Celebrating 30 Years of Community Nutrition

Julena Uecke has seen first-hand that the nutrition program she teaches can make a significant impact on the lives of low-income families in Colorado.

"Extension's Food and Nutrition Education Program has a great track-record in showing participants that they can be successful, and it gives them a boost of confidence. After successfully completing the nutrition program that helps them learn how to eat well on a limited budget, many of them make additional changes in their lives. Some go back to school, get a good job or even begin a business," she said.

Uecke is describing the impacts of one of Extension's Nutrition Programs also known as EFNEP, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. Uecke is an EFNEP educator who provides the Extension nutrition programs in Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt counties in western Colorado. EFNEP serves women and men who are classified as low-income, and who are responsible for children under 19 years old living in their home.

Every year for the past 30 years, Colorado EFNEP has reached between 500 to more than 1,400 adults and 1,000 to 7,000 children. During 1999 alone, the program graduated 1,000 adults and 4,000 children. Four years ago, EFNEP was joined by FSNEP (The Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program). The two programs are known jointly as Extension Nutrition Programs and, together, they're available in half of all Colorado counties.

One of the efforts that staff in both nutrition programs are focusing on is reaching into the communities where they work, at both the agency and individual levels. "Collaborating with other organizations that serve this population enhances the outreach and impact potential of all the programs," said Karen Wilken, state EFNEP coordinator. "The whole becomes more than the sum of the parts, and the customer is the beneficiary."

Most EFNEP participants are on government assistance programs. While other agencies provide food and services, EFNEP focuses on knowledge and skills to help reduce malnutrition and assists clients and their families to become self-sufficient.

Uecke, one of a number of EFNEP educators located at Extension offices throughout Colorado, leads the eight-week program in which students learn how to read food labels carefully, shop effectively, improve food safety and prepare nutritious meals on a limited budget. The program has strong evaluation, which show that the vast majority of EFNEP graduates learn skills that help them make healthy food choices while saving money on food costs; most participants save an average of $50.80 a month on their food bill, which gives them extra discretionary dollars, an important issue for limited resource families.

"One of EFNEP's major goals is to teach participants how to make every penny count," said Wilken,. "They don't have enough money to make poor choices."

"By reading labels carefully, our students discover that many prepared foods consistent of nothing more than a basic ingredient and a few seasonings," Uecke said. "They find out they can easily prepare that same food at home much more cheaply than buying it in a box or can."

One of the main motivations for clients to participant is to help improve the lives of their children by feeding them more nutritious meals, which promotes good health and normal development. But the classes often have the additional benefit of showing participants that they can increase self-sufficiency and control of their lives.

"Our class often is the first time they've ever had to set up a budget, and that gives them a feeling of control," Uecke points out. "In a more general sense, the classes actually are life-skills instruction."

But even experienced women and men can learn valuable lessons in the classes, according to EFNEP graduate Diana Daley of Craig, Colo.

"I learned much more than I expected," she emphasized. "At first, I wasn't too sure about the value of EFNEP classes. I'm a good cook, and I know a lot about preparing food. But I was floored by what I learned," she said. "I feel that my family and I are eating better, and I'm more confident about what I'm doing. I was sad when the program was over. I looked forward to going."

Many of the EFNEP participants' comments reflect their unqualified enthusiasm for the value of the instruction. One EFNEP graduate wrote, "These are the most wonderful classes I've taken. These classes should be taught to all parents in the United States," and another wrote, "Being educated with EFNEP has made a dramatic change in my life choices. I feel that [now] I have the right to make better choices for my family."

And, as happens often with instructional situations, teachers get as much from the classes as students. "One of the most attractive aspects about being an EFNEP instructor is when you see that you're having a significant impact on people's lives," Uecke said. "That's a good feeling."

Uecke is well qualified to understand her students' needs. She earned an associate's degree in nutrition and at one time was a young, single mother trying to stretch food dollars to feed her children. "I think it helps my effectiveness as a teacher when students know that I understand the situation that many of them are facing," Uecke said. "Now I'm trying to make it easier for them."

Photo Cutline: EFNEP graduate Diana Daley of Craig, Colo., said of her participation in EFNEP classes, "I learned much more than I expected. At first, I wasn't too sure about the value of the classes. I'm a good cook, and I know a lot about preparing food. But I was floored by what I learned. I feel that my family and I are eating better, and for less money."

For more information, contact your local Colorado State University Extension office.

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