An Introduction to The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Falcon Conference Albuquerque, New Mexico Helen Chipman National Program Leader, USDA-NIFA 7 November 2016

Background 14 years 9 years 14 years as EFNEP Coordinator in South Dakota Conducted low-income nutrition education programs on 7 of 9 reservations – mostly EFNEP, but some short-term grants, as well - 9 years at NIFA 9 years

What EFNEP Is Not Competitive grants program Research program Education or Extension capacity building grants program Independent projects Multi-state projects

What EFNEP Is A national nutrition education program for low-income families with young children and low-income youth EFNEP brings together federal, state, and local resources to improve the health and well-being of limited resource families and youth

Direct Education Educators Delivery Methods Paraprofessionals (peer Series of hands-on, interactive lessons Learner-centered teaching Community-based approach Audiences: low-income parents/caregivers with young children, low–income youth and children Educators: paraprofessionals (peer educators) from the indigenous target population Delivery methods: series of classes reinforced by other learning approaches Venues: where low-income audiences are found (examples: schools, child care centers, youth program sites, CES offices, housing projects, local agency offices, community learning centers, food pantries) Paraprofessionals Have knowledge and experience with the community and the target audience Are supervised and supported by professionals with programmatic and discipline expertise May be assisted by volunteers, who help with teaching, finding participants, making meeting arrangements, and other supporting roles EFNEP educators follow a research-based learning model that allows them to effectively reach and educate program participants. Educators are • members of the communities they support; • trained/supervised by university and county-based faculty; • skilled in using hands-on, interactive teaching methods; • committed to delivering sound instruction; • able to influence changes in behavior and impact the lives of those they teach; and • dedicated to reaching diverse, low-income populations.

Content - Four Core Areas Diet Quality and Physical Activity Food Resource Management Food Safety Food Security Legislative language: To enable low-income individuals and families to engage in nutritionally sound food purchasing and preparation practices. Focus is food, not nutrients; practices in real life settings

Program Oversight and Funding Since 1969 Administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Federal allocation $67.9 million in FY 2016 Conducted by Cooperative Extension in all 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant Universities in all states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia (76 institutions)

EFNEP Reach Available in all states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia – in approximately 800 of 3,144 counties Annually reaches roughly 120 thousand adults and 480 thousand youth directly, and more than 340 thousand family members indirectly 85% of EFNEP families are at or below 100% of poverty, earning $24,250 a year or less for a family of four 74% of EFNEP adults are minorities

Essential Elements Federal, State/Territory, & Local Partnership Quality, integrity, consistency, visibility, and recognition are essential at every level Institutions within states are expected to coordinate and cooperate with each other Evidence-Based Results Oriented EFNEP brings together federal, state, and local resources to improve the health and well-being of limited resource families and youth

Web-based Nutrition Education Evaluation Reporting System: WebNEERS

FY2017 Budget – Explanatory Notes NIFA is undertaking an analysis to update the current EFNEP formula to better reach targeted populations particularly minorities and Native American populations changes in national demographics, poverty rates, and levels of obesity in these populations since the formula was developed in 1981 http://www.obpa.usda.gov/19nifa2017notes.pdf

Racial Breakdown of Native Participants (EFNEP Adult Data: 2007-2015, 9yr. Averages) (n=59,506) American Indian or Alaska Native Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

9 Year Trends Program Reach Program Graduates Years Total # Adult Participants Total # Native Participants Average % Native 2007-2015 1,196,139 59,506 5.0% Program Graduates Years Total # Adult Graduates Total # Native Graduates Average % Native 2007-2015 771,973 41,998 5.4%

% Improvement in Behavior Native Compared to All EFNEP Graduates (EFNEP Adult Checklist Data: 2007-2015†, 8yr. Averages) 85% 84% 85% 84% Native 62% 66% All % Improvement Nutrition Food Resource Mgmt Food Safety †2012 data not shown

# of Additional Cups Consumed Improvement in Daily Food Consumption (Native Compared to All Adults: 2007-2015†) 0.6 0.5 # of Additional Cups Consumed 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 Fruit Vegetable Dairy Native All †2012 data not shown

% Improvement in Behavior Native Compared to All EFNEP Graduates (EFNEP Adult Recall Data: 2007-2015†, 8yr. Averages) 95% 94% Native All % Improvement Diet Quality †2012 data not shown

% Improvement in Behavior Native Compared to All EFNEP Graduates (EFNEP Adult Recall Data: 2007-2015†, 8yr. Averages) Native All % Improvement 35% 32% Physical Activity

EFNEP Youth Impacts 85% increased ability to choose healthy food 48% increased ability to prepare low-cost, nutritious foods 47% improved food preparation and food safety practices 46% improved physical activity

EFNEP and Native Populations Are there sub-awards – any current ones with 1994s or in Indian country? Yes – Example, South Dakota

Contact Information Helen Chipman, PhD, RD National Program Leader, Food & Nutrition Education National Institute of Food and Agriculture, (NIFA), USDA Nutrition Division Phone: 202-720-8067; Fax: 202-401-0776 Email: hchipman@nifa.usda.gov