Overview

Population

• According to 2000 census data the estimated population of Middlesex country is 750,162. It is projected that the population will increase to 777,600 by the year 2005.
• 7200 households were receiving some kind of public assistance.
• Middlesex is ranked third in terms of population size in New Jersey.

Demographics

• Minorities comprise most of the low income population lead by Hispanics.
• The racial composition of Middlesex County is 513,298 (68.4%), Asian (104,212 or 13.9%), Hispanic (101,940 or 13.6%), Asian - Indian (54,880 or 7.3%), African American (68,467 or 9.1%).
• In April 2003, More than 80% of children in New Brunswick and Perth Amboy qualified for free or reduced school lunch.

USDA SNAP Eligible Families
As of September 2004:

• 14,700 residents of Middlesex County receive SNAP Benefits.
• 6,102 households in Middlesex County are program participants.

Middlesex County Project

The Middlesex SNAP-Ed Program will serve the preschool children in Abbott schools in New Brunswick and Perth Amboy. Additionally, it will provide nutrition education to youth in Elementary schools and adults in Work First Programs.

Non- Duplication of Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Services

• The Middlesex SNAP-Ed program will serve SNAP eligible audience. It will only serve audiences that are not being served by the EFNEP Program in Middlesex County.

Project Objectives

• To promote the SNAP-Ed project and its statewide mission to the SNAP eligible population in Middlesex County, not already served by EFNEP.
• To deliver behaviorally-focused, research-based nutrition education via lessons, approved by the nutrition specialist to Abbott preschoolers and their parents.
• To deliver behaviorally focused, learner driven, outcome based lessons to adult groups where 50% or more of the class population receives or is eligible to receive food stamps.
• To conduct train the trainer sessions to train High School students. The New Brunswick Health Science Technology High School students will deliver pre-school lessons.
• To improve collaboration among municipal, local, county and state agencies in order to assist the eligible population to apply for SNAP benefits in the state of New Jersey.

Project Activities

• To provide behaviorally focused, learner-driven, outcome-based nutrition lessons to preschoolers, youth and adults.
• Provide behaviorally focused, learner driven nutrition education workshops for parents of preschoolers.
• To distribute and disseminate information about SNAP-Ed and specific nutrition education opportunities available to the target population.
• Collaborate with local, municipal and county-wide agencies to better coordinate SNAP services.
• Provide 'Train the Trainer' program for High School students to enable them to teach culturally and developmentally appropriate curricula.
• Hire new staff and provide necessary ongoing training on lessons approved by the state nutrition specialist(s).

Evaluation

The Evaluation Reporting system (ERS) is used to input Diet Recalls and a Behavior Checklist to look at dietary change and Behavior change in adults.

Collaborative - Relationships

Department of Nutritional Sciences Rutgers University
New Brunswick Public Schools-Early Childhood Education
New Brunswick Public Schools -Adult Learning Center
Central New Jersey Maternal and Child Health Consortium
Perth Amboy Public Schools- Early Childhood Education
Division of One Stop Programs
Middlesex County College, Perth Amboy

Project Budget

FY 04 $100,021
FY 05 $192,332

Contact

Kanan Thakore, M.S., RD, CNSD, Program Associate 
Middlesex County, SNAP-Ed
RCE of Middlesex County
42 Riva Avenue, North Brunswick, NJ 08902
Phone: (732) 398-5271
Fax: (732) 398-5276
Email: thakore@njaes.rutgers.edu