Project summary / abstract project title: delaware state university extended food and nutrition education program institutional category: 1890 land grant funding opportunity number:…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Delaware State University $105,052 under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (CFDA 10.514) on October 1, 2025.

Delaware State University will deliver evidence-based nutrition education and policy, systems, and environmental interventions across Delaware to address obesity, food insecurity, and poor food safety practices among low-income adults, youth, and children. The program will conduct direct education over an 8-week period using evidence-based curricula to teach healthy eating, food resource management, food safety, and physical activity. Deliverables include improved participant knowledge, behavior changes in nutrition and food safety, and environmental enhancements at partner sites. The program will serve families including mothers, pregnant teens, caregivers, and youth ages 8–15 through partnerships with schools, community centers, faith-based organizations, public housing authorities, and other community entities.

Performance runs through September 30, 2030, with place of performance in Leipsic, Delaware. This is a formula grant awarded to a 1890 land-grant institution under EFNEP's mandate to increase the impact of nutrition education disseminated to low-income families and youth through extension partnerships at land-grant universities.

Project summary / abstract project title: delaware state university extended food and nutrition education program institutional category: 1890 land grant funding opportunity number: USDA-nifa-10514-efnepxxx-23-0001 a. Project director (include institutional affiliation for each): DR. Verona mulgrave PI DSU b. Partner institutions: none c. Provide a very concise summary. The delaware state university expanded food and nutrition education program (DSU-efnep) aims to address critical nutrition-related challenges among low-income adults, youth, and children across delaware, including obesity, food insecurity, and poor food safety practices. According to the delaware department of public health, in 2021, 33.9% of adults were classified as obese and 34.9% as overweight, while the 2014 delaware survey of children's health reported that 14.7% of children ages 2-17 were overweight and 20.9% were obese. Additionally, approximately 99,530 delaware residents experience food insecurity, including 30,040 children. To help mitigate these health disparities, DSU-efnep will deliver evidence based nutrition education and implement policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) interventions to promote sustainable behavior change. Program activities will include direct education over an 8-week period using evidence-based curricula to teach healthy eating, food resource management, food safety, and physical activity. Efforts will align with USDA-nifa efnep priority areas by improving diet quality, increasing physical activity, enhancing food safety practices, and reducing food insecurity. The program will serve families, including mothers, pregnant teens, caregivers, and youth ages 8-15, through partnerships with schools, community centers, faith-based organizations, public housing authorities, and other community entities. Deliverables will include improved participant knowledge, behavior changes in nutrition and food safety, and environmental enhancements at partner SI TES that support healthy lifestyles. Expected outcomes include measurable improvements in dietary habits, physical activity levels, and food security among participants, contributing to the long-term reduction of chronic disease risk within delaware's low income populations. Subrecipient activities will include collaboration with local community partners to expand program reach and ensure equitable access to efnep resources across the state.