The purpose of this funding is to increase the impact of nutrition education disseminated to low income families and youth in the 50 states, the U.S. Territories, and the district of columbia

Efnep should constitute the employment and training of professional and paraprofessional (peer educator) staff to engage in direct nutrition education and other appropriate nutrition education efforts, such as supporting technology, with low-income families and youth. To the maximum extent practicable, peer educators shall be hired from the 'indigenous target POPULATION2.' efnep serves two primary low-income audiences: 1) families with young children (parents and other caregivers with primary responsibility for feeding young children); and 2) youth/children (grade range - kindergarten through 12TH grade). Young adults with limited financial resources would also be appropriate for efnep, as they may become parents in the near future. The priorities of efnep are to assist low-income families and youth in acquiring knowledge, skills, attitudes, and changed behaviors necessary for nutritionally sound diets and to contribute to their personal development and improvement of the total family diet and nutritional wellbeing. Participation in efnep should result in improved diets and nutritional well-being of the total family. 1. Individuals and families should experience improvements in four core areas: a. Diet quality and physical activity-improved diets and nutritional and physical well-being through the adoption of federal food and physical activity recommendations. B. Food resource management-increased ability to buy, grow, or otherwise appropriately obtain, prepare, and store food that meets nutritional needs. C. Food safety-improved household food safety and sanitation practices. D. Food security-increased ability to get food directly-and from food assistance programs where necessary-to ensure having enough healthy food to eat. 2. Community involvement with efnep should result in: a. Increased referrals across programs, organizations, and community groups to address participants' needs and to strengthen universities' capacity with respect to efnep's four core areas. B. Increased coordination, cooperation, and collaboration between universities and communities to accomplish local and state identified priorities associated with efnep's four core areas. Efnep is aligned with the following: USDA strategic plan FY 2022-2026 goals: 1. Strategic goal 4: provide all americans safe, nutritious food USDA science and research strategy, 2023-2026 priorities: 1. Priority 3: bolstering nutrition security & health a. Objective 3.1. Inclusive food systems. B. Objective 3.5. Food systems understanding and impact.