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Family Nutrition Program (FNP)
Carol Kovachic, Belmont County FNP Program Assistant, reaches food stamp eligible audiences with educational programs highlighting food and nutrition and focusing on food safety, food security and economical, healthy food selection.
What is Ohio's Family Nutrition Program ?
Ohio State University Extension's Family Nutrition Program (FNP) is funded by Midwest Region Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture. The Family Nutrition Program is sometimes referred to as the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program. FNP is a partnership between the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services and Ohio State University Extension in an effort to improve the nutrition of families and individuals who are food stamp program participants or eligible nonparticipants in non EFNEP counties and food stamp program participants or eligible nonparticipants who are elderly and/or adults without young children in EFNEP counties.
How are programs delivered?
The delivery of educational programs at the county level is done by the Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Educator and by an FNP Program Assistant. FNP targets food stamp program participants; disseminates educational information through public service announcements, basic food and nutrition demonstrations, newsletters, fact sheets, individual consultations, and group educational sessions with displays and videotapes; and uses curriculum materials selected for the audience's unique diversity.
FNP as a Part of the Family & Consumer Sciences Program
The Family Nutrition Program is an integral part of the Ohio State University Extension Family & Consumer Sciences program. FNP Program Assistants teach basic nutrition, food safety, meal management, thrifty shopping and food resource management information to food stamp recipients and to eligible nonparticipants. The success of FNP involves a partnership with local agencies/organizations whose outreach includes food stamp program participants and other low income audiences. Ohio State University Extension has the responsibility to provide additional educational experiences for the FNP audience. The use of FNP materials in other Extension programs can contribute to interaction and can serve as a bridge between Extension programs.
For more information about Belmont County FNP, e-mail Carol at Kovachic.2@cfaes.osu.edu
