EFNEP - Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

EFNEP Anniversary Awards

pear In 2004, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in South Carolina celebrated its 35th Anniversary. Since it was launched in 1968, EFNEP has delivered a high quality nutrition education program benefiting over 25 million low-income individuals in all 50 States and the U.S. territories. Today, it serves more than half a million adults and youth nationwide, helping them acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavioral changes necessary for healthy diets and nutritional well-being.

On August 3, 2004, a special event celebrating EFNEP's 35th Anniversary and featuring an Awards Program honoring exceptional program staff was held at the Madren Center in Clemson. Several individuals were recognized for their special contributions to the EFNEP in South Carolina.

Awards were provided in the following areas:

1. EFNEP "Nutrition Educator Assistant of the Year Award" (Sponsored by the South East Produce Council)

EFNEP Nutrition Educator Assistant of the Year Award Ms. Jannie Gist, NEA in Union County, received the "Nutrition Educator Assistant of the Year Award," sponsored by the South East Produce Council.

When Jannie Gist was 26 years old, her husband died and she was left EFNEP Nutrition Educator Assistant of the Year Award with two small children to raise on her own. "We tried to make ends meet and we learned how to make do with what we had," said Ms. Gist, who is Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program assistant at Clemson Extension. "That is what we try to teach homemakers here. They may think they don't have a lot but you can make your resources go a long way. Now I have four children and I have learned even more from this job how to manage - how to prepare meals with little or nothing."

As EFNEP assistant, Ms. Gist works with both young and old in Union County trying to teach them how to eat healthier on a limited budget. According to her supervisors, she does an excellent job of getting the point across. Because of her efforts, Ms. Gist was named the Southeast Produce Council's Nutrition Educator of the Year for South Carolina. Ms. Gist was chosen for the award over 31 other EFNEP assistants. She was presented the award earlier this month during a 35th Anniversary Celebration for EFNEP at Clemson University's Madren Center.

I cried, Ms. Gist said. To me, it's a prestigious award to know that many people have confidence in me doing my job. Kristen Welch, Ms. Gist's supervisor, said she deserved the award.

"Jannie is a great role model for the agency," said Mrs. Welch, area EFNEP coordinator. "She has a lot of experience and has a great reputation in the community. I think the key success for any EFNEP assistant is being about to relate to the clientele thorough life situations. Jannie has had a hard life but she has achieved greatly and we see her achieving even more in the years to come. She is a person who can adopt to change easily."

Judie Holt, EFNEP assistant in Pickens County, was among the people who wrote letters of recommendation supporting Ms. Gist's nomination.

"Jannie is well-liked and respected among her peers," she said. "She has served on the EFNEP state advisor committee and helped the NEA's with their issues and concerns. She always did far more than was expected of her when she served in these roles. Jannie gives of herself and asks for little in return. I depend on Jannie to boost my morale at times and she has a characteristic or trait of making people feel so special."

Pam Ray, administrative assistant at Clemson Extension in Union, who also wrote a letter of recommendation, said the EFNEP program would not be known if it wasn't for Ms. Gist.

"When Jannie began her job in Union she was the first and only program assistant," Mrs. Ray said, "The EFNEP program had never been in Union County which meant that Jannie had to introduce the program to individuals, senior citizen groups, schools, etc. She has accomplished this task and does a great job at presenting her programs."

Sue Hovey, county extension agent in Union, said Ms. Gist has a strong work ethic. "Jannie works very hard and makes numerous presentations each week," Ms. Hovey said. "She has also participated in many pilot programs that EFNEP has offered, such as the Southeast Produce Council's promotion of vegetables and the "Jump into Food and Fitness," program for EFNEP 4-H. She has been instrumental in encouraging churches that have summer programs for children to participate in the USDA Summer Food Program."

As EFNEP assistant, Ms. Gist works with audiences of limited resources. Beginning with youth in schools and 4-H students, she presents programs that emphasize healthy eating habits.

Other clients include adults of child-bearing age and through a federal Learning Innovative Nutrition Collaborative grant which Clemson matches older adults.

She works with 180 people in the LINC program, 780 in the 4-H EFNEP program, six groups of senior adults and two teen mother groups. Ms. Gist uses hands on activities such as shopping and food preparation to get her lessons across.

Over the years, she said she has had many humorous things occur that have given her job a light side. Once she took a group of 5-year olds shopping at Bi-Lo, where an employee had sliced various fruits for the children to sample. One child tasted kiwi for the first time and was so excited that when she spotted her grandmother in the store, she invited her over to try it. "She liked them so much she bought the whole bag," Ms. Gist said.

