Wvus efnep program facilitates learning among participants, helping them to make healthy food choices for their families, incorporate more physical activity into their daily lives and stretch their…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded West Virginia University $1,031,916 under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (CFDA 10.514) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030.

WVU delivers nutrition education to low-income youth in grades 3–12 attending schools in census tracts where at least 50 percent of incomes are at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level, or where at least 50 percent of children receive free and reduced-price meals, or in schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision. Youth programs are held in schools and in afterschool and summer environments through partnerships with youth-serving agencies. WVU also serves low-income adults with children through partnerships including but not limited to adult basic education programs, WIC programs, substance misuse programs, pregnancy centers, foster care agencies, healthcare clinics, programs for grandparents raising grandchildren, food pantries, transitional living facilities, and day report centers. All education comprises a series of 6–9 lessons per participant, with demographics and pre–post behavioral change data collected and reported in WEBNEERS.

The program supports participant learning in healthy food choices, physical activity integration, and food dollar management to reduce public assistance burden and lower healthcare costs while building family self-reliance and community resilience. Performance occurs in West Virginia.

Wvus efnep program facilitates learning among participants, helping them to make healthy food choices for their families, incorporate more physical activity into their daily lives and stretch their food dollars. This allows our state to conserve resources, lower health care costs and reduce the burden on food assistance and other public assistance programs. Through participation in efnep programs, individuals and families increase their self?confidence and self? Reliance which builds strength and resilience in our communities. Our priority population includes youth (3RD?12TH grade) in schools located in census tracts where 50% of incomes are equal to or less than 185% the federal poverty level or where at least 50% of children receive free and reduced priced meals or in schools participating in the community eligibility provision (CEP). Youth programs are generally held in schools but can also occur in the afterschool and summer program environments in partnership with youth?serving agencies. We also serve low? Income adults with children W HO are recruited via partnerships with state and local agencies and organizations who also serve this audience via their missions and programs. IT is through development of these partnerships that efnep front?line staff can provide education programs for their clients and participants. These partnerships include but are not limited to adult basic education programs where attendance is tied to participants receiving unemployment benefits, WIC programs, substance misuse programs, pregnancy centers, foster care agencies, healthcare clinics as well as programs for grandparents raising grandchildren, food pantries, transitional living facilities, and day report centers. All education includes a series of 6?9 lessons for each participant. Demographics and pre?post test behavioral change data are collected for all participants and reported in webneers.