SNAP-Ed Supporting Innovative Nutrition Education for American Indian and Indigenous-Serving Organizations in Colorado

Abstract

BackgroundSNAP-Education (SNAP-Ed) is the nutrition education component of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). ObjectiveTo elucidate the experiences of three Colorado-based, American Indian or Indigenous-led organizations who engaged in a SNAP-Ed pilot funding project in FY2022. MethodsAn instrumental, single case-study design was employed to conduct this evaluation. The multi-phase method evaluation included: listening sessions (n=8 Indigenous-serving organizations), invited request for proposals, pilot award funding (n=3 awarded organizations), and longitudinal, storytelling-based qualitative data collection during the funding cycle. ResultsThere are many ongoing food and nutrition education programs serving Indigenous/American Indian peoples in Colorado, which largely promote wellness and healing through traditional cultural practices and are not overtly framed as “nutrition education.” Two salient themes emerged: 1) defining and describing Indigenized, decolonized nutrition education; and 2) description of experiences working with SNAP-Ed funding during FY2022, including challenges and future opportunities. ConclusionsTo effectively address the priority area for SNAP-Ed funding to reach Tribal communities in each state, understanding the perspectives of Tribal and Indigenous-led communities who are new to SNAP-Ed funding is prudent. Next steps to continued co-creation of SNAP-Ed opportunities in Indigenous spaces include educating funders and policymakers on Indigenous ways of knowing; traditional food and nutrition practices; and importance of relationality, land, healing, and other Indigenous values. Determining the “success” of a program (e.g., program evaluation) needs to be defined by the community itself.