County Master Gardener Volunteers have completed various programs working with youth and gardening, hosting a plant sale, and speaking at invited functions. Volunteers conducted programs working with community gardens and public horticulture education. Perry County Master Gardener Volunteers hosted their eighth annual and Home and Garden show which is a two day event which highlighted more than 56 local businesses ranging from home construction to outdoor landscaping.

Environmental Quality

This year, 32 producers who currently hold a private pesticide applicators license in Licking and Perry County attended a pesticide recertification program. As a result, 93 percent have improved personal safety practices, improved practices to protect the environment, improved pesticide handling practices and are better informed about compliance and environmental regulations. In addition, 9 percent have increased the efficiency of applications.

Fertilizer certification is required if producers apply fertilizer (other than manure) to more than 50 acres used for agricultural production grown primarily for sale. Those who have a pesticide applicator license attended a two-hour fertilizer certification for private applicators or for commercial applicators. Applicators that did not have a pesticide license, attended a three-hour fertilizer certification. In 2015, 24 producers received fertilizer certification.

Perry County receives $90,802 in federal funding for nutrition education for low-income people, thanks to Extension’s local-state-federal partnership. Visit fcs.osu.edu/programs/nutrition for more information.