In Indiana, EFNEP works with three limited resource audiences:

• Adults: Men or women living in rural or urban areas who are responsible for planning and preparing the family’s food. EFNEP targets households with children birth to age 12.
• Youth: 4H-age youth living in rural or urban areas.
• Pregnant teens and adults: Reached through the Have A Healthy Baby program.

Who teaches EFNEP?

EFNEP is taught by specially trained paraprofessionals called family nutrition advisors (FNAs); EFNEP in Indiana currently supports 25 FNA positions. These caring individuals usually live in the areas and neighborhoods in which they work. The FNAs are trained in food safety and basic nutrition in order to teach the program. In 2007, 710 volunteers were utilized as well, primarily as contact persons and referrals.

Where is EFNEP taught?

In Indiana, EFNEP is currently taught in six counties, located in three clusters around the state. One of the clusters contains a mixture of rural and urban counties, while two are primarily urban. The FNAs teach in homes of participants, as well as groups in clinics or community sites.

EFNEP County Offices

• Lake County
• Madison County (Host county for Area 7-8 EFNEP, which includes Delaware, Grant, Howard, and Madison counties)
• Marion County

What topics are covered?

Core lessons include the following topics:

• making the most of limited food resources
• planning meals and shopping
• MyPyramid
• physical activity
• nutrition facts label
• food safety
• importance of breakfast
• snacks
• feeding young children
• "Have A Healthy Baby" lessons are taught to pregnant participants

With whom does EFNEP collaborate?

EFNEP refers participants to community assistance programs such as WIC, Food Stamps, Housing, Healthy Families and Division of Family and Children. Referrals are made to EFNEP by these agencies as well. The Indiana WIC program counts EFNEP instruction as a second nutrition education contact. Other partners include Head Start, Early Head Start, Step Ahead, food pantries, schools, and other local community agencies.

Within the Cooperative Extension Service, all disciplines of Consumer and Family Sciences are incorporated as they relate to food and nutrition. Partnerships also occur with 4-H Youth, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Community Development.

Is EFNEP successful?

Evaluation data, including food recalls, behavior changes, and comments by participants, is collected on all EFNEP participants. EFNEP in Indiana reached over 5,003 persons in 1,927 families during 2007. Of those persons, 3,076 were children. More than 10,900 lessons were taught to participants.

Of graduates:

• 96% reported a positive change in at least one food group
• 84% improved their food resource management practices
• 92% improved their nutrition practices
• many save an average of $50–$100 per month in food costs

The Produce for Better Health Foundation found that EFNEP is the most effective federal program in increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables (2002). Cost-benefit studies have shown that for every dollar invested in EFNEP, healthcare costs can be expected to decline $3.63 to $10.64.

Participant Comments:

• "I finally understood food labels!†What a bonus when I tried the menu planning with the grocery list and saved over $100."
• "I lost 50 pounds when I learned to read labels and cut food bills by $50."
• "I include more vegetable, fruit, cook with less oil, drink more milk and select better foods for my family."
• "The refrigerator was always empty or only contained pop and lunch meat. At about the fifth visit, her refrigerator had eggs, tortillas and some vegetables."
• "I tried a strawberry and liked it. I think I’ll try watermelon next."
• "I have stopped feeding my kids so much junk food."
• "I do a lot more walking."
• "I lost my fear of cooking."

2007 EFNEP Initiatives

• Collaborations with the Indiana Department of Health include state and local Breastfeeding Coalitions and the state Gestational Weight Gain initiative. Collaboration with March of Dimes facilitates the Indiana Folic Acid Council as well as a focus on prematurity.
• Marion County EFNEP received $9,000 in grant monies from the Hoover Foundation to purchase educational incentives for families that successfully finish the EFNEP curriculum. Incentives include items not typically found in most EFNEP families’ kitchens — measuring cups and spoons, cookware, dishtowels, hot pads, and cooking utensils.
• Madison County EFNEP received a $2,500 grant and is collaborating with the Minority Health Coalition to provide programs for Babies First Madison County.
• Catholic Charities in East Chicago and Lake County EFNEP provide Eating Healthy East Chicago, which provides food and small kitchen equipment for EFNEP participants.† These classes are bilingual.
• Community Action of Southern Indiana and Healthy Families were active partners with Area 2 EFNEP.
• Habitat families in Indianapolis are required to participate in EFNEP as part of the hours they need to be eligible for a home. EFNEP teamed with FFA to build three homes, one was for a former EFNEP participant.
• Bilingual paraprofessionals in Lake and Marion counties as well as other FNAs continue reaching the Hispanic/Latino population.
• The program for pregnant adolescents and limited resource mothers-to-be, Have a Healthy Baby, continues to show healthier babies as result of participation. Over 15,930 pregnant adolescents and adults have participated over the 17-year course of the program — 985 participants from 28 counties were involved in 2007.
• Exploring MyPyramid with Professor Popcorn continues to be utilized nationally. In Indiana, 10,424 youth in 376 groups (an increase of 13) representing 34 counties participated. Improvement was reported related to food selection, physical activity, eating breakfast, and food safety practices.
• Purdue’s EFNEP program serves as the host site for the national EFNEP coordinator’s information Web page.