Category: Highlighted programs

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SNAP-Ed Successes During COVID-19


Vegetable Sharing Program in Louisiana

 

 

Many SNAP-Ed programs have assisted with food assistance efforts during COVID-19.   Below you will find programs that have made a difference during this time!

Wyoming SNAP-Ed and EFNEP Programs

The Wyoming Cent$ible Nutrition Program had several different activities that featured gardening, adult education, and news articles throughout the pandemic.  Visit the links to learn more about the programming in Wyoming.

Community Gardening for Resilience
Growing Green Thumbs
Article on Limiting Grocery Trips
Adult Series Education Success Stories

 

Maryland SNAP-Ed

Maryland SNAP-Ed has created additional virtual resources to complement their four youth curricula for use in the virtual learning environment.  Resources include lesson videos, worksheets, ideas to extend the nutrition lesson, tasting at home activities, and family engagement calendars.  To access these resources, visit:  https://mdteachertoolkit.org/lessons-and-resources/curricula/.  All virtual resources are listed in the Guide under each curricula:
Edible ABC’s
Growing Healthy Habits
Read for Health
ReFresh
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Louisiana SNAP-Ed

A News Release from LSU Ag Center

J.S. Aucoin Elementary donates school garden bounty to senior meal program

Writer: Ruthie Losavio at rlosavio@agcenter.lsu.edu 

(06/12/20) AMELIA, La. — When the school garden at J.S. Aucoin Elementary started producing an abundance of cucumbers, LSU AgCenter area nutrition agent Jessica Randazzo saw the perfect opportunity to give back to the community. 

 “We had more cucumbers than we knew what to do with,” Randazzo said. “We reached out to the Council on Aging to see if we could donate the produce to their meal delivery boxes for seniors.”

 The school garden provided more than 50 cucumbers to the senior feeding program.

 “They’re already asking when I can bring more,” Randazzo said.

 The St. Mary Parish Council on Aging senior feeding program has been delivering meal boxes to low-income seniors across the parish amid the pandemic.

 “Our dedicated employees that have been delivering meals during this time of isolation were excited to also provide fresh produce,” said Beverly Domengeaux, St. Mary Parish Council on Aging director. “It put a big smile on all our seniors’ faces to have something fresh.”

 Before COVID-19, J.S. Aucoin Elementary’s school garden club gave students the opportunity to grow their own food and try new recipes.

 The program proved to be a huge success. Students were eager to try the vegetables they had grown. The school cafeteria even incorporated vegetables from the garden into school lunches.

 “Two years ago, when I was asked if I wanted to be president of the garden club, I was hesitant to say ‘yes’ because of how the garden looked at the time,” said Tracy Gros, J.S. Aucoin Healthy Communities Coalition and faculty member.

 “Once the garden was finished, we stayed after school and the students couldn’t wait to plant,” Gros said. “During the day I would go outside to see if anything was growing or needed watering, but the students were there before me.”

 Despite school campus closures and summer vacation, the school garden continues to thrive thanks to the care and attention of the J.S. Aucoin Healthy Communities coalition and faculty volunteers like Gros.

 The school’s Healthy Communities coalition focuses on improving health at J.S. Aucoin through community-led, sustainable physical and social environmental changes. The school garden is just one of those changes.

 Funds from USDA SNAP-Ed, the Walmart Foundation and the 4-H Healthy Habits program have supported the garden.

 For more information about the J.S. Aucoin Elementary school garden or Healthy Communities coalition, contact Randazzo at jrandazzo@agcenter.lsu.edu.

 

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UC CalFresh in Action!

‘A,’ as in appetizing: CHS culinary arts class share skills with elementary students, UCCE Imperial County

By: Vincent Osuna, January 12th, 2019

The possibility of turning her love for the culinary arts into a career didn’t come to the attention of Calexico High School senior Nelly Rodriguez until she was in high school. In her opinion, she should have gotten the notion much sooner. Through the 4-H Teens-As-Teachers Cooking Academy held Thursday, Rodriguez, along with her fellow Calexico High advanced culinary arts classmates, was able to provide Dool Elementary School students an early glimpse into the career possibilities in the kitchen.

