Nutrition Education Success & Impact Report - Across-Regional Approach to Program Outcomes

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel

SNAP-Ed 2020 Nutrition Education Success & Impact Report documents an across-regional approach across the Mountain Plains Region and Southwest Region. It explains how SNAP-Ed supports food budget stretching and healthier habits, and how COVID-19 intensified food insecurity and increased SNAP participation. The report summarizes rapid adaptation from in-person classes to virtual and emergency food distribution-linked education, paired with social marketing and PSE (policy, systems, and environments). It also highlights coordination among federal, state, and local partners, reach, partnerships, coalitions, program activities, and included success stories.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages76

Reading Time3 h 12 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

The SNAP-Ed Approach

Youth Direct Education

Adult Direct Education

Social Marketing

PSE-Policy, Systems, & Environmental

Indirect Contact/ Social Media

State Sections

Mountain Plains Region Southwest Region SNAP-Ed 2020 Nutrition Education Success & Impact Report: ACross-Regional Approach to Program Outcomes Welcome WethlceomSoeutto thwest20R2e0giSNonA(SPW-EdR) Cross-Regional Report. The Mountain Plains Region (MPR) and extends appreciation to all states for their hard work to create the second edition of the cross-regional impact report. The work of SNAP-Ed is grounded in the commitment and dedication of nutrition education professionals ensuring communities across our country have resources to reduce hunger and adopt healthy habits. At no time in recent history has this work been more relevant. This report demonstrates that commitment while also showcasing the innovative educational strategies used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please join the team in celebrating SNAP-Ed’s success. MPR and SWR would also like to acknowledge the following individuals and workgroups for their support in creating and editing this report. Without their dedication this would not be possible: Kali McCrackin Goodenough; Mindy Meuli; Heidi LeBlanc; Casey Combs; Sue Sing Lim; Olivia Yeip; Mia Donley; the Mountain Plains Regional Data Workgroup; and the Program Evaluation and Reporting System (PEARS) . Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 Southwest Region 42 The SNAP-Ed Approach 4 Arizona 46 Mountain Plains Region 5 Arkansas 50 Colorado 10 Louisiana 54 Kansas 14 New Mexico 58 Missouri 18 Oklahoma 62 Montana 22 Texas 66 Nebraska 26 Utah 72 North Dakota 30 South Dakota 34 Wyoming 38 This material was funded by USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-SNAP. PSE and partnership graphics [from Vecteezy.com](from Vecteezy.com) Executive Summary T hPeroSguprae(mentaSNAP)l iNutrits theionNatAssion’sisltanceargest domestic food and nutrition assistance program for Americans with low income. SNAP-Education, commonly referred to as SNAP-Ed, is the nutrition education arm of SNAP benefits. SNAP-Ed aims to help individuals stretch their food budget while also supporting a healthier lifestyle. The economic impact of COVID-19 has been severe. As rates of unemployment skyrocketed, the demand for SNAP increased similarly. By June 2020, participation rose to over 43 million people nationwide, with a yearly average of 1,956,609 participants in the Mountain Plains Region and 7,441,376 participants in the Southwest Region. SNAP-Ed programs quickly adapted interventions to help address the growing food insecurity rates. Programs shifted from in-person nutrition education classes to a combination of strategies including virtual lessons and nutrition education tied to emergency food distribution response. SNAPEd interventions are often coupled with social marketing initiatives and changes to policies, systems, and environments (PSE) . These approaches, while often designed to help the community practice the healthy habits they learn, also offer programmatic flexibilities that were useful during the pandemic. Because SNAP-Ed activities are tailored to the community, many agencies quickly identified unique channels to reach eligible participants. This included utilizing social media in new ways and exploring text messaging approaches. Coordination and collaboration between federal, state, and local partners has also been a critical component of SNAP-Ed’s success. These efforts united the strengths of various federal nutrition programs with other public health initiatives which allowed for more cohesion between programmatic interventions. These initiatives helped to create and implement mutually reinforcing activities and enhance of referral systems. This report provides an overview depicting the impact of each state within their region. This information includes reach, partnerships, coalitions, and program activities. Success stories have also been incorporated to illustrate positive outcomes. Please join MPRand SWR in celebrating the important role SNAP-Ed plays in supporti

FAQs

What is SNAP-Ed and what is its goal?

SNAP-Ed is the nutrition education arm of SNAP benefits. It helps individuals stretch their food budget and support a healthier lifestyle.

How did SNAP-Ed adapt its nutrition education during COVID-19?

Programs shifted from in-person classes to blended strategies such as virtual lessons and nutrition education tied to emergency food distribution. Many interventions were paired with social marketing and PSE activities.

What does the report cover for each region and state?

The report provides an overview of each state’s impact within its region, including reach, partnerships, coalitions, and program activities, along with success stories.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel