Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Impacts

In FY 2020, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in Massachusetts directly reached 1,000 adults and 1,401 youth with nutrition education. A total of 3,591 family members were reached indirectly through our work with adult participants.
Reaching Those in Need
- 81% of our adult EFNEP participants were from households living at or below the poverty level.
- 80% of these households were receiving food assistance (such as WIC or SNAP benefits).
- 7% of adult participants were pregnant or breastfeeding.
- 32% of adult participants had not completed high school and did not have a GED.
Using Effective Methods
- EFNEP delivery is focused on the lowest income communities.
- EFNEP educators are from the communities where they teach.
- EFNEP uses the research-based adult curriculum CHOICES: Steps Toward Health, which utilizes a learning-by-dialogue approach.
- Participants’ backgrounds and experiences are respected and valued.
- Adult and youth participants were reached in a group setting and transitioned to live virtual nutrition education and pre recorded videos.
- 69% of adult participants either completed the program or were continuing at the end of the program year.
- Youth activities are active, hands-on, and provide experiential learning opportunities.
Changing Adult Behaviors
At the completion of the program:
- 93% of participants improved their nutrition practices.
- 78% of participants showed improvement in one or more food resource management practices (i.e., plan meals, compare prices, not run out of food, or use grocery lists).
- 77% of participants showed improvement in one or more food safety practices (i.e., thawing and storing foods properly).
- 77% of participants improved in one or more physical activity behaviors.
- 48% ate more fruits.
- 47% ate more vegetables.
Changing Youth Behaviors
Kindergarten to 2nd Grade EFNEP youth participants improved as indicated by the following:
- 69% of youth improved 1 or more knowledge or skill(s) necessary to choose foods consistent with Federal Dietary Guideline recommendations.
- 25% of children improved physical activity practices.
- 53% of children improved knowledge or skill related to handling food safely.
- 87% of children in grades K-2 improved in one or more core area.
3rd to 5th Grade EFNEP youth participants improved as indicated by the following:
- 84% of youth improved 1 or more knowledge or skill(s) necessary to choose foods consistent with Federal Dietary Guideline recommendations.
- 55% of youth improved 1 or more knowledge, skill(s), or behavior necessary to improve their physical activity practices.
- 56% of youth improved 1 or more knowledge, skill(s), or behavior(s) related to handling food safely.
- 94% of youth in grades 3-5 improved in one or more core area.
6th to 8th Grade EFNEP youth participants improved as indicated by the following:
- 100% of youth adopted and practiced 1 or more food selection behavior(s) consistent with Federal Dietary Guideline recommendations.
- 76% of youth adopted or improved 1 or more habit(s) or behaviors related to physical activity.
- 71% of youth adopted and practiced 1 or more behavior(s) necessary to handle food safely.
- 53% of youth adopted or improved 1 or more knowledge or skill(s) necessary to prepare simple, nutritious, affordable food.
- 100% of youth in grades 6-8 improved in one or more core area.
9th to 12th Grade EFNEP youth participants improved as indicated by the following:
- 94% of youth adopted and practiced 1 or more food selection behavior(s) consistent with Federal Dietary Guideline recommendations.
- 71% of youth adopted or improved 1 or more habit(s) or behavior(s) related to physical activity.
- 71% of youth adopted and practiced 1 or more behavior(s) necessary to handle food safely.
- 94% of youth in grades 9-12 improved in one or more core area.
Summary of Improvement for All Children and Youth
- 73% of children and youth improved their abilities to choose foods according to Federal Dietary Recommendations or gained knowledge in this area.
- 54% of children and youth used safe food handling practices more often or gained knowledge in this area.
- 53% of children and youth improved their ability to prepare simple, nutritious, affordable food or gained knowledge in this area.
- 34% of children and youth improved their physical activity practices or gained knowledge in this area.
Involving the Community
- 153 adult volunteers contributed a total of 0.43 FTEs by providing support and administration for programming and/or assisting with nutrition education activities.
- Staff in our 4 EFNEP sites collaborated with and delivered programs at 102 locations throughout Massachusetts in FY20.