Cooperative Extension Service Departments
Family and Consumer Sciences Programming
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program in Arkansas
What is EFNEP?
EFNEP is the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program of the Cooperative
Extension Service of the University of Arkansas Division Of Agriculture. The
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Cooperative Extension
Service fund the program. Its mission is to help families with limited incomes
and youth acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior changes necessary
to maintain nutritionally sound diets and enhance personal development.
The Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) has helped Arkansas
youth and families with young children develop healthy eating and lifestyle
practices. In 2011-2012, EFNEP assistants reached 2,615 families, with 7,783
members, in addition to 4,270 youth and 1,787 enrolled participants.
EFNEP adults focus on educational programs to enhance the quality of the
families’ diet. The adults are taught in small groups or individually by EFNEP
Assistants trained by Extension Educators. The majority of participants complete
the EFNEP curriculum in less than 8 months. EFNEP youth focuses on providing
food and nutrition education to contribute to personal development of youth from
families with low income. The youth are taught in summer or year-round
enrichment programs conducted by EFNEP assistants and volunteers.
EFNEP Participant Profiles in Arkansas in 2011-2012:
- 24% have incomes less than half the poverty level
- 45% receive Food Stamps
- 22% receive WIC Benefits
- 30% receive Child Nutrition
- 63% are Black
- 34% are Caucasian
- 16% are Hispanic
- 71% used the “Nutrition Facts” on food labels to make food choices
- 73% followed the recommended practice of not thawing foods at room
temperature
- 58% use a list for grocery shopping
- 62% planned meals in advance
The following report provides comparison data on the growth and progress of
the Arkansas Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) between the
2011 and 2012 program years. The data for the report was obtained from the EFNEP
Evaluation/Reporting System (ERS).

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