Policy, Systems and Environmental change (PSE) Program

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.