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://extension.purdue.edu/hhs/
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
SEPTEMBER 2026
Dates to Remember
Sept 21 Deadline for District Meeting reservations
Sept 24 Sewing Day, Wabash Valley Fairgrounds 10:00 am
Oct 1 Fall District Meting, Southside Church of Christ, see flyer for details
Oct 20 Sewing Day, Wabash Valley Fairgrounds 10:00 am
Nov 2 Extension Craft Day, Mt Pleasant Church, 2050 E Davis Drive, Terre Haute
(More details to be announced)
Nov 9 Council Meeting, Meadows Learning Lab 10:00 am
Nov 19 Sewing Day, Wabash Valley Fairgrounds 10:00 am
Sympathies
the Open Class exhibits, and the Used Book Sale. All of you are greatly appreciated. We made $901.50
on the book sale, compared to about $515 last year. Bakers’ Best Contest made $210.
• Adapted form Midwest Cardiovascular Institute and American Heart Association
this common but serious heart condition. Afib is an irregular and often rapid heartbeat that
can lead to various cardiovascular complications, including stroke, heart failure, and other
heart-related issues.
According to the Midwest Cardiovascular Institute (MCI), “Atrial Fibrillation occurs when the
upper chambers of the heart beat chaotically and don’t synchronize with the lower chambers.
This irregularity can be caused by various factors, including heart conditions, high blood pressure,
sleep apnea, excessive alcohol consumption, and sometimes it may occur without a
known cause”.
Some people with Afib may not experience any symptoms at all. However, common symptoms
include:
• Heart racing
• Chest pain
• Light-headedness
• Irregular heartbeat
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
While there is no permanent cure for Afib, effective management strategies can help you live
a full and healthy life. These strategies include lifestyle modifications, medications , and procedures
such as ablation to restore normal heart rhythm. In some cases, blood thinners may be
necessary to reduce the risk of stroke.
This September, take a minute and see if you are at risk for Afib. Accorcing to the American
Heart Association (AHA), risk factors include:
• Older age
• High blood pressure: Long-term, uncontrolled high blood pressure can raise your risk.
• Underlying heart disease, including vale problems, thickened heart muscle, blocked arteries,
past heart attach, recent heart surgery
• Drinking alcohol
• Smoking
• Family history
• Sleep apnea
• Athletes: AFib has been commonly reported in elite athletes.
• Not being active
• Being overweight
• Other long-term conditions: People with long-term conditions may be at higher risk. These
including Hyperthyroidism, Type 2 diabetes, Chronic kidney disease, and Asthma
It’s essential to assess your stroke risk if you have Afib. Factors such as congestive heart failure,
hypertension, diabetes, previous stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), and age (65
and older) can increase your risk.
For more information on Afib, go to the American Heart Association at: https://www.heart.org
IEHA Fall District Meeting
October 1, 2026
4117 S. 7th St.
Terre Haute, IN 47802
Main Entrance - Door #7
Handicap Entrance – Door #5
Cost is $12.00
Checks Payable to: Vigo County Extension Homemakers
Mail to: Vigo County Treasurer
Ruth Ridener
940 N. 2200th St.
Paris, IL 61944
Socks, Underwear, Non-Perishable Canned Food
(such as Vienna Sausage, Spaghettios, with easy open
lids), Toiletries or Cash.