When she goes into schools, Ms. Gist rolls her supplies, like pots and pans, in a blue wagon. Once a young boy yelled, "Here comes Miss Big Old Gift and her big old gift bag." "I like to try and help other people better their health conditions, try to help them stretch their food dollars and I love meeting people in general," she said. "In EFNEP we have a fun time. Not only are my clients learning from me, I am learning from them, too."

2. EFNEP "I Made a Difference" Award

EFNEP I Made a Difference Award Ruby Boyd, Nutrition Educator Assistant in Dorchester County was the recipient of an Award at the Awards Banquet celebrating the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program 35th Anniversary recently held at the Madren Center in Clemson, SC.

Boyd received the "I Made a Difference Award" for her work in "helping to make a difference" with a young man in the 4-H Program. Bobby Flake is an individual that stood out in his 4-H Group. NEA Boyd identified Bobby's strength although he had many challenges. Boyd said; "Bobby, a foster child in my EFNEP Youth in Action 4-H Group in St. George has had many challenges in his life, but this has not held him back in striving to be the best he can be!" She further states; "he stands out as an achiever, he doesn't take the back seat in anything." She worked with this aspiring star utilizing much of her own time after working hours. In the last year Bobby Flake has won several awards in 4-H. He competed in the Coastal Carolina Fair last fall and won first place in his division for Eggonomics, he also won first place in the county poultry barbecue contest, and second place in the state contest. He recently won first place in his division to represent SC 4-H in the Eggonomics contest at the national competition in Louisville, KY.

Ruby Boyd has been employed with Clemson University Extension Service as an EFNEP NEA for 14 years. Over the years she has worked with many families, agencies, day care centers, and schools, including Dorchester school district adult education program. The Adult Ed Program has recognized and awarded her for contributions in teaching food and nutrition education to their clients. Ruby is married to Ellis Boyd and resides in Harleyville, SC they have one daughter and two grandsons.

3. EFNEP "Most Creative Nutrition Educator Assistant" Award

EFNEP Most Creative Nutrition Educator Assistant Award Leatha Eagleton, EFNEP Nutrition Educator Assistant in Florence County receives the "Most Creative Nutrition Educator Assistant Award" at the South Carolina EFNEP 35th Anniversary Celebration at Clemson University on August 3rd.

Mrs. Eagleton works with both youth and adult audiences teaching them food safety, food preparation and nutrition skills. She has utilized groups from Community Agencies and Organizations to reach new audiences. She also has delivered programs through Home and Garden sites, churches, schools, fairs and the Health Council Ministry. She has also provided nutrition flyer inserts for churches and displays for various locations.

Leatha has served the EFNEP program for 25 years. She is a dedicated worker, working on weekends and evenings because she believes in doing the best job possible for the EFNEP audience.

4. EFNEP "Administrative Support" Award

Joan Riddle, Administrative Assistant in Greenville County, received the EFNEP Administrative support award for her excellent support to EFNEP in Greenville County and the Upstate area. Of her 9 years working for Extension, Joan has worked with EFNEP for 7 years. Most of her career with Extension she has served in a support role for an Area Coordinator and one NEA. She currently serves the Upstate area in EFNEP by tracking budgets, setting up for area-wide trainings, and working with staff on the area and state level. She serves an active role in the Extension Secretaries Association, the EFNEP state advisory committee, and the 35th anniversary conference planning committee.

Joan has tremendous knowledge of the computer and is capable of working with various programs and developing spread sheets for different projects. Without prompting, Joan is able and willing to create new forms or recreate documents to bring them up to date or make them user friendly. She has a good working relationship with the other EFNEP support staff and is an excellent communicator within this group.

Joan exceeds her job performance requirements in many different areas. She has assisted in taking inventory of EFNEP and LINC supplies in a county office and set up spread sheets to use when conducting these in other offices. Her many qualities as a support assistant include dependability, professionalism, creativity, honesty and the ability to be flexible while producing neat work in an organized environment.

Along with 50% time spent with her EFNEP duties she serves Greenville County as an administrative assistant. Her duties include greeting incoming walk-in clients, answering phones and serving in a support role for 3 county agents, 2 part-tome Ag./Hort. Assistants and various volunteer Master Gardner's.

On a personal note, Joan and her husband have one son, Thomas. Thomas and his wife have three sons. Her interest includes involvement in her church and assisting with the children's choir, gardening and a new hobby of pottery. Joan is most deserving of the EFNEP "Administrative Support" Award for her many qualities that go above and beyond the call of duty.

5. EFNEP "Team" Award

Community work has paid off in the Lancaster area as well as being recognized statewide by the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program. The team from Lancaster was recognized recently in the 35th Anniversary Celebration for EFNEP. Working together, the team from Clemson Extension in Lancaster County transformed two dilapidated houses, trash, bottles, old rotted trees and shrubs, into a beautiful community garden which led them to be recognized with EFNEP Team Award.

