ABOUT NUTRITION EDUCATION IN WALWORTH COUNTY

Growing numbers of Wisconsin individuals and families are facing economic challenges and the problem of food insecurity. More people are living in poverty, and increasing numbers are the working poor. They are confronted with difficult choices in the areas of food and shelter needs, credit obligations, and high medical bills. In response to the diverse needs and resources of the economically poor, our purpose is to develop and implement community-based nutrition education programs, within a university research-based context.

We will:

• help low income elderly, families and youth learn about nutrition through research-based education programs.
  More specifically, participants will:
  • choose and fix meals and snacks that are nutritious, safe and affordable.
  • manage their resources to improve their food security.
  • balance the food they eat with physical activity.
    
• collaborate with community, state and federal organizations in the design and implementation of nutrition education programs.
  
• train local leaders, volunteers, and agency staff in developing community nutrition education programs targeted at the economically poor.

Working with Our Communities

Our programs result from a partnership among Federal, State, and County Governments. While each partner has a significant voice in the direction of our work, a major strength lies in our responsiveness to local issues. The following activities will improve our understanding of community-level concerns.

• assessment of community needs and resources.
• involvement of locally elected officials and/or advisory committees in setting the overall direction and determining ways to evaluate the program.
• collaboration with agencies and non-governmental organizations providing services to limited income families.
• integration of nutrition education with other services targeted to families with limited incomes.

 Understanding Our Audiences

Our programs take into account the rich diversity found among those living with limited economic resources. Our audiences are representative of society in terms of race, ethnicity, age, gender, faith, educational background, and household structure. This diversity results in our programs being designed in light of:

• ongoing assessment of the needs and resources of individuals and families living on a limited income.
• an understanding, recognition and strengthening of the social networks of our audience.
• the degree and length of our audiences' dependency on society's safety net.
• eligibility requirements of funding agencies.

Disseminating Research-Based Content

Program content spans disciplines and is grounded in current research. Content areas include food and nutrition; food purchasing, preparation and safety; and family resource management to improve food security. University faculty will support program staff by integrating their respective disciplines in program content that is relevant and accessible to diverse audiences with limited resources. Program content will be designed to help participants learn:

• to increase their food security by developing a spending and savings plan, and learning to live within a plan.
• to choose a healthful diet for themselves (and their family) based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid.
• to purchase and prepare healthful food and keep it safe to eat.

Modeling Effective Education

Program staff work with a variety of audiences in a wide range of settings. Given this diverse context, staff must be aware of and adept at utilizing a variety of educational approaches. As educators they must take into consideration:

• the developmental characteristics of their audiences and the social context within which learning occurs.
• that change in behavior involves a series of stages or steps.
• appropriate teaching/learning models and methods.

Ongoing Assessment of Our Impact

The evaluation of our programs acknowledges the concerns and questions of stakeholders at a variety of levels. More specifically, evaluation strategies will be designed in light of:

• the evaluation needs and requirements of federal funding agencies.
• state level concerns that cut across county and/or district boundaries.
• evaluation questions of County elected officials, advisory committee members, participants, and local program staff.

Supporting Our Staff

Our staff work in different settings, with various audiences, utilizing many skills. The degree to which our programs achieve their goals depends directly upon the skills and competencies of our staff. Therefore, high priority is placed on initial and continuing staff training that will:

• help program coordinators and nutrition educators achieve excellence in their various roles.
• strengthen core competencies in educational process and program content.
• utilize various formats to meet educators' needs (e.g. the annual meeting, ETN, in-service programs).

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