Overview
Demographics
Atlantic County
Population of 271,620 (2006 Estimate)
- Total area of 561.07 sq miles - 450.2 persons per square mile - Atlantic County is the 15th most populous of the state's 21 counties.
- Per Capita Income - $21,034
- 10% of the population is below the poverty level (2004)
- 73.8% White, 14.2% Hispanic, 17.7% African American, 6.5% Asian (2006) - In terms of diversity, Atlantic County differs slightly from the population of New Jersey. The County has more African-Americans and fewer Asians and Hispanics. County residents are less likely to be foreign-born, and in comparison to the state, a smaller proportion speaks languages other than English at home.
Target Areas
Pleasantville - Population of 19,027 (2006 Estimate)
- Total area of 7.3 sq miles - 3,291 persons per square mile
- Per Capita income - $17,668
- 15.8% of the population is below the poverty level; 21.2% of children under age 18 (2000 Census)
- 22% Hispanic, 58% African American, 25% White, 2 % Asian.
Egg Harbor City – Population of 4,379 (2006 Estimate)
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Total area of 11.5 miles – 409.2 people per square mile
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Per Capita Income -$32,956
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13.1% of the population is below the poverty level; 13.5% of children under age 18 (2000 Census)
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66.8% White, 14.9% African American, .37% Native American, 1.25% Asian.
Atlantic City - Population of 39,958 (2006 Estimate)
- Total area of 11 sq miles - 3,570 persons per square mile
- Per Capita income - $15,402
- 23.6% of the population is below the poverty level; 29.1% of children under age 18 (2000 Census)
- 24.9% Hispanic, 44% African American, 27% White, 10.4% Asian. Atlantic City differs substantially from Atlantic County. The city has fewer whites, only about 27% compared to about 70% for the county and state. The percentage of Asian residents is twice the proportion in the county and also exceeds the statewide percentage. The city's population is more apt than either the county or the statewide population to speak a language other than English at home, and a large percentage is foreign-born.
USDA SNAP Participating Families
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In January 2010, Atlantic County had 25,423 food stamp recipients. The two highest need areas in the County are Pleasantville and Atlantic City. The third highest need area is Egg Harbor City, which is located approximately 7 miles away. In our third year of operation we will again focus on reaching eligibles from Atlantic City, Pleasantville, and Ventnor,, but have included Egg Harbor City in our target audience.
Atlantic County SNAP-Ed Project
The SNAP-Ed project addresses the following needs for limited resource individuals in Atlantic County.
- Inability to have SNAP benefits and food budget last through the month
- Limited food preparation and food storage facilities
- High reliance on convenience foods and fast food restaurants
- Limited nutrition and food safety knowledge
- High consumption of high fat foods and low consumption of fruits, vegetables and dairy products
Non Duplication
- Education will occur in the following schools, where at least 50% of the students receive free or reduced price lunches: Leeds Avenue School, North Main Street School, South Main Street School, Washington Avenue School, Pleasantville Middle School, Ventnor Elementary School and Ventnor Middle School, Oceanside Charter School, New York Avenue School, Uptown Complex School, Charles L. Spragg Elementary School, Martin Luther King Elementary School. Education will also occur in the following pre-schools:
- AtlantiCare North Main Street School, AtlantiCare Old Library, AtlantiCare Venice Park School (Atlantic City), AtlantiCare Fairmount School (Atlantic City).
Project Objectives
- To promote the SNAP-Ed Project and its statewide mission. To increase food security through nutrition education programs to the SNAP-eligible population, resulting in improved dietary habits, food purchase and food preparation practices and improved eating behaviors.
- To improve and increase collaboration among existing agencies that currently work with low-income audiences, other governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations and private enterprises.
- To improve the nutrition education services available to SNAP program participants in Atlantic County.
Project Activities
- To provide behaviorally focused, learner-driven, outcome-based nutrition education adult and senior SNAP recipients (English and Spanish speaking) via lessons that have been approved by the state nutrition specialist(s).
- To assess present and future needs for nutrition education in Atlantic County
- To distribute and disseminate information about SNAP-Ed and specific nutrition education opportunities and activities available to the target population(s)
- To provide nutrition education that will assist in improving the dietary habits, food safety practices, and the eating behaviors of youth in schools where more than 50 percent of the students receive free or reduced lunches and are not serviced by EFNEP. This will be done through the delivery of age-appropriate, behaviorally focused nutrition education lessons that are approved by the state nutrition specialist(s)
Evaluation
- The evaluation methodology that is used includes an overall measurement of the impact of nutrition education amongst the population of SNAP program participants. The ERS reporting system is used for Pre and Post Diet Recalls and Behavioral Checklists. Only the Behavioral Checklist is used in programs lasting less than 6 weeks. An evaluation report of the project will be submitted for possible publication in a peer reviewed Nutrition and/or Family Consumer Sciences journal.
Collaborative Relationships
21 Century Community Learning Centers
AtlantiCare Kids/Pleasantville Pre-K
AtlantiCare Teen Center
Atlantic City Board of Education
Atlantic City Boys & Girls Club
Career Opportunity Development Group Homes
Department of Family & Community Development
Department of Human Services
Egg Harbor City Board of Education
One Stop Career Center
NJ Youth Corp.
Oceanside Charter School
Pleasantville Board of Education
Pleasantville Recreation Department
RCE of Atlantic County
TIP Program
Ventnor Board of Education
Contact
Deborah Brancato, Program Associate
Atlantic County SNAP-Ed
RCE of Atlantic County
25 Dolphin Avenue
Northfield, NJ 08225
Phone: (609) 645-7700 x 4731
Fax: (609) 645-5828
Email: Brancato@njaes.rutgers.edu