Title

4-H Student Nutrition Advisory Committee (SNAC) Clubs: EFNEP and 4-H Collaborate for Impact

Relevance

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"The EFNEP program in Missouri started in 1968. EFNEP worked closely with the 4-H Youth Development (4-H) to serve youth throughout Missouri. Both EFNEP and 4-H utilize a paraprofessional educator model for direct educational programs. Often these paraprofessionals are hired from the local community. Over the last twenty years, the EFNEP program moved its paraprofessional educators to the urban/metropolitan parts of the state to ensure the ability to serve larger numbers of adults with children in the home while 4-H continued to have a statewide presence. In addition, the program relationship with 4-H also began to wane. 4-H paraprofessionals provided less direct education and began to utilize a volunteer educator model."},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}

Response

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"In 2021, EFNEP recognized that with rural youth in Missouri was an area we could grow the program. We saw increased nutrition-related health issues, but funding limited the number of full-time nutrition paraprofessional educators that could be placed across the state. Discussions began with our 4-H Youth Development Program to determine how we could reach rural Missouri youth with more health education programs. It was determined that we would adopt the SNAC program developed by California Extension. Dr. Lupita Fabregas, Missouri 4-H Youth Development Senior Program Director, had previously worked with California Extension and knew the original authors of the program. She arranged for the MU Extension 4-H staff to be trained statewide. The EFNEP campus leadership also provided training to 4-H Youth paraprofessionals on reporting and overall EFNEP program guidance."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"The SNAC program was developed to create opportunities for youth in low-income communities to develop leadership skills related to healthy living, cooking, nutrition, physical activity and public speaking. SNAC was designed to create spaces for:"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"• Youth-Adult partnerships around healthy living in under-served communities"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"• Opportunities for youth to teach peers and family members the importance of nutrition and physical activity"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"• Youth leadership and public speaking"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"• Youth-driven projects developed for youth to develop their skills as health advocates in their local community. Projects may include healthy cooking, community service, STEM, and gardening"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"Each SNAC club must meet at least eight times and utilizes an evidence-based nutrition, health, and/or physical activity focused curriculum. Each SNAC club must also implement a health-related leadership project in their community."},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}

Results

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"Since its inception in 2021, the program has grown each year. In FY21, the program reached 1,081 youth. In FY22 and FY23, respectively, the program reached 1,743 and 2,004 youth through over 100 SNAC clubs statewide with a 90% graduation rate from the program. In FY24, the SNAC program reached 2,543 youth in 123 clubs and had a 96% graduation rate. Of the 2,543 youth, 571 youth also participated traditional 4-H club experiences."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"Each year we continue to see more and more educators reported positive response to the program and it has also expanded their educational offerings within the school setting. Some schools may begin with the SNAC program then move to robotics or other traditional 4-H project through the special interest (SPIN) club model."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"In addition, youth health advocacy or leadership projects also continue to grow and develop. In the initial year, clubs often hosted a parent dinner and prepared healthy food options. Some developed recipe collections that could be distributed to their school and community members. As the program has advanced, youth are advocating for increased numbers of water fountains and/or bottle fillers in the schools; walking trails; and other health-related community improvements."},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}

Public Value Statement

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Primary Focus Area

Nutrition & Health

Secondary Focus Area

Nutrition & Health

Impact Statement