Health and Human Sciences
It's as simple as
Food, Family, Money, & Health
The Health and Human Sciences (HHS) Educator delivers educational programs in Vigo County that are evidence and research based, to all community members. HHS Purdue Extension focuses on issues related to families and parenting through programs like our "Strengthening Families Program". HHS Extension delivers health and wellness and food and nutrition programs to help with chronic diseases, like "Dining with Diabetes" and "Be Heart Smart". Through HHS you can also learn about food safety and home food preservation. Where Does Your Money Go helps those who struggle financially get back to basics by learning budgeting.
Contact Us
Purdue Extension Vigo County
275 Ohio St.
Terre Haute, IN 47807
(812) 462-3371
GAIL WRIGHT
Examples of Programming
The Strengthening Families Program: For Parent and Youth 10-14 is an evidence-based program that can help prevent teen substance abuse and other behavior problems, strengthen parent/youth communication skills, increase academic success in youth, help teach youth skills for dealing with stress and peer pressure, prevent violence, and aggressive behavior at home and at school. Ranked as the #1 prevention program out of 6,000 analyzed by the World Health Organization, the Strengthening Families Program consists of 7, 2-hr. long classes comprising of youth, parent, and family sessions.
Session topics included:
- Love & Limits
- Dreams & Goals
- House Rules
- Appreciating Parents
- Encouraging Positive Behavior
- Dealing with Stress
- Following Rules & Using Consequences
- Peer Pressure
For more information, visit https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/extension/strengthening-families-program-for-parents-and-youth-10-14-post-editable/
Each year, about 659,000 people in the United States die from heart disease, that’s 1 of every 4 deaths (CDC)! Purdue Extension’s Be Heart Smart Program helps individuals learn information to prevent and reduce their risk of developing heart disease. Over the course of four lessons, participants will learn about the risk factors associated with heart disease, important numbers to know, heart-healthy eating, and how to make sustainable heart-healthy lifestyle changes.
Be Heart Smart cost $15 to attend. For more information, visit: https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/extension/program6/
According to Gallup, only 1 in 3 Americans use a budget and 30% have a long-term financial plan involving savings and investments for the future. Where Does Your Money Go? Program is designed to help consumers better understand how to spend their money. Taught over two, one-hour sessions, participants learn about financial management practices such as needs vs wants, writing goals, tracking expenses, identifying spending leaks, and how to develop a spending-savings plan. Furthermore, program activities help participants increase their knowledge of money management practices that promote financial stability and adoption of new habits that can lead to financial control.
For more information, visit: https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/extension/where-does-your-money-go/According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report 2020, 34.2 million Americans have diabetes and another 88 million have prediabetes (CDC). Furthermore, people who have diabetes are 2.3 more likely to have greater healthcare cost than people who don’t have diabetes.
The Dining with Diabetes Program is a designed to assist and support individuals who have diabetes as well as their families to help reduce the burden of diabetes by increasing knowledge of healthy foods, tips to prepare quick, healthy, and tasty foods, demonstrating proper cooking techniques, promoting physical activity, building confidence, and providing opportunities for participants to learn from one another.
The cost to attend Dining with Diabetes is $40 per individual or $65 per couple. To learn more about Dining with Diabetes, visit: https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/extension/programs-food-0/#dining-with-diabetes
Extension Homemakers
VIGO COUNTY EXTENSION HOMEMAKERS NEWSLETTER
February 2026
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Welcome to February!! I hope everyone is making it through the bitter cold weather without too much discomfort. I understand a few of our members have suffered through the flu. I’m hoping everybody is on the mend now.
Share Some Bloom(er)s
Our State President asked us all at the beginning of her term to please buy underwear, panties and/or socks—they can be for children, men or women. Please then donate them to your local schools, home-less organizations and shelters, crisis centers, mental health facilities, pantries, etc…anywhere there is a need in your community. She asked us to keep count of these items and report to her throughout the year. Let your club president know what and how many items you have donated so she can report to me at our next Council Meeting. I will then send in a report to our State President, Cahthy Wilkymacky.
