EFNEP and SNAP-Ed Collaborate to Encourage Faithful Families to Eat Smart, Move More, and Take Control of Their Health

Abstract

ObjectiveTo provide a fifteen-week, multi-level nutrition education program in faith communities through a collaboration between the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed), while developing strategies to guide future partnerships.Target AudienceFaith communities in low-income areas.Theory, Prior Research, RationaleThis pilot initiative encompasses and expands upon Faithful Families Eating Smart and Moving More, a practice-tested intervention for nutrition education in faith settings that utilizes the socio-ecological model to address multiple levels of influence. On the individual level, it uses the theory of planned behavior to inform, empower, and motivate participants to change their eating and physical activity patterns.DescriptionEFNEP educators deliver the first nine lessons focusing on basic nutrition, physical activity, food safety, and food resource management. Cooperative Extension Agents, under SNAP-Ed direction, deliver the remaining lessons focusing on health management for chronic disease prevention. All lessons are co-taught with faith community lay leaders who help participants make connections between faith and health. Agents encourage and support faith leaders in making policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes. Throughout implementation best practices for effective collaboration are identified.EvaluationBehavior change is evaluated by pre/post, mid-point, and follow-up surveys with a 24-hour dietary recall. Faith community assessments capture PSE change. Formative evaluation includes observation, interviews, and educator feedback.Conclusions and ImplicationsThis initiative provides strategies for EFNEP/SNAP-Ed partnerships for extended, comprehensive programming that includes education on the individual level and support for change on the community level. Program components, lessons learned, a plan for coordinating partnerships, and preliminary outcomes will be shared.FundingSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. ObjectiveTo provide a fifteen-week, multi-level nutrition education program in faith communities through a collaboration between the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed), while developing strategies to guide future partnerships. To provide a fifteen-week, multi-level nutrition education program in faith communities through a collaboration between the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed), while developing strategies to guide future partnerships. Target AudienceFaith communities in low-income areas. Faith communities in low-income areas. Theory, Prior Research, RationaleThis pilot initiative encompasses and expands upon Faithful Families Eating Smart and Moving More, a practice-tested intervention for nutrition education in faith settings that utilizes the socio-ecological model to address multiple levels of influence. On the individual level, it uses the theory of planned behavior to inform, empower, and motivate participants to change their eating and physical activity patterns. This pilot initiative encompasses and expands upon Faithful Families Eating Smart and Moving More, a practice-tested intervention for nutrition education in faith settings that utilizes the socio-ecological model to address multiple levels of influence. On the individual level, it uses the theory of planned behavior to inform, empower, and motivate participants to change their eating and physical activity patterns. DescriptionEFNEP educators deliver the first nine lessons focusing on basic nutrition, physical activity, food safety, and food resource management. Cooperative Extension Agents, under SNAP-Ed direction, deliver the remaining lessons focusing on health management for chronic disease prevention. All lessons are co-taught with faith community lay leaders who help participants make connections between faith and health. Agents encourage and support faith leaders in making policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes. Throughout implementation best practices for effective collaboration are identified. EFNEP educators deliver the first nine lessons focusing on basic nutrition, physical activity, food safety, and food resource management. Cooperative Extension Agents, under SNAP-Ed direction, deliver the remaining lessons focusing on health management for chronic disease prevention. All lessons are co-taught with faith community lay leaders who help participants make connections between faith and health. Agents encourage and support faith leaders in making policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes. Throughout implementation best practices for effective collaboration are identified. EvaluationBehavior change is evaluated by pre/post, mid-point, and follow-up surveys with a 24-hour dietary recall. Faith community assessments capture PSE change. Formative evaluation includes observation, interviews, and educator feedback. Behavior change is evaluated by pre/post, mid-point, and follow-up surveys with a 24-hour dietary recall. Faith community assessments capture PSE change. Formative evaluation includes observation, interviews, and educator feedback. Conclusions and ImplicationsThis initiative provides strategies for EFNEP/SNAP-Ed partnerships for extended, comprehensive programming that includes education on the individual level and support for change on the community level. Program components, lessons learned, a plan for coordinating partnerships, and preliminary outcomes will be shared. This initiative provides strategies for EFNEP/SNAP-Ed partnerships for extended, comprehensive programming that includes education on the individual level and support for change on the community level. Program components, lessons learned, a plan for coordinating partnerships, and preliminary outcomes will be shared.