“I think this is a really good experience for the kids because it shows them the pathways that are here at the high school that could lead them into their future,” the CHS senior said.

Inside the high school’s culinary arts classroom, CHS students worked step-by-step with the young Dool students in a two-hour session to cook French toast and make homemade syrup and toppings. Thursday marked the fourth of seven sessions in the cooking academy. This year was the first time that Calexico High hosted the academy, which came about through collaboration between UC Cal Fresh and 4-H, both of which operate through University of California Cooperative Extension. 4-H was allowed a mini-grant and purchased equipment, aprons — which were, quite appropriately, green — skillets and other materials for the Dool students, while UC Cal Fresh bought the main food ingredients. Throughout the academy, CHS students will use an evidence-based curriculum from 4-H to teach the elementary youth how to cook and prepare healthy meals for themselves.

“It’s to basically teach kids how to cook, but also just to empower them and to help them feel like they have a little more control over their food,” Chris Wong, UCCE Imperial County Community Education Specialist II, said. “At the same time,it serves purpose to the high school culinary class because it professionally develops them for their food demos and their competitions at the end of the year.”

The introduction of the 4-H academy locally served as an important step forward for Imperial County, as other counties around the state have already implemented the 4-H academy. “Hopefully we can start a new tradition where this can happen… with all the elementary schools as well,” Wong said. “If the schools can’t come to Calexico High School, we’d like to send the culinary arts students to the individual schools and classrooms so they can then do nutrition classes and food demo presentations in the classrooms.”

Samuel Gutierrez, a counselor at Dool Elementary who chaperons the students each session, explained how the academy has helped one student, in particular, this school year. “He recently came from Mexicali,” Gutierrez said. “Did not know any English, no friends, new country, new system and new everything. He would cry every single day coming to school. He did not want to be here because he missed mom, and he didn’t want to make friends. It was a very difficult transition for him.”

After getting to learn more about the student, Gutierrez discovered the student had an interest in cooking.

“I told him, ‘Y’know, you can study this for a career,’ Gutierrez said. “‘You do me a favor: You come to school tomorrow, and I’ll take you to the program.’ I called the mom, the dad and got on the same page as them, and surely enough, the student came to school and we brought the student here. He got the opportunity to engage in this course, with other students, communicate with other students, to socialize with them.”

The counselor noticed the student began to gain a sense of belonging. “He made friends… and (he’s) learning culinary arts as a career venue. He’s learning life skills that he could practice at home with his family. And guess what, his attendance went up because now there’s a reason for him to come to school. There’s a reason why he needs to do good in math… [and] in English. He was a newcomer, did not speak any English. If you go up to him right now, and you talk to him, he’ll speak to you in English. These are the kind of results that we see when we provide opportunity for our students by speaking life and future to them.”

Working with a group of Dool students a few tables down from Rodriguez was CHS senior Julio Ramirez.

“Now that we’re in our fourth session, they’re more comfortable with us,” Rodriguez said. “The first day, they were sort of nervous, not wanting to do stuff. Now since it’s they’re fourth time, they’re anxious to do it. It’s just a good thing to see.”

To wrap up Thursday’s session, Calexico High students showed the young chefs the technique of plating and having their food ready for presentation. Chef Nunez walked around room to each table and gave feedback to each Dool student on their creations. “Since this is just a project, we don’t grade anything,” Nunez said. “It’s just the look on these elementary kids’ faces when they’re eating their final project. To me, that’s an A plus.”

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Texting Programs in SNAP-Ed

Text2BHealthy image

Creating a text message based program has shown to be a non-conventional way to provide nutrition education to SNAP-Ed participants.  There are many programs across the country that have implemented a text message program in their state.  This is a list of programs that has been shared with the CoP with a general description of their current texting program and program contact information.

Alabama SNAP-Ed at Auburn University 

Alabama SNAP-Ed at Auburn University uses text messaging to engage parents of 3rd graders in a school-based obesity prevention initiative, Body Quest. Each year, parents of 3rd graders participating in Body Quest are invited to join the Recipe Tester Club for Body Quest Parents. Simultaneously with the 15-week Body Quest intervention with 3rd graders, parents receive a series of inexpensive, simple and kid-friendly vegetable recipes to prepare and “test” with their children at home. Parents provide their cell phone numbers on consent forms and are enrolled to receive text messages. Parents are sent action-oriented texts three times each week. Text messages include tips for improving personal and family eating, shopping and physical activity practices.

