1. Best Practices in Nutrition Education for Low-Income Audiences
- Author
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National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (USDA), Baker, Susan, Auld, Garry, MacKinnon, Chloe, Ammerman, Alice, Hanula, Gail, Lohse, Barbara, Scott, Marci, Serrano, Elena, Tucker, Easter, and Wardlaw, Mary Kay
- Abstract
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) identified a need for a comprehensive set of best practices in nutrition education for low-income audiences for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) educational projects, including SNAP-Ed. A comprehensive list of best practices would promote consistency and efficacy in program planning, implementation, and evaluation. In addition, the use of best practices increases confidence that education efforts will result in positive nutrition and health-related behavior changes. Colorado State University (CSU) researchers were charged with identifying best practices, and then involved an expert panel. Seven panel members were chosen based on their experience with nutrition education of low-income populations as program leaders, program implementers, and researchers at universities and public health organizations. Best practices were also substantiated from a review of the research literature. Twenty-eight best practices within five domains were identified, recognizing that nutrition education is most effective when delivered through multiple levels of the Social-Ecological Model. These best practices are appropriate for both direct and indirect delivery of nutrition education to both adult and youth audiences. The expert panel also identified potential data sources to be used by nutrition educators to determine if and to what extent their programs are including best practices. Links to resources are also included for additional information and self-study. In addition to resources, case studies of selected low-income nutrition education programs are included as real-world examples of planning, implementing, and evaluating specific best practices. This resource can be used as a self-assessment tool to identify both program strengths and areas for improvement to better align programs with best practices. Additionally, this resource may serve as a guide for future educator training topics, or as a tool for strategic and long-term program planning. As more programs successfully implement and use these best practices, fidelity and efficacy of nutrition education improves. Best practices are not limited for use by program leaders, but may also be used by managers and outside evaluators at local, state, and national levels, state SNAP agencies, FNS at a regional and national level, and other low-income nutrition education programs.
- Published
- 2014