The purpose of the federal award is for montana state university extension to implement the expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) to improve diet quality, physical activity, food…

The purpose of the federal award is for montana state university extension to implement the expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) to improve diet quality, physical activity, food resource management, food safety, and food security among montanans with low income who participate in or qualify for means-tested programs such as snap, WIC, and free and reduced school meals. Evidence-based, research-tested curricula will be used by montana state university extension's EFNEP program staff to provide education related to the topics above. Curricula are either nine lessons or six-lessons in length and will be provided to qualifying youth, teens, and adults with children or adults who may someday have children. Curriculum to be used includes eating smart being active, youth understanding myplate, and choose health: food, fun, and fitness. Classes will be provided in-person within missoula county, yellowstone county, and flathead county through partnership building with agencies that work with the target audience. Examples of partnerships include adult rehabilitation centers, extension offices, farmers markets, community centers, shelters, WIC program sites, head start sites, and schools. Virtual class series will also be provided for adults in montana who qualify to participate. Pre- and post- surveys will be provided at the beginning and again at the end of each class series to measure the program's impact on behaviors. The reporting system webneers will be used to document and report on outcomes. Expected outcomes for adults who participate in programming include improvements in behaviors related to diet quality, physical activity, food resource management, food safety, and food security. Expected outcomes for youth who participate in programming include improvements in knowledge and behaviors related to diet quality, physical activity, and food safety. Education approaches will be layered with policy, systems, and environment approaches to promote and influence access to healthy foods and physical activity opportunities through participation on statewide coalitions. Coalitions include montana farm to school leadership team, montana food security council, and montana double snap dollars network. Outcomes expected from this work include increased publicly available educational materials and videos, increased partnerships and referrals to EFNEP programming, and increased access to food available to EFNEP eligible adults through the double snap dollars program.