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Policy, Systems and Environmental change (PSE) Program

PSE Office:

UMass Extension
SNAP-ED Multi-level Specialist

 

UMass Amherst at Mount Ida
100 Carlson Ave
Miller Building #22
Newton , MA  02459

 

Contact:

Kathy Cunningham, MEd, RD, LDN
kcunningham@umext.umass.edu

413-406-6456

The UMass Extension SNAP-Ed Policy, Systems, and Environmental change (PSE) staff work remotely and support all Nutrition Education Program (NEP) staff. The two UMass Extension SNAP-Ed Multi-Level Specialists work in conjunction with the UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program and Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) to implement PSE changes that support nutrition and physical activity in SNAP-Ed settings.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires SNAP-Ed PSE changes to be coordinated with direct nutrition education and social marketing to enable, promote, and support healthy behaviors among SNAP-Ed eligible Americans and their communities.

To support these statewide SNAP-Ed PSE interventions, the Multi-level Specialists:

  • Coordinate and promote SNAP-Ed activities with multiple complementary organizational and institutional programs supporting PSE changes.
  • Connect SNAP-Ed to community and public health approaches to improve nutrition and physical activity, which create environmental changes to make the healthy choice the easy choice.
  • Support the evaluation and implementation of the SNAP-Ed Framework using the Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention Indicators as required by USDA funding.