SNAP-Ed Improves Long-Term Household Food Security Despite Participation in SNAP or WIC at Recruitment

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine the association of participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) at recruitment with long-term food security among households with children in Indiana after a SNAP-Ed intervention.Design, Setting, Participants, and InterventionA randomized, controlled nutrition education intervention study using SNAP-Ed as the intervention was implemented across 38 Indiana counties from August 2013 to March 2015. Study participants (n=575) were low-income SNAP-Ed eligible adults ≥ 18 years with ≥ 1 child living in the household. SNAP-Ed paraprofessionals recruited and randomized participants to the control or intervention group who received ≥4 SNAP-Ed lessons over 4-10 week intervention period. All participants completed a baseline, post-intervention, and 1 year follow-up assessment.Outcome Measures and AnalysisHousehold food security score was assigned using the 18-item United States Household Food Security Survey Module. Linear mixed regression models adjusted for baseline SNAP and WIC participation (coded yes, no) in addition to other household characteristics and were used to compare study treatment group and baseline SNAP and WIC participation over time on household food security score. Results were considered significant at p≤0.05.ResultsParticipation in SNAP (63% prevalence) (p=0.4) and WIC (59% prevalence) (p=0.2) at baseline were not significantly associated with improvement in household food security from baseline to 1 year follow-up by 1.2±0.4 units (Mean±SEM; p<0.01).Conclusions and ImplicationsSNAP-Ed improved household food security despite participation status in either SNAP or WIC upon recruitment into the program.FundingUSDA FNS, University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research ObjectiveTo determine the association of participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) at recruitment with long-term food security among households with children in Indiana after a SNAP-Ed intervention. To determine the association of participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) at recruitment with long-term food security among households with children in Indiana after a SNAP-Ed intervention. Design, Setting, Participants, and InterventionA randomized, controlled nutrition education intervention study using SNAP-Ed as the intervention was implemented across 38 Indiana counties from August 2013 to March 2015. Study participants (n=575) were low-income SNAP-Ed eligible adults ≥ 18 years with ≥ 1 child living in the household. SNAP-Ed paraprofessionals recruited and randomized participants to the control or intervention group who received ≥4 SNAP-Ed lessons over 4-10 week intervention period. All participants completed a baseline, post-intervention, and 1 year follow-up assessment. A randomized, controlled nutrition education intervention study using SNAP-Ed as the intervention was implemented across 38 Indiana counties from August 2013 to March 2015. Study participants (n=575) were low-income SNAP-Ed eligible adults ≥ 18 years with ≥ 1 child living in the household. SNAP-Ed paraprofessionals recruited and randomized participants to the control or intervention group who received ≥4 SNAP-Ed lessons over 4-10 week intervention period. All participants completed a baseline, post-intervention, and 1 year follow-up assessment. Outcome Measures and AnalysisHousehold food security score was assigned using the 18-item United States Household Food Security Survey Module. Linear mixed regression models adjusted for baseline SNAP and WIC participation (coded yes, no) in addition to other household characteristics and were used to compare study treatment group and baseline SNAP and WIC participation over time on household food security score. Results were considered significant at p≤0.05. Household food security score was assigned using the 18-item United States Household Food Security Survey Module. Linear mixed regression models adjusted for baseline SNAP and WIC participation (coded yes, no) in addition to other household characteristics and were used to compare study treatment group and baseline SNAP and WIC participation over time on household food security score. Results were considered significant at p≤0.05. ResultsParticipation in SNAP (63% prevalence) (p=0.4) and WIC (59% prevalence) (p=0.2) at baseline were not significantly associated with improvement in household food security from baseline to 1 year follow-up by 1.2±0.4 units (Mean±SEM; p<0.01). Participation in SNAP (63% prevalence) (p=0.4) and WIC (59% prevalence) (p=0.2) at baseline were not significantly associated with improvement in household food security from baseline to 1 year follow-up by 1.2±0.4 units (Mean±SEM; p<0.01). Conclusions and ImplicationsSNAP-Ed improved household food security despite participation status in either SNAP or WIC upon recruitment into the program. SNAP-Ed improved household food security despite participation status in either SNAP or WIC upon recruitment into the program.