The expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) has successfully addressed critical societal concerns by employing educators who influence the nutrition and physical activity behaviors of…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Alcorn State University $126,523 in formula grant funding on October 1, 2025, under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP, CFDA 10.514).

Alcorn State University will deliver nutrition and physical activity education to low-income families in twelve southwest Mississippi counties—Adams, Wilkinson, Franklin, Amite, Jefferson, Claiborne, Copiah, Warren, Hinds, Madison, Walthall, and Pike—through the Alcorn State University Extension Program. EFNEP delivers a six-lesson series facilitated by educators from the communities served. Instruction focuses on dietary improvements, nutrition behaviors, food resource management, food safety, and physical activity. Outcomes are measured using 24-hour dietary recall and behavior checklist questionnaires administered as pre- and post-interventions.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. Work is performed at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. The assistance type is a formula grant. Eligible recipients under EFNEP are 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions, and Alcorn State University qualifies as an 1890 land-grant university.

The expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) has successfully addressed critical societal concerns by employing educators who influence the nutrition and physical activity behaviors of low-income families, particularly those with young children in our service area. EFNEP programs are conducted through community-based, relationship-driven, hands-on educational programming. EFNEP has impacted economic, obesity, and food insecurity challenges that hinder the nutritional health and well-being of people in the state. EFNEP is delivered through a series of 6 lessons, facilitated by educators who come from the communities they serve. At alcorn state, EFNEP is administered by educators and delivered by the alcorn state university extension program (ASUP) in counties across southwest mississippi. The health statistics for the state of mississippi demonstrate the need to conduct the asuep EFNEP in the following twelve counties in southwest MS: adams, wilkinson, franklin, amite, jefferson, claiborne, copiah, warren, hinds, madison, walthall, and pike. EFNEP outcomes are assessed using pre- and post-interventions by using 24-hour dietary recall and behavior checklist questionnaires. Nationally, EFNEP reported adult participant behavior changes from self-reported measures: 95% made dietary improvements in ? 1 food group including consuming an average of 1 additional cup of fruit and vegetables; 90% improved in at least 1 nutrition behavior; 85% improved in at least 1 food resource management behavior; 66% improved at least 1 food safety behavior; and 45% INC reased their level of physical activity. Overall, EFNEP participation has been associated with improvements in diet quality.