1. _______________________
Update – SNAP & EFNEP:
Regional Nutrition Education and
Obesity Prevention
Centers of Excellence (RNECE)
_______________________
Helen Chipman, PhD, RD
National Program Leader. NIFA, USDA
9 February 2016

2. Background
Purpose – Conduct program implementation research for EFNEP and SNAP-Ed to strengthen the evidence-base and assure that programs are effective, innovative, replicable, sustainable, and cost effective
Timeline – FY
Funding – FNS and NIFA; 8 million; 7 multi-year awards
Overarching Goal: To improve the health of low-income Americans through multiple strategies, including complementary nutrition education and public health approaches
No additional funds to agencies
Not FNS in FY 2016; Both agencies are still committed to the goals and objectives of the initiative. Actively exploring other options to continue to support the objectives of the initiative
The intent has never been to establish a number of individual centers of excellence; rather it has been to create a few centers that involve multiple entities – across research and program, across states, across types of expertise, etc. 

3. RNECE Objectives
Strengthen evidence-base – identify and confirm what works
Evaluate long-term effectiveness of interventions and opportunities for new research for underserved and disadvantaged populations
Identify and create research collaborations and synergistic relationships: researchers, programs, implementers, government
Enhance impacts – public health-related training and dissemination of evidence based practices

4. A Social Ecological Approach – Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
Dietary Guidelines for Americans , A Social-Ecological Model for Food and Physical Activity Decisions
A Social Ecological Approach – Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
Direct education; policy, systems, and environmental change, comprehensive and integrated approaches as appropriate to each program and per program policy
Adapted from Adapted from: (1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Addressing Obesity Disparities: Social Ecological Model. Available at: Accessed October 19, (2) Institute of Medicine. Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance, Washington (DC): The National Academies Press; 2005, page 85. (3) Story M, Kaphingst KM, Robinson-O’Brien R, Glanz K. Creating healthy food and eating environments: Policy and environmental approaches. Annu Rev Public Health 2008; 29:

5. A Social Ecological Approach – Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010/
A Social Ecological Approach – Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
New in FY 2015 – a PSE Center and a longitudinal study
Stay tuned – Thursday session for details on the work and progress of the Centers

6. Expectations of Research Centers
Involve implementing organizations, researchers, and associated interests
Conduct regional and PSE projects
Manage sub-awards to augment work
Coordinate efforts to complete Agency specific priorities – Ex. SNAP-Ed toolkit
Evaluate, aggregate, translate and disseminate interventions so useful for program practitioners and others
Provide training and other supportive resources for implementation
Very different types of grants – grantees working collaboratively as well as individually

7. RNECE Role for SNAP-Ed and EFNEP Implementers
Be connected to the RNECE Centers through formal and informal relationships
Inform – Provide stakeholder input
Apply for sub-awards – Conduct research
Use resources that are developed – Apply interventions as intended
Encourage and facilitate involvement of other implementers in your state – Share/coordinate with others
If the type of research is something of interest to you, watch for future RFAs, whether through NIFA, USDA or other sources that can further the goals and objectives of the initiative.

8. A Social Ecological Approach – Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
Program: RNECE

9. FNS and NIFA RNECE Contacts
Food and Nutrition Service
Ms. Jane Duffield, Branch Chief
Dr. Anita Singh, Branch Chief
National Institute of Food and Agriculture*
Dr. Helen Chipman, National Program Leader (Primary Contact)
Phone: (202) ;  Fax: (202)
Ms. Marly Diallo, Program Specialist
*Initial contact for grants management questions
NIFA charged with implementing the grants, and I am the point person at NIFA to provide oversight. I work closely with FNS – in doing so.