The expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) is the nation's first nutrition education program for low-income populations and remains at the forefront of nutrition education efforts to…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Connecticut $555,971 under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (CFDA 10.514) on October 1, 2025.

The award funds nutrition education delivery to low-income families and youth in Connecticut through the University of Connecticut's College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. The program utilizes a peer educator model to provide evidence-based, hands-on classes on nutrition, physical activity, food resource management, food safety, and food security. Instruction aligns with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and is offered in culturally appropriate formats in English and Spanish. Participants learn practical skills to make healthier choices, reduce food costs, increase self-sufficiency, and improve overall health and well-being.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2030. Work is performed in Connecticut. EFNEP is a federal extension program operated through 1862 and 1890 land-grant universities in all states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Only land-grant institutions are eligible for this assistance type, which is classified as a formula grant. Project periods, including no-cost extensions, do not exceed five years.

The expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) is the nation's first nutrition education program for low-income populations and remains at the forefront of nutrition education efforts to reduce nutrition insecurity of low-income families and youth. EFNEP is a federal extension (community outreach) program that operates through the 1862 and 1890 land-grant universities in every state, the district of columbia, and the six U.S. Territories. Funded by the U.S. Department of agriculture, national institute of food and agriculture (USDA/NIF a), EFNEP uses education to support participants' efforts toward self- sufficiency, nutritional health, and well-being. EFNEP combines hands-on learning, applied science, and program data to ensure program effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability. EFNEP combines hands-on learning and applied science to address nutrition insecurity in low-income populations that disproportionately experience poor health. EFNEP teaches the skills to make healthier choices, save money, increase self-sufficiency, and improve overall well-being. The university of connecticut (UCONN), college of agriculture, health and natural resources (CAHNR), expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) helps families learn about healthy eating, shopping on a budget, cooking, and physical activity. EFNEP staff strive to empower participants, providing knowledge and skills to improve the health of all family members. Participants learn through doing, with cooking, physical activity and supportive discussions about nutrition and healthy habits. EFNEP utilizes a peer educator model to provide a series of classes on nutrition, physical activity, food resource management, food safety, and food security. Evidence-based curricula are used, and nutrition education aligns with the dietary guidelines for americans. The courses are offered in a practical, hands-on format. Classes are culturally appropriate and offered in english or spanish, as indicated by the audience. As required by USDA NIF a, 24 -hour dietary recalls and the validated EFNEP questionnaires are administered before and after the class series to assess program effectiveness. Data are entered into the webneers online system to be approved at the state level, then by USDA nifa. Participation in EFNEP should result in improved diets and nutritional well-being of the total family. Goals include the following: 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 FO OD 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; and 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' capacities with respect to EFNEP's four core areas; and B) increased coordination, cooperation, and collaboration between universities and communities to accomplish local and state identified priorities associated with EFNEP's four core areas. Intended beneficiaries of our programs include 1) families with young children (parents and other caregivers with primary responsibility for feeding young children); 2) youth/children (grade range - kindergarten through 12TH grade); and 3) young adults with limited financial resources. In addition, beneficiaries include low-income communities throughout connecticut; partnerships for site include schools, afterschool programs, jobs programs, shelters, low-income housing, and community centers.