Overview

Population

Hudson County

• 601,146 Census Bureau (2006 estimate)
• Per Capita Income $21,154 (1999)
• 14% of residents in Hudson County live below the poverty line (2004).

Jersey City

• 241,789 Census Bureau (2006 estimate) Second largest city in New Jersey.
• Per Capita Income $19,410(1999)
• 18.6% of residents in Jersey City live below the poverty line (1999).

Demographics

Hudson County (2006 estimate)

• 71% Caucasian
• 41% Hispanic,
• 15% African American,
• 11% Asian

Jersey City (2000 estimate)

• 34% white,
• 28% Hispanic
• 28% African American
• 16% Asian.

USDA Food Stamp Participating Families

• 20,792 households receive SNAP benefits.
• 74% of students in Jersey City Schools qualify for free and reduced price school lunches.

Hudson County SNAP-Ed Project

The SNAP-Ed Program addresses the following needs for limited resource individuals in Passaic County.

• Inability to have food stamps 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

The SNAP-ED program will provide nutrition education to individuals and youth groups who are not serviced by the Hudson County Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). The EFNEP and SNAP-ED Programs are administered by the same Program Associate whom ensures non-duplication of services in schools and community agencies throughout Hudson County.

Project Objectives

• To promote the SNAP-ED Project and its statewide mission.  To increase food security through nutrition education programs to the Food Stamp-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 food stamp program participants in Hudson County.
• To provide nutrition education in-services to participating agencies and Jersey City Public School personnel in Jersey City.
  

Project Activities

• Market program in order to increase county network collaboration opportunities
• Provide nutrition education to participants in Hudson County
• Increase outreach to new participants
• Participate in community health fairs throughout Hudson County to help increase nutrition awareness within the community.

Evaluation
The evaluation outcomes include an overall measurement of the impact of nutrition education amongst the adults and senior population of the SNAP-Ed program participants. The ERS reporting system is used for Pre and Post Diet recalls and Behavioral Checklists. An evaluation report of the project will be submitted for possible publication in the peer reviewed Nutrition and/or Family and Consumer Sciences Journal. The dietetic interns will be listed as part of the year-end evaluation report.

Collaborative Relationships
Jersey City School District
Guttenberg School District
Harrison Middle School
St. Patrick's School
Primary Prep
Workforce Advantage,  
PC Tech
TIP Program

Contact
Sheila D. Allen
Program Associate
SNAP-Ed Program
RCE of Hudson County
257 Cornelison Avenue , Suite 2101
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201-369-3432
allen@njaes.rutgers.edu