The Butte Cluster Nutrition Education programs have significantly contributed to University of California Agriculture and Natural Resource's Healthy Families and Communities Strategic Initiative through the coordination and implementation of the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program (NEP) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Sutter, and Yuba Counties (Butte Cluster hereinafter).
The Butte Cluster staff work in collaboration leveraging internal and external resources to meet the needs of their communities. EFNEP and UC CalFresh staff have provided adult nutrition education through EFNEP lesson series coupled with UC CalFresh money management lessons series at Family Resource Centers and School Readiness Programs in multiple counties. In Federal, Fiscal Year 2017 (FFY 2017), the Butte Cluster nutrition program collaboration between EFNEP and UC CalFresh was strengthened with a partnership at the Farmworker Institute of Education & Leadership Development (FIELD).
This partnership has resulted in a program integration design that is sustainable and provides significant benefits to enrolled students. FIELD provides education and training to immigrants, farm workers, and low-skilled workers in rural settings to give them the confidence to realize their dreams. Completing their high school education is an integral part to their future success. EFNEP, UC CalFresh and FIELD have a shared vision for improving the lives of low-income families through sustainable partnerships. Through this partnership, FIELD's text book curriculum now includes the EFNEP Eating Smart Being Active lessons, and the UC CalFresh Making Every Dollar Count lesson series. Successful completion of these UC nutrition and money management curricula fulfills the health and life skills credit requirements for students to earn their high school diploma and participate in FIELD's annual high school graduation. Students earn a total of 5 high school credits for completing all lessons. This collaboration highlights the flexibility and commitment of Butte Cluster staff to work together to provide needed resources to our target population and also strengthens a community partnership with a program implementation model that is innovative.
For more information on FIELD, CLICK HERE.
For more information on EFNEP, CLICK HERE.
For more information on UC CalFresh, CLICK HERE, and follow the Butte Cluster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Participant Quotes:
- “I stopped putting so much salt in my foods and my headaches have decreased. I walk every day with my children. And do not allow my kids to watch T.V. for long periods of time.” -Delfina
- “I stopped drinking soda, eat less salt, walk 30 minutes per day and eat more fruits and vegetables.” - Ignacio
- “I feel more comfortable, more agile, and with more encouragement. Since we eat more fruits and vegetables, I limited my soda intake, I am practicing exercises that I learned in class, and we reduced the use of refined flour and changed the milk to 1 %.” – Maria
- “I drink more water, nothing of juices and soda. Used to eat too much salt and sugar and I have lowered the amount. I do not eat fast food and I've added more fruit and vegetables. Doing all this, I was able to lose 4 pounds and I am sure that if I continue, I will lose much more and what is more important that I will be healthier and live longer.” - Guadalupe