IEHA State Conference
The State Conference will be in Nashville, IN this year on June 15 – 17. I’ve attended this event the last two years and have had a very interesting time each year, plus I learned new things (crafts and projects), and reconnected with other members across the state. Think about going…anyone can attend and there is “scholarship” money you can apply for. Check out the Dates to Remember and see when paperwork needs to be in.
Fair Booth
Vigo County Fair will be July 11 – 18, 2026. As in the past we need “all hands on deck” again this year. More specific information will be coming in the next few months. This is a good time to start thinking about what your Club’s Fair Booth will look like.
Standards for Model and Honor Clubs
Check pages 24 and 25 of our Extension Homemakers Club “Red” Book for this information. Let me know if you have any questions.
Dates to Remember
February 2, 2026 Council Meeting (previous Meadows Elementary School) 55 S. Brown Avenue, Terre Haute, IN 47803
Executive Board, 9am
Full Council (Executive Board + Club Presidents), 10am
**Check your Red Club Book**
February 9, 2026 Past Presidents Meeting 11:00am, Cackleberries Restaurant, 303 S. 7th St. TH, IN
February 15, 2026 *State Officer Nomination Forms due to current IEHA Immediate Past President
February 15, 2026 *District Representative Forms due to current District Representative and State President Elect
February 23, 2026 First Timer Award (to attend State Conference)
February 23, 2026 I Want To Go Again Award (to attend State Conference)
March 1, 2026 *Ruth B. Sayre Scholarship Application due to current IEHA State President, Cathy Wilkymacky (address in Red Club Book)
March 10, 2026 Sewing Day, Tuesday, 10am, Community Center, Vigo County Fairgrounds, 10am – afternoon…leave when you need to [some bring sack lunch]
April 9, 2026 Spring District Meeting (Vermillion Co.) Time and place TBA
April 13, 2026 Past Presidents Meeting, Time and place TBA
April 27, 2026 Spring Fling, Time and place TBA
May 4, 2026 Council Meeting, see above place & time
June 8, 2026 Past Presidents Meeting, Time and place TBA
June 15 – 17, 2026 Home & Family State Conference, Nashville, IN
June 22, 2026 Achievement Day, Time and place TBA, Council Meeting immediately following
*….forms on IEHA website: https://ieha-families.org/forms-1
Extension Homemakers website: www.extension.purdue.edu/vigo
FB page: Vigo County Extension Homemakers
Educator Spotlight
February is American Heart Month
Go Red! Go red to help raise awareness of the No. 1 killer of people in the U.S.,
cardiovascular disease
Wear Red on Feb. 6, 2026 in support of heart health!
Most of us have known someone that has had heart disease and unfortunately, several have lost someone to heart disease. It is the leading cause of death in Indiana and Vigo County for both men and women.
This February during American Heart Month (AHA) take a few minutes to learn more preventing heart diseases.
According to the CDC, high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease. Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, which puts them at risk for heart disease and stroke. And just 1 in 4 people with high blood pressure has it under control.
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. There are no symptoms of high blood pressure. High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can occur because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure, as well. People who have depression, anxiety, stress, or post-traumatic stress disorder over a long period of time may develop other health problems, including an increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Also, family history and the environment can also increase a person's risk.
Have your blood pressure checked annually (at least) by a healthcare provider. High blood pressure is consistently at or above 130/80 mm Hg. Although your blood pressure changes throughout the day based on your activities, you can be diagnosed by a healthcare provider with high blood pressure when it is consistently above normal. The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for other health problems, such as heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
There are ways to prevent and aid in control of high blood pressure. A few of those ways are:
- Eating a healthy diet that is lower in sodium
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Be Physically Active – 30 minutes a day/5 days a week or more
- Get Plenty of Sleep
- Manage Stress
- Limit Alcohol
- Stop Smoking
If you would like to have some of the information printed and mailed to you, contact Gail at (812) 462-3371 or wrigh509@purdue.edu .