In the 2017-2018 school year, 4,348 parents were enrolled to receive texts using SMS messaging software, SimpleTexting. To coincide with Body Quest activities in schools, parents were assigned to treatment and control groups. Treatment parents (n = 2,394) had 3rd graders in the treatment group of Body Quest receiving obesity prevention education in school. Control parents (n = 1,954) had 3rd graders in the control group of Body Quest receiving delayed intervention after pre- and post-assessments were completed.

At the end of Body Quest, 54% of original treatment parents continued to receive texts through the initiative and participated in a post-survey texting poll. Parents texted responses to a series of questions and gave feedback on their experience with Body Quest and the Recipe Tester Club.

Alabama texting graphic

For more information, contact Katie Funderburk, MS, RD (kem0017@auburn.edu).

Colorado Integrated Nutrition Education Program (INEP)

The Integrated Nutrition Education Program (INEP), and The Culture of Wellness in Preschools (COWP) are programs through the Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center at the University of Colorado School of Public Health.  We provide a creative and fun way for kids to learn about healthy eating in their classroom and to share what they learn with their families. Parent engagement is very important to our program.  As part of our efforts to engage parents, staff, and community members, we are developing a free text messaging program. The major themes of our messages will be Healthy Eating Behaviors, Physical Activity and Reduced Sedentary Behaviors, Healthy, Parent Engagement, Feeding Relationship, and Food Resource Management.

Text2BHealthy will be launched this month in approximately 45 elementary schools statewide, and 65 early childhood sites.  We will be working on multiple outreach efforts to continue enrolling parents into the program. If you have any questions feel free to contact Maria Saldana, maria.saldana@ucdenver.edu, or Julie Atwood, julie.atwood@ucdenver.edu

Health mPowers (Implementing Agency in GA)

HeathMPowers provides text messages to families of students in grades K-5 as part of the elementary school-based SNAP-Ed program, Empowering Healthy Choices in Schools, Homes and Communities. Families opt in to the initiative by texting a designated keyword to HealthMPowers. Participating families receive bi-weekly nutrition and physical activity tips, recipes and additional resources for shopping on a budget and being active as a family.  The messages are tied to monthly nutrition and physical activity themes, and weekly activities students are learning in the classroom through a nutrition and physical activity day planner provided to each child.   The texts, available in English or Spanish, provide consistent messaging across grade levels and reinforce key behaviors.

During the 2016-2017 school year, 1041 families were enrolled.  In September 2017, 916 families re-enrolled to continue receiving the text messages during the upcoming 2017-18 school year. Some did not re-enroll because their child had moved on to middle school. To date, there are over 1300 families enrolled in the texting initiative.

HealthMPowers also started a texting pilot for Early Care and Education during the 2017-18 school year. These text messages correspond to the themes used in the elementary texts, but are tailored to the needs and information for families of pre-school children. In addition, early care teachers receive the texts along with resources and strategies to reinforce the weekly messages in the classroom.

For more information, contact Kendall Charlton at Kendall.Charlton@healthmpowers.org.

Maryland Food Supplement Nutrition Education (FSNE)

Maryland developed Text2BHealthy in January 2012 as an indirect method of reaching parents with nutrition education. Text2BHealthy is a text message program targeting parents of elementary school students who are currently receiving classroom-based nutrition education.  Text2BHealthy provides parents with “nutrition nudges” 2-3 times per week on nutrition-related school and community activities, grocery store specials, and physical activity ideas. Messages are targeted and focus on encouraging families to take action and specific to the individuals school and community.

Text2BHealthy currently has 29 schools participating  across the state of Maryland and has over 2100 parents enrolled.

Text4HealthyTots is a text message based program in Maryland that is targeting parents of children ages 3-5. Messages give parents tips for feeding their children fruits and vegetables, healthy meal and recipe ideas, trying new foods, and being active as a family. Parents will receive 1-2 messages per week with ideas that relate to the time of year and often link to our blog, website, and Facebook page for more information.