After applying and receiving a Landscape for Learning grant the team began their work. The team, consisting of the Nutrition Educator Assistant -Josephine Alexander, Ag Agent- Kip Beam, Administrative Assistant-Freida Cauthen and various volunteers the process started by clearing the land and freeing it of any debris. The Ag agent took soil samples in order to prepare the area for the planting that would take place by the volunteers. In the meantime, classes were set up and taught by the Ag Agent to volunteers. The classes included information on insects, soil, seasonal plants and how to plant, care and harvest. Once the soil was prepared, Youth volunteers did all the planting and laying out of rows for growing the corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, green pepper and eggplant. The team assisted with the watering and weeding, all which was done daily. The garden is located in an area of the community where there are many Limited Resource families and young mothers who know very little about making healthy food choices or preparing healthy meals and fresh vegetables for themselves and their families. These community members became interested after seeing the work go on in the gardens which gave NEA, Josephine Alexander the opportunity to introduce the EFNEP mission. The City of Lancaster pitched in to help this effort by providing the water needed to help the garden grow. Through the effort of the team and the community, the Limited Resource families learned about EFNEP, Extension, diversity, working together for a common goal, plus good nutrition and healthy eating!

South East Produce Council and EFNEP

South East Produce Council and EFNEP are Cultivating Ideas, Growing Relationships, Producing Results!

Consuming an adequate intake of fruits and vegetables has been proposed as one way to reduce morbidity and mortality from heart disease and cancer. In addition, obesity levels are lowest among those who have high intakes of fruits and vegetables.

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that all people over the age of two years of age eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day. However, more than 75% of U.S. residents fail to meet these recommendations.

Project Description

Recognizing that the majority of people consume an inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables, a program was developed with the goal of increasing consumption. This program arose from a partnership between the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the South East Produce Council (SEPC).

The SEPC is a non-profit organization made up of growers/shippers, wholesalers, retailers, brokers, institutional food service operators, distributors, the media, and industry product or service providers. The organization is committed to serving its members and the community, and they support charitable causes in Southeastern communities.

Through the partnership, EFNEP's educational lessons were enhanced to focus more on fruit and vegetables. The SEPC provided information on different produce items, which includes the nutritional value and health benefits of the item along with proper selection and handling. Fruit and vegetable recipes were developed and tested in the Food Science and Human Nutrition sensory evaluation/food product development lab at Clemson University. These recipes were utilized in the hands-on portion of the educational classes provided by EFNEP educators.

One of the unique components of this program involves funding provided by the SEPC for the purchase of a seasonal produce item which would be "featured" in the educational lessons. The SEPC provides a coupon to be used by the educators and to be left with the family redeemable at their preferred local supermarket. The first set of coupons (for collards) was distributed and redeemed during the months of February and March.

Evaluation

The program includes a pre-test and a post-test evaluation to assess preferences and changes in level of consumption of fruits and vegetables. The entry survey revealed that the top four fresh fruit items the participants purchased were apples (80.6%), oranges (70.4%), grapes (68.5%), and bananas (65.7%). The top fresh vegetable items were cabbage (48.1%), corn (42.6%), collards (35.2%), lettuce (25.0%), carrots (25.0%), and potato (25.0%).

Before the program, the participants ate 2.7 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in a day. Approximately one third of the participants (33.3%) ate 3 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in day and 27.8% ate 2 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in day.

About half of the participants (45.4%) were aware of the 5-A-Day program and half of the participants (53.7%) were not aware of the 5-A-Day program before the program. The top two fruits that participants never had but would like to try were mango (40.4%) and kiwi (33.0%). The top four vegetables that participants never had but would like to try were eggplant (21.1%), asparagus (17.4%), mushrooms (39.2%) and squash (7.4%).

The results indicate that about three quarters of the participants (74.0%) consume more fruits and vegetables since starting the program. After the program, the participants ate 3.2 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in a day. About one third of the participants (31.6%) ate 4 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in day and 25.3% ate 3 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in day. About one quarter of the participants (24.2%) ate 2 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in day. Almost all participants (94.7%) thought this program was helpful in educating them about the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Conclusion

The program is an innovative way to help participants acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to improve their eating habits. Evaluation data shows that the program participants made a significant increase in their consumption of fruits and vegetables. In addition, through the administration of entry surveys, a baseline profile of the families' fresh produce purchases and consumption was developed. The knowledge base developed through this project can contribute to other education programs, and provide needed information for disease prevention and intervention planning.