Program Impact

FSNE/EFNEP Executive Summary

FSNE

Issue

Limited income households often find it challenging to stretch food resources to cover the entire month, even when they receive food stamps. Some of these households include children, senior citizens and disabled individuals. Many limited income individuals are also being employed, although not at a living wage. As family members are employed, less time at home demands greater efficiency with food resource management. Food resource management is a critical skill for limited resource Montanans.

What has been done?

FSNE partners with numerous community agencies and organizations to optimize effective programming. Our program works to effect positive behavior changes in participants concerning nutrition and physical activity. The Montana Food Stamp Nutrition Education program provides educational programs for food stamp households and those eligible. In 30 counties, paraprofessionals (nutrition assistants) provide a series of lessons or single demonstrations with practical information and skill-building tips for choosing better foods, food handling, food storage and food safety practices.  

Impact for Youth and Adult Programs

• For the school year 2003-2004, 1037 third grade students completed six nutrition lessons. Pre and post evaluations showed a 10% improvement in nutrition knowledge as well as food related behaviors.
• 992 students were engaged in nutrition programs in after school and summer activities. Evaluations indicated 85% of the children showed an increase in nutrition and food safety knowledge.
• 4200 adults participated in a series of lessons, while 3901 adults came to one program. Evaluations from the participants who completed the lesson series reported improvement in one or more of the following:

25% improved food resource management practices
36% improved nutrition practices
43% improved food safety practices
49% reported motivation to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables

Funding Sources:

Federal Food Stamp Program nutrition education funds are made available through a contract with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. MSU, MSU Extension and other county and state organizations provide in-kind support to match the federal funds.

EFNEP

Issue

Montana is ranked #45 among states for per capita income, yet studies show that food purchased in rural counties is often more expensive than the national average. Montana's limited resource families struggle to purchase and prepare food for their families in a nutritious manner with the money, food stamps, or other food resources they have available. More than 20% of all Montana children live in poverty, and food security is a problem for many of these children and their families.

What Has Been Done?

In the last year, Montana EFNEP in four counties encompassing parts of three reservations has taught a series of lessons to over 381 adult family members to help them stretch their food dollars to feed their families in a nutritious manner. EFNEP professionals and paraprofessionals have also reached over 849 low income youth between the ages of 5 and 17 with lessons about healthier, low cost food choices, addressing obesity in an effective, practical way. EFNEP staff has worked closely with many communtiy organizations to reach and teach those most in need of self sufficiency skills.

Impact

Both the adult participants of EFNEP and the youth participants show consistent positive behavior changes in choosing more nutritionally sound diets and managing food budgets. More than 87% of the EFNEP graduates improved their diets. Participants made strides in food resource management. 26% of participants ran out of food less often before the end of the month. An EFNEP cost/benefit study in 6 states, including Montana, found that for every dollar invested in EFNEP programming, $8.82 in future health care savings resulted. These savings are a huge positive impact for Montana.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and the Montana State University Extension Service prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Douglas L. Steele, Vice Provost and Director, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.