Success StoryBuilding Regional Partnerships for the Kentucky Nutrition Education Program



Building Regional Partnerships for the Kentucky Nutrition Education Program

Author: Amy Singleton

Planning Unit: Family and Consumer Sciences

Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

Plan of Work: Unrelated to a specified County Plan of Work

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The Regional Extension Agent for the Kentucky Nutrition Education Program, Amy Singleton, facilitated meeting with county Department of Community Based Services in an effort to strengthen regional partnerships across the Commonwealth of Kentucky and increase outreach of the Kentucky Nutrition Education Program to participants receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Five meetings took place across Extension District 2 including the following counties: Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Jackson, Knott, and Wolfe.  Through conversations with University of Kentucky Extension Administration following a meeting held in Frankfort discussing the disconnect between KY Nutrition Education Program and the Department of Community Based Services it was determined that there is a need for a formal synthesis of information to be shared between the two branches, at the local level, in order to better serve individuals receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance. The extension service determined that it was mutually beneficial for the Department of Community Based Services to receive a presentation that encompassed an overview of the Cooperative Extension Service and KY Nutrition Education Program to gain a comprehensive understanding of the available services and programs designed specifically for the limited resources audience they are serving; discussion included an overview of the lessons participants receive through the Nutrition Education Program and the benefits participants gain from engagement in programming on meal planning, food budgeting, food safety, and stretching ones’ food dollar to maximize benefits they are receiving. The formal presentation was concluded with a live food demonstration and food sampling which takes place at all nutrition lessons offered as well as display of some of the tangible reinforcements that are available for participants that complete nutrition education lessons – items such as colanders, pairing knives, mixing bowls, and meat thermometers; these items assist participants with limited resources in the implementation of skills acquired at their sessions. At the end of the session officials from the Department of Community Based Services were asked to offer their ideas for ways we could partner in the future to inform participants of our program and better serve their needs. The results of this targeted project have been overwhelmingly positive. The Department of Community Based Services have increased their knowledge on programming available for their participants many of which stated they were previously unaware of the KY Nutrition Education Program. They also expressed excitement that this programming is available locally to their participants. The program assistants for the Nutrition Education Program are now able to post program flyers and setup displays in the lobby of their offices to market directly to those visiting the office. In Breathitt County the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Programming Assistant has been asked to provide nutrition education to the Job Readiness Assistance group; currently that group consists of six female participants and one male participant ranging in age from 22-40. The program assistant in Breathitt County states that “this has been one of the best groups I’ve had” in terms of attendance and program participation.






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