Improve the Nation's Nutrition and Health
Arizona Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program

Impact Nugget
Arizona Cooperative Extension, in partnership with other agencies in the Arizona Nutrition Network, provides nutrition and health education for food stamp-eligible families. In 2005 Cooperative Extension faculty and volunteers in the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program directly contacted 14,667 children in schools, and 462,824 adults and seniors, and over 735,527 were reached using print and radio ads.

Issue
Families eligible for food stamps often need help receiving food stamps, getting referrals to social service agencies, and planning meals and eating healthy foods within limited budgets. Less than a quarter of those eligible for food stamps actually receive them.

What has been done?
Arizona Cooperative Extension faculty, in partnership with local social service agencies, county health departments, and other community organizations in the Arizona Nutrition Network, teach a variety of programs to food stamp-eligible families throughout the state. The social marketing campaign provides consistent messages on three themes: “Add physical activity to your day”; “go low–drink 1% milk or lower”; and “Eat 5 A Day” to increase fruits and vegetable consumption. Other topics include healthy eating based upon the new dietary guidelines and the new food guide pyramid, increasing calcium consumption, increasing physical activity, food safety, and eating for disease prevention. Local staff and volunteers distribute educational materials through classes, workshops, health fairs, after school programs, parents’ groups, community and wellness centers, food banks and other venues.

Impact
In 2005, Cooperative Extension faculty and volunteers in the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program directly contacted 14,661 children in schools, and 462,824 adults and seniors. Extension’s indirect contacts through newsletters, radio and television, as part of the social marketing campaign reached an audience of 735,527 in Arizona. In one county, 48 adults received their food handler card through food safety training; post evaluation at five workshops showed increased knowledge of hidden fats in foods and the importance of reading labels and understanding portion size.

Funding
USDA
Department of Economic Security
Arizona Nutrition Network
Cooperative Extension faculty and staff salary match
In-kind support through personnel, facilities, equipment, supplies, and co-sponsoring events

Contact
Scottie Misner, PhD, RD
State EFNEP/FSNEP Coordinator
The University of Arizona
Nutritional Sciences
309 Shantz, P.O.Box 210038
Tucson, AZ 85721-0038
Tel: 520-621-7123 FAX:520-621-9446
E-mail: misner@ag.arizona.edu

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