The expanded food and nutrition education program (efnep) is a federally funded nutrition education program for limited-resources youth and families delivered through the UVI school of agriculture…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of the Virgin Islands $102,991 on October 1, 2025, under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (CFDA 10.514) to deliver hands-on nutrition education workshops to low-income youth and families in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

UVI's School of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service delivers the program through frontline educators who are drawn from or represent the communities served. Adult participants—drawn from public housing communities, adult education programs, UVI students, Head Start programs, and referrals from WIC and SNAP programs—complete 6–9 lessons in EFNEP-approved curricula focused on economical food choices, meal preparation, food storage and sanitation, budget management, and nutrition-rich food selection on limited budgets. Youth ages 5–18 enrolled in public schools or 4-H clubs receive 6–8 hours of direct contact instruction in basic nutrition, food preparation and safety, and methods to reduce screen time and increase physical activity. The program targets income-eligible parents, young adults, caregivers, expectant mothers, and children and teens to improve nutrition, diet and health literacy, physical activity behaviors, food resources management, food safety, and food security. Program effectiveness is measured through 24-hour food recalls for adults and pre- and post-tests for both youth and adults.

The award period runs through September 30, 2030. Work is performed in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The expanded food and nutrition education program (efnep) is a federally funded nutrition education program for limited-resources youth and families delivered through the UVI school of agriculture cooperative extension service in the U.S. Virgin islands. Efnep provides hands-on interactive workshops to help participants improve nutrition, diet and health literacy and physical activity behaviors, food resources management, food safety and food security. Programs serve income eligible parents and young adults, caregivers, and expectant mothers, as well as children and teens. These nutrition education outreach programs are facilitated by frontline educators who, for the most part, come from or represent the communities they serve. Efnep in the virgin islands engages adult participants from public housing communities, adult education, UVI students, head start programs, and referrals from the women infants and children (WIC) and supplemental nutrition assistance (snap) programs. Through a series of 6-9 lessons using efnep approved curricula, participants learn how to make food choices that are economical and improve the nutritional quality of meals they prepare and serve their families. Through an experiential learning process, they improve their ability to better manage their food dollar to select and b UY quality, nutrition-rich food on a limited food budget; gain skills in food preparation, storage, and sanitation; and learn to manage their food budget and connect to relevant resources. Through 6-8 hours of direct contact using efnep approved resources, youth ages 5-18 are enrolled in public schools or 4-h clubs, experience belonging, mastery, independence and generosity while learning about basic nutrition food preparation and safety, and ways to reduce screen and increase physical activity. Efnep programs are evaluated using 24-hour food recalls for adult participants, and pre- and post-tests for both youth and adults.