c. Extension Service FNP grant - Laserfiche WebLink

FAMILY NUTRITION PROGRAM (FNP) The NDSU Extension Service provides the Family Nutrition Program because it supports educational programming in the areas of Food Accessibility and Affordability, Food Resource Management, Food Security, Human Nutrition and Food Safety. Rationale for Program Food stamp regulations allow states to submit a nutrition education plan to reach food stamp recipients and food stamp eligible citizens with education in nutrition, food purchasing and food safety. North Dakota has chosen to submit such a plan since there are currently 37,382 persons in 16,074 North Dakota households receiving food stamp benefits each month. Monthly benefits for the state's food stamp program exceed $2,200,000. The purpose of the Food Stamp Program is to ensure that needy families have the resources to purchase an adequate supply ofnulritious foods. The literature indicates Food Stamp recipients typically exhaust their benefits five to ten days before the end of the month (Journal of Nutrition Education, 32:72-83, 2000). FNP is a critical element in the ongoing effort to educate limited resource families allowing them to increase nutritional awareness and intake on a fixed or limited budget. Because food stamp recipients are blended throughout the state, three target audience groups have been selected to receive FNP programming; they include families with young children, families without children and older adults. In North Dakota over 48% of the food stamp issuance is to families with children under the age of 18, making this group a primary audience for the Family Nutrition Program. With the accelerated downmm of the economy, many individuals are seeking assistance to help them stretch their limited dollars. According to Hunger in America 2001,39% o fhouseholds who receive emergency food assistance include at least one employed adult. Families visiting food distribution programs indicate they often choose between food and other necessities: · 45% of clients report having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel. · 36% had to choose between paying for food or paying their rent. · 30% had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care. The fastest growing population segment in the United States and in North Dakota is the elderly. In ND 18.5 percent of the population as reported by the Census in 2000 were individuals 600 years and older. By 2015, 28.7 percent of North Dakota's total population will be age 60 or older. The number of elderly moving onto poverty is increasing in North Dakota. Currently persons age 65 and older constitute 15 percent of the population living below poverty levels. Poor nutritional sUtus is a primary concem for the elderly as reported in the USDAFood Review. Diets which are inadequate can contribute to chronic and acute diseases among the elderly. According to the Food Review many of the diets of the elderly do not provide the level of nutrients needed for maintaining a healthy body. Because of limited resources, the diets of individuals and families experiencing those circumstances maybe inadequate. The objective of the Family Nutrition Program is to help food stamp participants acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes and changed behavior necessary for maximizing resources to achieve nutritionally sound diets. FNP is operational in all 53 of North Dakota's counties and targets the state's food stamp population with education in nutrition, food purchasing and food safety. Educational Program Each year one component of the core elements is a major focus of educational training for the nutrition education agents/ assistants, FNP. Using the train-the-trainer concept, staffreceive training at the mmual EFNEP/FNP conference and/or at the regional FNP meetings held across the state.