New Jersey SNAP-Ed Support Network FY 2006

Principal investigator: Dr. Debrah Palmer

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES
As a result of continued to communicate Network Support, NJ SNAP-Ed will continue to grow at a sustained and expanded rate, providing SNAP-Ed educators and service providers which effective qualified opportunities to provide nutrition education to SNAP recipients across the state.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES
The Network will continue to communicate among the state and local Partners to serve as both a catalyst and a focal point for concentrating on dietary improvement for SNAP families and individuals. Further, the Network will work to ensure that SNAP families and individuals are encouraged to participate in nutrition education to improve their dietary behaviors.

Another important function that the Network has undertaken is to inform nutrition educators, government officials, state/county/municipal employees. The media and the public of the plight of SNAP families and individuals in New Jersey. The Network will continue to accomplish this task though network meetings and recruitment of new members from faith based, non-profit and corporate sectors.

The network will continue to build on existing relationships with organizations such as: 5 A Day, Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies, Horizon Mercy Healthcare Advisory Committee, the NJ Department of Education, the NJ Office of Faith-based initiatives and the NJ Food Bank to work jointly in delivering nutrition education materials at community based events such as health fairs and community events such as the Abbott Preschool Mini-Olympics. This allows the network to obtain broader reach in delivering nutrition education materials.

Objective 1
To continue interagency cooperation and communication among Network Partners, County Satellites and Government Officials

Activities

• The Network Coordinator will facilitate meetings among potential partners to ensure the sustainability of existing projects and continue to make contacts in the community to expand the projects in the future
• The Network Coordinator will ensure consistent and timely communication with all Network Partners, County Satellites and Government Officials

Documentation of Outcomes

• Attendance at Network Meetings
• Record of Network Partners activities resulting from Network involvement, e.g. Memorandums between Partners, summary events occurring as a result of collaborations which will be delivered in the annual Network report which shows how the level of collaborations amongst partners has increased

Objective 2
Continuation of the social marketing campaign pilot in Essex and Passaic Counties

• Ongoing distribution of campaign materials
• Ongoing trainings with Network Partners and community based organizations
• Social Marketing Section of the website completed
• Work with food chains to plan pilot activities in stores
• Have stores flag calcium rich food items
• Recruitment of new network partners
• Finish business from repository on website to streamline procedures for county offices
• Update all website copy with appropriate links
• Continue to work with web company to enhance Social Marketing and Network Partner sections of the website
• Establish project timelines to ensure appropriate resources are allocated to support all project goals
• Conduct and plan focus groups with adolescents for Phase VI of the social marketing campaign

Documentation of Outcomes

• Social Marketing Pilot completed
• Research completed
• New partnerships developed

The Network will continue activities to increase Network and Statewide Nutrition Action Plan (SNAP) activities to support the "Calcium Select to Protect" Social Marketing Program.