The SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework: Nationwide Uptake and Implications for Nutrition Education Practice, Policy, and Research

Jini E Puma; Max Young; Susan Foerster; Kimberly Keller; Pamela Bruno; Karen Franck; Andy Naja-Riese

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2020.10.015

The SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework: Nationwide Uptake and Implications for Nutrition Education Practice, Policy, and Research

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2021 Apr;53(4):336-342. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2020.10.015. Epub 2020 Dec 11.

Authors

Jini E Puma¹, Max Young², Susan Foerster³, Kimberly Keller⁴, Pamela Bruno⁵, Karen Franck⁶, Andy Naja-Riese⁷

Affiliations

¹ Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO. Electronic address: jini.puma@cuanschutz.edu.
² Colorado Department of Human Services, Denver, CO.
³ Network for a Healthy California, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, CA.
⁴ Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
⁵ Center for Excellence in Public Health, University of New England, Portland, ME.
⁶ Institute of Agriculture, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.
⁷ Agricultural Institute of Marin, San Rafael, CA.

PMID: 33309501
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2020.10.015

Abstract

Objective: Provide the first baseline census of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) state implementing agencies' (SIAs) intent to use and evaluate 51 indicators described in the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to administer electronic surveys to 124 SIAs who received SNAP-Ed funding in 2017. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results.

Results: Of 51 indicators, SIAs reported their intent to impact an average of 19 indicators and evaluate an average of 12. More SIAs reported the intention to impact indicators at the individual (59%) and environmental levels (48%), compared with the sectors of influence (20%) and population levels (30%) of the framework. In addition, more SIAs intended to impact and evaluate short- or medium-term indicators, compared with long-term indicators.

Conclusions and implications: These findings illustrate the progress made toward aggregating metrics to measure the collective impact of SNAP-Ed.

Keywords: SNAP-Ed; evaluation; food security; nutrition education; policy.

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Food Assistance*
Food Supply
Health Education
Humans
Intention
Nutrition Policy*
Policy