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UNDERSTANDING SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EDUCATION (SNAP-ED). Gerry Howell, MS, RD, Nutritionist July 12, 2012. Objectives. Understand what the SNAP-Ed program is and how it operates
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UNDERSTANDING SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EDUCATION (SNAP-ED) Gerry Howell, MS, RD, Nutritionist July 12, 2012
Objectives • Understand what the SNAP-Ed program is and how it operates • Understand why and how the SNAP-Ed program is changing and the new role collaboration will play in the program • Understand how health department staff and others can connect with people in their State working on SNAP-Ed
SNAP Facts • The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest food assistance program in the nation • Formally known as the Food Stamp Program (FSP) • Purposes: • To provide improved levels of nutrition among low-income households • To provide economic benefits to communities • In April 2012, approximately 46 million people received SNAP
SNAP Facts • Food Stamp Act of 1964 made the FSP permanent • In 1977, the Food Stamp Act revised the legislation to include nutrition education • Since 1977, the law has been revised several times to expand the nutrition education component • In 2010, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act amended the 2008 Food and Nutrition Act (FNA) • Established a nutrition education and obesity prevention grant program
Food and Nutrition Service Mission To provide children and needy families with better access to food and a more healthful diet through its food assistance programs and comprehensive nutrition education efforts
SNAP-Ed Goal Goal To improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make healthy food choices within a limited budget and choose physically active lifestyles consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) food guidance
Organization of SNAP • 7 Regional Offices • West Regional Office (WRO) • Mountain Plains Regional Office (MPRO) • Midwest Regional Office (MWRO) • Southwest Regional Office (SWRO) • Southeast Regional Office (SERO) • Mid-Atlantic Regional Office (MARO) • Northeast Regional Office (NERO)
Organization of SNAP-Ed • 52 State Agencies: all States + DC & VI • Main point of contact for the purpose or coordination and collaboration • Hundreds of local projects
Redesign of SNAP-Ed Changes to SNAP-Ed Role of Collaboration
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act • Section 241 established the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program • Re-shapes SNAP-Ed • Changes financial structure • Focus on obesity prevention • Requires activities be evidence-based and outcome driven
SNAP: Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program Interim Rule • Codifies provisions of Section 241, HHFK Act • Will be published as an Interim Rule • Must be implemented as of publication date • Provides a sixty-day comment period
2013 SNAP-Ed Guidance • Reflects content of HHFK Act, Section 241 • Provides direction on implementing HHFK Act provisions • Designed to be streamlined, more flexible, user-friendly, and amendable as needed • Released March 30, 2012
Guidance Highlights • Funding • Socio-ecological Model • Approaches • Collaboration and Coordination • Greater Flexibility: Schools, Physical Activity, Gardening
Funding • Past funding required a State contribution or match • Now 100% Federal funds indexed for inflation • Funds available for 2-year period of performance • Considers State share of national SNAP-Ed expenditures • Formula will change over time to consider SNAP participation in addition to expenditures
Social-Ecological Model (SEM) • Takes the following factors into consideration: • Social and cultural norms and values • Sectors of influence such as government and public health • Environmental settings such as schools and workplaces • Individual factors like knowledge and demographics
Dietary Guidelines for Americans • Foundation of nutrition education in all FNS nutrition assistance • Information can be found on http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/
MyPlate • USDA Food Guidance System is also used as the basis for nutrition education in SNAP-Ed • More information can be found at http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/
SNAP-Ed Approaches • Individual or Group-Based • Multi-level Interventions • Community and Public Health
Individual/Group Based Approaches • Definition: individual or group-based nutrition education, health promotion, and intervention strategies • Most common level of nutrition education delivery approach in SNAP-Ed • Examples: • Nutrition education programming on Dietary Guidelines • Individual or group education sessions
Multi-level Interventions • Definition: Comprehensive, multi-level interventions at multiple complementary organizational and institutional levels • May target the individual, interpersonal, organization, community, public policy, or societal • Examples: • Collaborating with schools and other organizations to improve school nutrition environment • Establishing community gardens in low-income areas or community sites
Community and Public Health Approaches • Definition: Community and public health approaches to improve nutrition • Target a large segment of the population • Examples: • Working with local government to develop policies for eliminating food deserts • Collaborating with community groups to improve the food environment
Coordination and Collaboration • HHFKA permits coordination with publicly or privately funded health promotion or nutrition improvement strategies • FNS strongly encourages coordination with other national, State, and local nutrition education and health promotion initiatives • Provides the capacity for SNAP-Ed to reach its goal and remain consistent with the FNS mission while reaching low-income families and individuals through multiple spheres of the SEM
Examples of State and Local Partners • State public health agencies and other State programs • Universities • Faith-based organizations • Local schools • Food retailers • Food banks and other food assistance programs • Etc.
Connecting with SNAP-Ed http://snap.nal.usda.gov/state-gates
SNAP-Ed Connection Home Page • Funded by FNS and maintained by the National Agricultural Library’s Food & Nutrition Information Center • Useful online resource center for both State and local SNAP-Ed providers and the public • Features include: • In the News: Up-to-date information about SNAP • Spotlights • Recipe Finder (both in English and Spanish) • Access to SNAP-Ed Guidance, MyPlate, Dietary Guidelines, other resources
Points of Contact If interested in SNAP-Ed, please contact State SNAP Agency for more information at: • http://snap.nal.usda.gov/state-gates