The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is a federal program hosted at land grant universities in every state and in U.S. Territories. It is designed to assist low-income families to develop healthy dietary practices by encouraging the purchase of more nutritious foods and providing information to improve food selection. Families are taught new skills in food production, preparation, storage, safety and sanitation, as well as how to better manage their food budgets and related resources such as Food Stamps. EFNEP is currently targeted at low-income youth and low-income families with young children. In 2001, EFNEP reached almost 450,000 youth and more than 150,000 adults. More outstandingly,

the program’s impact has spread further to indirectly reach approximately 600,000 additional family members!

HOW IS IT TAUGHT?

For adult participants, EFNEP is delivered as a series of group or individual lessons, often over several months, by paraprofessionals and volunteers. They recruit families and receive referrals from neighborhood contacts and community agencies (i.e. Food Stamps, WIC, etc.). Methods for program delivery may include: (1) direct teaching in group or one-to-one situations; (2) mailings and telephone teaching to complement other teaching methods; (3) mass media efforts to develop understanding, awareness, and involvement in the educational program; and (4) development and training of volunteers to assist with direct teaching of adults and youth.

The delivery of EFNEP youth programs may take on various forms. EFNEP may provide nutrition education at schools through the enrichment of the curriculum, in after school care programs, through 4-H EFNEP clubs, day camps, residential camps, community centers, neighborhood groups, and/or home gardening workshops. In addition to lessons on nutrition, food preparation and food safety, the youth programs may also be integrated with fitness, avoidance of substance abuse, and other health related topics.

EFNEP IN NEW YORK

In New York, the program is sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), Cornell University, and funded through the United States Department of Agriculture, as well as with State and county funds. Through CCE’s involvement with the Farmers' Market Nutrition Education Program (FMNP), 30,788 individuals have been directly provided with nutrition education messages about regional and seasonal produce. In addition, nutrition education outreach regarding farmers' markets and consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables has been conducted at various county fairs and community health fairs. As a result of the FMNP and EFNEP, 970 participants were referred to the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP) and an estimated 558 referrals were made to WIC. The program has also assisted low-income families in purchasing local produce, and also in planning to continue to include more fruits and vegetables in their meals.