Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program (WNEP)

In 2009-10:

• 68 participating counties

•Urban and rural parts of the state reached

What is WNEP? UW-Extension nutrition education program

that helps limited resource families and individuals--

choose healthful diets and be physically active

handle food safely to avoid food-borne illness

become more food secure by making food spending plans, planning meals, and using thrifty food shopping practices

WNEP is EFNEP and SNAP-Ed

• EFNEP is the Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program. Currently in 6 Wisconsin Counties

• SNAP-Ed is Nutrition Education associated with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/formerly called food stamps). Currently in 68 Wisconsin counties

Funding for WNEP

Federal dollars EFNEP: nearly $900,000 in federal funds for Wisconsin SNAP-Ed: $8,500,000 in federal funds for Wisconsin

SNAP-Ed federal funds must be matched by local or state in-kind (1 : 1)

Other grants and contracts: $300,000

Who is WNEP for?

• SNAP (Food Stamp Program) or FoodShare participants and applicants

• Families and individuals who are eligible for FoodShare

• EFNEP is specifically for low income families with young children and for groups of youth

WNEP educators teach at:

• Public schools (K - 12)• Senior meal sites• Health Departments• WIC clinics• Department of

Human Services• Job Centers

• Gymnasiums, parks, after school programs

• Garden sites, farmers’ markets

• Extension offices• Homes• AND…lots of other

places.

WNEP State & National Partners• USDA

– Food & Nutrition Service (source of SNAP-Ed funds)– CSREES (source of EFNEP funds)

• Wisconsin Department of Children & Families, FoodShare Program

• University of Wisconsin– UW-Extension, Family Living Programs.– UW-Madison, College of Agriculture and Life

Sciences

WNEP Local Partners

• County Governments in 68 Wisconsin counties

• Over 900 local community agencies--such as WIC, schools, Human Services, Public Health, Head Start, food pantries.

WNEP 2009-10WNEP educators made over 429,000 educational contacts

School Age Youth56%

Other11%

Adults6%

Older Adults9%

Families18%

WNEP Teaches about Healthful Food Choices

• Parents learned to choose and prepare nutritious snacks for their children

• Adults learned to choose lower fat foods at fast food restaurants

• Youth learned about the MyPyramid

Examples from Milwaukee County

• Thousands of schoolchildren learn about healthful food choices from WNEP educators

• Before the lessons only ¼ of the students knew how many fruits & vegetables they should eat each day

• After the lessons, over 80% of the students knew this and nearly all had tried new fruits or vegetables during class time.

WNEP Teaches about Food Safety

• Youth learned how to wash their hands correctly

• Adults learned to avoid cross contamination when handling food, to cool food quickly, and to cook ground meat to a safe temperature.