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Healthy, Well-Nourished Population
Arizona Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program
Issue
Families eligible for food stamps often need help receiving food stamps,
getting referrals to other agencies, and developing and maintaining
healthy eating plans within the limits of their budget. Less than a
quarter of those eligible for food stamps actually receive them in Arizona.
What has been done?
Arizona Cooperative Extension faculty, in partnership with local social
services agencies, health departments, and other community organizations
in the Arizona Nutrition Network, teach a variety of programs to low-income
families throughout the state who are eligible for food stamps.
The social marketing campaign provides consistent messages. Topics include
healthy eating based on the food pyramid, recipes, food safety, increasing
physical activity, dehydration prevention, hand washing before meals,
vegetable gardening, bone density screening and increasing calcium consumption,
as well as others. These classes, workshops, health fairs, radio programs,
newsletters and other activities target low-income audiences across
the lifespan, from children through adults and seniors. Local staff
and volunteers distribute educational materials and outreach education
at parents' groups, community centers, low-income schools, womens' shelters,
food banks, health fairs and other venues.
Impact
In 2002, Cooperative Extension faculty in the food stamp nutrition education
program directly contacted 49,881 people through the variety of community
events listed above. They reached 16,920 school children and 29,674
adults through nutrition classes, camps, fairs, presentations and demonstrations.
Over 282,800 media impressions were made in print and radio ads. In
one county, 30 students walked 180 miles in three weeks as a result
of the program; in another, 97 percent of 235 participants in an urban
horticulture program responded that the workshops met their needs and
expectations perfectly. In still another county, food safety training
has qualified more than 45 adults for the county volunteer food handler
card; post evaluation at three of the workshops showed increased knowledge
of hidden fats in foods, and the importance of reading labels and understanding
portion size.
Funding
The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
In-kind support through personnel, facilities, equipment, supplies,
co-sponsoring events
Contact
Scottie Misner, State EFNEP/FSNEP Coordinator
The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
Department of Nutritional Sciences
309 Shantz, PO Box 210038
Tucson, AZ 85721-0038
Telephone: (520) 621-7123 FAX: (520) 621-9446
Email: misner@ag.arizona.edu
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