Many local school districts have experienced extensive budget cuts in the last several years. These cuts have impacted the programs offered, teaching staff, and overall resource availability. In an effort to assist local schools with a no cost resource, SNAP-Ed is partnering with many schools in the Kentucky State University service area to offer health, activity, and nutrition education programs.

SNAP-Ed Assistants have partnered with schools to offer programs during class time, as an after school program, and in conjunction with school clubs. The results have been outstanding. The age groups range from preschool through middle school for current program partners. The curriculum used included Super Tracker, Organ Annie, Professor Popcorn, Teen Cuisine, and MP Saurus.

Through the use of entry and exit surveys conducted on 1544 children, the following results were obtained:

Diet Quality

86% of Children and youth improve their abilities to choose foods according to Federal Dietary Recommendations or gain knowledge.

Physical Activity

46% of Children and youth improve their physical activity practices or gain knowledge.

Food Safety

64% of Children and youth use safe food handling practices more often or gain knowledge.

Food Resource Management

40% of Children and youth improve their ability to prepare simple, nutritious, affordable food or gain knowledge

Through feedback from school personnel and parents, we also see the impacts reaching far beyond the classroom into homes. Parents report that children are asking for more fruit and milk, and that they are sharing the healthy recipes learned with their families.