COVID-19 related food insecurity puts more Americans at risk for obesity or worsening obesity. Kentucky is one of the twelve states with an obesity rate of over 35% in adults, and rates of childhood obesity are also increasing. The latest data showing that 19.3 percent of U.S. young people, ages 2 to 19, have obesity. Studies have shown nutrition education programs in the schools help decrease this growing trend by promoting the decrease of sugary/high calorie foods and sedentary lifestyles. Due to the pandemic nutrition education programming by the SNAP-Ed program has been prohibited in person at the schools. SNAP-ED had to develop different techniques in order to provide the much needed nutrition education to the youth. Partnering with Physical Education Teacher in the schools, SNAP-Ed purchased the virtual online “Organwise” program for youths in Kindergarten through 5^th grade.

Rowan County Schools currently are providing both virtual and in person classes, splitting each class to have those that prefer in school instruction to come two days per week with the other half the other two, leaving one virtual day for all students. Due to the COVID restrictions the physical education classes are still being done in individual classrooms instead of in the gymnasium. Two of the four elementary schools in Rowan County have partnered with SNAP-Ed to provide the virtual classes using the handouts and worksheets provided for each grade instead of using workbooks as passing out workbooks each class is rather time consuming. Both teachers are familiar with “Organwise” as SNAP-Ed had been conducting classes at the schools for past two years and understand 6 lessons plus the pre and post-test requirements are needed for SNAP-ED. 

Approximately 325 pretest have already been administered in the two elementary school and lessons started but progress has been slow due to only meeting 1 time per week with the students but starting March 22 schools will be back full time and progression of classes will increase. After post-test is administrate results will be evaluated in the Webneers program. SNAP-Ed is glad to be able to provide the nutrition education curriculum to the schools during the pandemic restrictions, and looking forward to reviewing the success of the program.