Title

SNAP-Ed Works in Missouri

Relevance

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"Data indicates increased rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, decreased physical activity, and low consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains among Missourians. Missouri currently ranks 39th in the state health rankings and routinely fluctuates between 35-40th in the country. In Missouri, over 30% of students in grades 6–8 are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. Over 36% of adults have a BMI of 30.0 or greater and are considered obese."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"In addition, over 80% of youth ate less than five servings of fruits and vegetable per day or drank less than 3 glasses of milk a day. Furthermore, over 70% of Missouri’s youth participated in insufficient moderate physical activity and 67% did not attend physical education class daily. The results are similar in adult populations as well."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"This is a state and national concern due to the economic burden of obesity and the health consequences of chronic disease such as diabetes, cancer and other nutrition-related diseases. Data indicates providing youth with the knowledge and skills needed to promote healthful eating and develop a lifelong interest in physical activity will help reduce future healthcare costs. In addition, communities need to focus on infrastructure that assures all residents have access to healthful foods and safe enjoyable places to be physically active."},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}

Response

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"University of Missouri Extension provides research-based nutrition education to Missouri’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients and eligibles. Missouri’s SNAP-Ed program provides direct and indirect education to both youth and adults as well as impacting the overall policies, systems, and environment (PSE) where Missouri’s SNAP population eat, learn, and live, play, shop, and work. MO SNAP-Ed is a statewide program serving all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis, however, the education provided may not look the same in each location. Educational and PSE offerings are tailored to meet the needs of the specific audience and/or community."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"Missouri SNAP-Ed uses the socio-ecological model to prompt behavior change in both youth and adults throughout the state of Missouri. Whether reaching out to youth and adults through classroom education or working with communities to promote healthy policies, systems and environments, the goal of the program is to help participants make behavior changes to achieve lifelong health and fitness. Along with statewide education, MU Extension coordinates the Missouri Nutrition Network activities through the Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition (MOCAN). MU Extension also collaborates with food banks, food pantries and other agencies to expand nutrition, health, and physical activity education throughout the state."},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}

Results

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"In FY2024, Missouri’s SNAP-Ed program reached over 75,000 Missourians through direct classroom education. Each person participated in an average of 6 hours of education totaling over 15,000 hours. In addition, an additional 1,164,143 persons participated in indirect education. Direct and indirect education resulted in over 1.6 million total contacts with Missourians."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"black"},"insert":"As a result of the SNAP-Ed program, youth and adults report improving their dietary consumption as well as increasing their physical activity. FY24 data indicated that 77% of youth and adults reported increasing the number of days they consumed fruits and vegetables each week. Forty-five percent (45%) of youth reported being physically active at least 60 minutes a day at least six days per week, while 57% of adults reported being physically active 30 minutes a day most or almost all days of the week. Seventy-five percent (75%) of adults reported planning their meals or shopping with a list and 66% of adults reported using the food label to make better food choices."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#212529"},"insert":"In addition to individual changes, Missouri communities adopted 152 policy, systems, and environmental changes (66 environmental, 12 new policies, and 74 systems changes. Thirty-four communities adopted more than one change). The most frequent nutrition changes involved the use of community gardens, including expansion or improvement of community gardens; produce being used in community meal/snack programs; increased community participation; and utilizing the garden as a learning laboratory. Most frequent physical activity changes included increased opportunities for unstructured physical activity/free play; improvement/expansion of physical activity infrastructure and equipment; and incorporation of physical activity into the school day and during classroom-based instruction."},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}

Public Value Statement

{"ops":[{"insert":"The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Education or SNAP-Ed) brought $11,145,237 in federal funds to Missouri.  The funds support engagement with 74,864 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients and eligible citizens of Missouri who learned about being active and healthy eating on a budget.  This year we had 1,164,143 indirect educational contacts through newsletters, health fairs, food pantries, and the Show Me Nutrition helpline. \n"}]}

Primary Focus Area

Nutrition & Health

Secondary Focus Area

Youth, Family, & Communities

Impact Statement