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About Us
County Impact Statements - Lafayette County
Family Nutrition Education Program Results in Lifestyle Changes
Upon the closing of a federal health program in the county that worked with
limited resource families having heart or diabetes problems, several of the
Heartwatch program participants were referred to Extension’s Family Nutrition
Education Program. Many of the participants had significant health problems and
had difficulty reading diabetic education materials given to them by their
physicians.
One of these homemakers came to the Extension office for her lessons. The
agent and paraprofessional worked with her on understanding why she should make
changes in her diet, how foods affected her health problems, and how to read and
follow instructions on recipes.
She attended the Right Bite Workshops and graduated from the program in five
months. Three months later she proudly came by the office to give a report from
her doctor. Her blood sugar was lower than it had ever been (from 300 to 135).
The doctor stated that whatever she was doing she should keep doing it.
Continued improvement resulted in the substantial reduction in medications and
the dollar cost of her health care.
The Family Nutrition Education Program was conducted by both paraprofessional
and agent to food stamp eligible families and individuals in group meetings as
well as in home visits. Participants were enrolled for a period of six months or
until completing twelve lessons in nutrition education, meal planning, food
safety, preparation techniques, economical food choices, and food storage.
Margaret West, Registered Dietitian conducts program on meal
planning as a part of diabetes educational program "Right Bite"
workshop.
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Impacts
- 114 educational programs
- 952 participants attending programs
- 6,379 people reached through awareness programs, exhibits, and media
outlets
- 61 enrollees in program,29 graduated, 226 participants in special
interest programs held in conjunction with FNE program.
- Evaluation of FNEP enrollees and participants revealed 61 increased
consumption of fruit, vegetables and whole grains, 31 increased calcium
needs, 94 decreased fats/saturated fats while increasing physical activity.
- Of those attending Right Bite workshop, 10 improved blood pressure, 12
improved blood glucose levels, 12 improved fitness and 8 reduced health care
costs.
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