2017 Program Development Team Members. Not all team members were present for the photo.
The Land-Grant University SNAP-Ed Program Development Team (PDT) met in Alexandria, Virginia to review progress, implement a strategic planning process, and develop key action steps for the upcoming year. This 16-person team represents all Extension regions and is comprised of Family and Consumer Science Program Leaders and other university administrators, SNAP-Ed Program Coordinators, and an office manager from the Land-Grant University (LGU) System, and a federal partner from NIFA. The PDT team meets through bimonthly conference calls, subcommittee work, and an annual face-to- face meeting to improve the consistency and effectiveness of SNAP-Ed programming through the LGU System in addressing national health and nutrition-related problems facing low-income populations.
Highlights of the meeting and the last year include:
- Evaluation and Reporting. Publication and dissemination of the SNAP-Ed FY 2015 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education through the Land-Grant University System Report, Executive Summary, and two-page Infographic. LGUs, USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), and NIFA were provided hard copies and notified of electronic versions. Members of ASNNA, a national association of SNAP-Ed implementing agencies, were notified of electronic version availability.
- Collaboration for Shared Understanding. The PDT provided a display at the National SNAP Directors’ meeting. Two PDT members served in ASNNA leadership roles to ensure that LGU programs were at the table for implementing agency discussions.
- Communication. The PDT prepared Monday Minute submissions to keep LGUs informed of SNAP-Ed developments and PDT contributions. They also partnered with the eXtension.org Community Nutrition Education Community of Practice to post yearly stakeholder reports, SNAP-Ed PDT documents, and LGU successes. PDT Co-Chair, Paula Peters shared highlights of PDT efforts at FCS Leader and ECOP meetings. She also drafted a document to articulate differences between EFNEP and SNAP-Ed at the request of ECOP leadership and provided feedback on LGU SNAP-Ed leadership expertise.
- Professional Development and Cross Training. PDT members facilitated participation in SNAP-Ed PSE competency training and engaged Rural Development Centers to provide a webinar on the potential intersect of SNAP-Ed and Community Development. PDT members also provided leadership and collaboration for PSE training and development through collaboration with Regional Nutrition Education Centers of Excellence (RNECE).
- Educating Policy Makers. PDT member, Angie Abbott was invited to attend a House Ag Committee call, following which, former PDT member, Jo Britt-Rankin was invited to provide oral testimony and current PDT member, Pat Bebo submitted written testimony on LGU SNAP-Ed impacts.
- Strategic Planning. In February, an Ad Hoc Committee met to review LGU SNAP-Ed stakeholder input on current needs of LGU SNAP-Ed implementers, identified common themes, and considered what could be addressed through PDT efforts. This committee developed an overview of five issues as a precursor to strategic planning development by the full PDT. The issues identified included: 1. Integration of policy, systems and environmental (PSE) approaches, direct education and social marketing; 2. Strengthening LGU and state agency relationships; 3. Keeping abreast of the current policy climate; 4. Enhancing internal communication among LGUs; and 5. Building shared expertise across LGUs. In April, PDT members developed a 2017-2020 strategic plan based upon the Ad Hoc Committee recommendations, to guide PDT activities and deliverables over the next three years. Goals, action steps and members’ tasks were developed for 2017-2018.
Throughout the year, the PDT has played a critical role in educating about nutrition education for low-income families. Members have directly and indirectly communicated the importance of SNAP-Ed to decision makers, have provided formal or informal mentoring to colleagues in the LGU System and have addressed critical programmatic needs the LGU System faced during changes created by new legislation, regulations, and guidance. Thank you to members who have completed their service on the PDT: Paula Peters (Kansas State University), Jamie Dollahite (Cornell University), Kathleen Manenica (Washington State University), Angie Abbott (Purdue University), Mindy Meuli (University of Wyoming), De’Shoin York-Friendship (Southern University)
Members of the LGU SNAP-Ed Program Development Team for 2017-2018
North Central Region
Christine Hradek, SNAP-Ed and EFNEP Coordinator, Iowa State University
Megan Ness, EFNEP/FNP Coordinator, North Dakota State University
Pat Bebo, Interim Assistant Director FCS, Ohio State University
Northeast Region
Patsy Ezell, Assistant Director FCS, University of Maryland
Lisa Sullivan-Werner, FNP and EFNEP Leader, University of Massachusetts
Southern Region
Karla Shelnutt, Associate Professor & Extension Nutrition Specialist, University of Florida
Ivy Murphy (1890 rep), Try Healthy SNAP-Ed Project Coordinator, North Carolina A & T State University
Michelle Vineyard, Extension Specialist TNCEP, University of Tennessee
Renda Nelson, Better Living for Texans State Program Director, Texas A&M University
Western Region
Adrian Kohrt, FNP Coordinator, University of Alaska
Donna Sauter, ICAN Director (SNAP-Ed & EFNEP), New Mexico State University
Sally Bowman, Program Leader SNAP-Ed & EFNEP, Oregon State University
Executive Committee
Laura Stephenson, Assistant Dean, University of Tennessee Extension
C.Y. Wang, Associate Dean & Associate Director, South Dakota State University
Sandra Jensen, Office Manager SNAP-Ed through the LGU System, South Dakota State University
Helen Chipman, National Program Leader Food & Nutrition Education, NIFA/USDA
To download a copy of the highlights of the meetings, visit 2017 PDT Committee Meeting Highlights.