SNAP-Education Annual Plan

The SNAP-Education Annual Plan is submitted each year by the State Agency, the Indiana Department of Health, and the Implementing Agency, Purdue University Nutrition Education Program.

The Plan highlights the state goals, objectives, program outline, and evaluation procedures. It is then submitted to the Federal Nutrition Service (FNS) in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). With the plan, the State, Implementing Agency, and related partners coordinate and align efforts in relation to the goals. States can choose to submit either a 1-year or a 3-year plan. Indiana is currently in the 2nd year of their 3-year plan. 

There are currently 9 state-level projects related to SNAP-Education in Indiana for the 2021-2023 fiscal years. 

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Project 1

Direct Nutrition Education
Youth Grades 3-8

Direct education staff will provide direct education lessons using the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH).  Staff will also direct participants to healthy food and beverage options and physical activity opportunities within their community.

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Project 2

Direct Nutrition Education
Youth Grades 9-12

Direct education staff will initiate Teen Cuisine programming with qualifying schools by reaching out to school administration or directly to teachers. Classes will be held weekly, monthly, bimonthly, or based on the frequency requested by the teachers. Each lesson consists of activities related to nutrition, food safety, food preparation, and physical activity. 

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Project 3

Direct Nutrition Education
Adults 18-59 years old

Direct education staff will continue to deliver the adult curriculum, Eat Smart, Move More (ESMM) in areas where adults live, work, and play. Area agencies that will partner with direct education staff include emergency food assistance sites, community centers, and federal food assistance programs, such as WIC and SNAP. IDOH will also be partnering with Indy Hunger Network and 7 other organizations to implement the Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters curriculum. 

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Project 4

Direct Nutrition Education
Adults 60+ years old

The Eat Smart, Live Strong senior curriculum was selected in FY21 and will be fully implemented among Purdue Nutrition Education Program educators. The curriculum is designed to improve fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity among 60-74 year-olds participating in or eligible for FNS nutrition assistance programs. 

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Project 5

Community Wellness Program 

This project involves professional staff (Community Wellness Coordinators) conducting community needs assessments, forming action teams and coalitions, and developing interventions to move communities and school environments in a positive direction towards a state of wellbeing using policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change strategies. IDOH will also work with partners to implement a CACFP Research Project, Community Food System Workshops, and Competitive Food Access Grants. 

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Project 6

Social Media & Social Marketing Campaign 

This project involves the continual expansion of the “EatGatherGo” social marketing campaign. The new Purdue Extension Marketing and Communications Specialist will manage the development of additional marketing and recruitment materials to increase participant recruitment and partner referrals. In addition to coordinating the social marketing website and social media platforms, they will also manage the development of the annual impact report and distribute newsletters.

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Project 7

Master Gardener “Growing Together” Multi-State Project

The project aims to increase access to fresh produce for families experiencing poverty in Indiana through collaboration with active Extension Master Gardeners and other community partners to develop donation gardens. Master Gardeners and community partners/volunteers will provide expertise in growing produce in these gardens with the objective of providing produce items that are needed/will be utilized in food banks and pantries

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Project 8

Indiana State Nutrition Action Committee (SNAC)

SNAC is a forum through which professionals can engage with one another to learn best practices, align efforts, and avoid duplication. The overall goal of this collaborative approach is to ensure that the workforce serving SNAP-eligible Hoosiers has sufficient knowledge, resources, capacity, and community buy-in to tangibly impact the food and activity environments in which individuals eat, work, and play.

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Project 9

Equity-based Professional Development 

This project is focused on providing equity-based professional development opportunities for all SNAP-Ed funded professionals throughout the state, and all professionals who serve SNAP-eligible audiences and whose work aligns with the SNAP-Ed mission and guidance. The intended result of these professional development opportunities is for professionals to bring a trauma-informed, equity lens to the work that they do to advance the SNAP-Ed mission. This will result in more accessible, equitable, and inclusive food and activity environments for SNAP-eligible communities.