In 2016, the Nutrition Education Program Area Agent and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Assistant with the Cooperative Extension Service in Jefferson County met with staff at Kentucky Refugee Ministries to discuss partnership opportunities to provide services to the growing refugee population in Louisville. “Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Inc. (KRM), a non-profit organization, is dedicated to providing resettlement services to refugees through faith- and agency-based co-sponsorship in order to promote self-sufficiency and successful integration into our community.” In 2016, Kentucky Refugee Ministries resettled a total of 1,190 refugees, with 1,010 of those being Cuban individuals in Louisville and Lexington. Among the many challenges faced when resettling in a new country, adjusting to a new dietary environment, including food shopping, unfamiliar food items, and new food preparation methods can be a daunting task. To address this challenge, nutrition education programming became part of Cultural Orientations at Kentucky Refugee Ministries, to assist in the transition and orientation of newly arrived refugees to the United States.

Currently, nutrition education programming has been conducted with over 100 refugees at Cultural Orientation classes as well as the Elder Care Program by the Nutrition Education Program Area Agent, through the implementation of the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum and food demonstrations. Presentations are translated into 5-7 languages by interpreters with participants from around the world. Basic nutrition and food safety information was provided and participants were able to sample a new, healthy recipe. Resources related to participant’s specific needs, such as diabetes and additional food safety and storage information, have been requested and shared to aid in maintaining a healthy lifestyle during their adjustment to life in the United States. 

The EFNEP Assistant began bilingual programming with the Cultural Orientation group for Cuban participants. He has continued to provide monthly nutrition education programming related to nutrition and dietary habits in the United States to the cultural orientation groups. The staff at Kentucky Refugee Ministries has shared that the presentations are extremely useful and relevant to the group, as they are based upon the EFNEP Assistant’s experience adjusting to life in the United States.  

The partnership between Kentucky Refugee Ministries and the Cooperative Extension Service has been very beneficial for the participants. Extension has been able to reach an underserved audience, while learning more about the diverse population of the city of Louisville and providing a needed service to aid in a successful transition to life in the United States for refugees.