Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION – The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, or EFNEP, for Harris County has received a Superior Service Award from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
The award, the highest bestowed by the agency, recognizes AgriLife Extension faculty and staff members who provide outstanding performance in education or to the agency. The award was presented Jan. 6 during the Texas A&M AgriLife Conference held at Texas A&M University in College Station.
The Harris County EFNEP unit delivers effective nutrition education to limited-resource families and youth while fostering behavior change related to diet, food safety, food resource management and physical activity.
Team members are: Tonya McKenzie, Cathy Gauthier, Mary Taylor, Karen Williams, Alicia Bradley, Noemi Garibay, Hannah Hungbui, Tavis Taylor, Torri Jones, Marilyn Lutringer, Khadija Ghaffar, Ureshia Green, Yomayra Garcia, Ana Hernandez, Maria Rodriguez, Teresa Pineda and Eveli Chila.
According to the award nomination, nutrition education assistants and associates are assigned to work with either the youth or adult phase of the program. However, adult component staff is cross-trained to deliver youth programs to maximize outreach to children during the busy season.
In 2013, the unit enrolled nearly 4,000 diverse, limited-resource families in nutrition education classes. Data cited in the nomination showed the vast majority of participants reported positive changes in diet, improved food management practices, such as planning meals in advance, better nutrition practices, such as using food labels to make food choices, and improved food safety practices upon completion of the program. The program also provided fun nutrition lessons to nearly 4,000 diverse, limited-resource youth as part of after-school activities and summer programs. Most students improved their ability to choose healthy foods and to prepare simple, nutritious, affordable food.
According to one participant quoted in the nomination, “I’m very happy because I got a job at a hotel where I’m in charge of breakfast. I am using the recipes from the food demonstrations in class and the clients love them. I’m implementing what I learned and I’m proud of my EFNEP graduation certificate.”
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