Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
To teach them, you must reach them. ISU Extension's Family Nutrition Program (FNP) funded by Food Stamp Education dollars teaches pregnant teens and parents with young children to choose nutritious foods, stretch their food dollars and handle food safely, leading to healthy children and strong families. These nutrition messages have been shown to have major impacts on the lives of families they reach. However it is not easy to reach busy families who are eligible (those who qualify for income-based assistance program such as Food Assistance, WIC, Head Start and social service programs.) Successful recruiting is enhanced when agencies working with these families are willing to refer them to us or to provide an avenue to reach and teach them.

Response:
Judy Licko, FNP Assistant, and I met with Christine O'Brien, four-county WIC Director, to look at opportunities for partnering to bring nutrition education to WIC participants and at the same time to recruit for our FNP lessons. We agreed to teach a 20-minute lesson each month at each WIC site in three counties ( Des Moines , Lee, Louisa) to satisfy their need for nutrition education of participants. As part of each lesson, FNP staff would introduce and promote our Eating Smart and Being Active series of eight lessons. Beginning January 2007, we agreed that WIC would provide the space to meet and register the participants for classes; and FNP staff would teach a short lesson based on our new curriculum and encourage them to enroll in FNP. This could be mutually beneficial if the participants have not already been enrolled in FNP classes.

Impact:
From January through October, three FNP Assistants taught lessons in three counties at five sites for an estimated 425 WIC participants. Of those, about 95% were new to FNP. In all, we have enrolled approximately 40 new participants, with others waiting to be enrolled as time allows. With bi-lingual FNPA Esther Estudillo, we are able to also provide lessons in Spanish in Louisa county. It is a ‘win-win' situation for both agencies with the participants being the real beneficiaries! WIC staff are enthusiastic about this arrangement and want to continue it in 2008.

Other Staff Involved:
Judy Licko, Julie Wellman, and Esther Estudillo, Family Nutrition Program Assistants

Additional Team Members/Community Partners:
Christine O'Brien, WIC Director, Community Action of SouthEast Iowa

Contact:
Patricia Steiner
Des Moines County Extension
900 Osborn Street
Burlington, IA 52601
319-754-7556
psteiner@iastate.edu