Maryland uses Mobile Messaging by Upland Software as their software platform for sending messages.  For more information, contact Laryessa Worthington  lengland@umd.edu.

Michigan State University Extension
Michigan State University Extension has two small texting programs. One aims to provide parents with quick actionable tips, as well as recipes related to nutrition and being healthy as a family. This project began in September and we have 37 participants. Originally, we tried to solely recruit through our Healthier Child Care Environments PSE initiative and had minimal participants. Then we shared information about it on social media, which is how the majority of the participants were recruited. Two text messages are sent out each week – one actionable tip and one recipe.

The other text program MSU Extension has is for Flint parents who have been impacted by the Flint Water Crisis to provide them with recipes and tips for using their food assistance benefits effectively. There are 141 participants who receive about 1 text message a week. Less frequently, as they occur, we send community events and resources that are available to the residents. We recruited at community events beginning in June.

MSU Extension uses the free platform, Remind, to deliver both of these initiatives. Remind allows for scheduling of messages in advance, shows how many people received the message, and also how many read it. It also allows the participants to react (“like”) a message and you can also set up two-way communication if desired. While you can do all of these things, the analytics are not displayed readily; you have to look at each message individually. Remind is user-friendly, able to be managed by multiple people, and many of our participants are familiar with the program because a lot of teachers use it to communicate with parents.

For more information, contact Erin Powell, MS RD LDN at powelle9@anr.msu.edu.

Rhode Island SNAP-Ed at University of Rhode Island

Rhode Island SNAP-Ed has incorporated text messaging into its programming since 2015. RI SNAP-Ed successfully utilizes text messaging with participants in two primary ways: as reminder texts for upcoming SNAP-Ed programming, and as motivational reinforcers at the conclusion of series programming. Reminder texts have increased in popularity for both farmers’ market events (now year-round) and series workshops. Motivational texts serve as continuation of nutrition education after in-person programs have been completed; these are customized to either adult or parent audience and are delivered twice per week for four weeks, followed by a final survey to assess post-text behavior change. Texts are personalized to include the initial of the program leader and are offered in English and Spanish. Participants sign consent forms in order to be enrolled.

In FY2017, RI SNAP-Ed sent out a total of 2,738 texts, up 49% from the previous year. Breakdown of text type was as follows: 35% of texts to Adults for adult education reinforcement; 12% to Parents for parent education reinforcement; 38% went as reminders of upcoming farmers’ markets and other events; 13% contained links for post-text evaluation survey; and 2% of texts were interactions with participants e.g. replies to texts.

Contact Kate Balestracci, MS RD at katebal12@uri.edu for more information.  

Rhode Island Sample Text messages

Washington State University Extension

Reaching Rural Parents in New Ways: TEXTING!

As part of the Communication Initiative, Text2BHealthy (T2BH) was piloted to increase access to adults through 16 participating schools that serve as community hubs in rural settings. Participants were recruited via direct events at the beginning and middle of the school year, as well as indirectly via posters, flyers, and the school websites.

WA State Texting infographic
2,185 targeted behavioral text messages resulted in 331 participants receiving 27,111 indirect contacts over 42 weeks.

Customized texts included the following themes:

Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan Counties:  Physical activity, fruits and vegetables in season at local fresh markets, and tasty low cost recipes.

Grays Harbor, Skagit Counties: Physical activity, local sales where SNAP clients shop, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and reinforce direct education topics.

Behavioral Outcomes include:

  • 71% increased physical activity
  • 76% ate more fruit and vegetables
  • 55% saved money at the grocery store
  • 56% prepared and served text-linked recipes
Related Framework Indicators:  Healthy Eating Behaviors (MT1), Food Resource Management (MT2), Physical Activity (MT3), Physical activity and Reduced Sedentary Behavior (MT4), Nutrition Supports (MT5), Physical Activity Supports (MT6)
Socio-Ecological Framework:  Individual/Family, Social and Cultural Norms and Values, Environmental Settings
Approaches: Indirect Education; Systems Change

The texting platform that WA State Extension used to send their text messages was Twilio.  For more information, contact Kathleen Manenica at manenica@wsu.edu. 

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