Improving Health through USDA’s EFNEP & SNAP-ED:
Regional Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Centers of Excellence (RNECE)
Brewer D1., Kurzynske J1., Mullins J1., Ammerman A2., Baker S3., Dollahite J4., Savaiano D5., Vail A1.,
1University of Kentucky, 2University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3Colorado State University, 4Cornell University,
5
and Purdue University
www.rnece-ncc.org
The Goal of the RNECE:
Improve the health of low-income Americans by fostering a culture of health by implementing strategies at each level of the socio-ecological framework.
National Coordination Center
•
University of Kentucky
Dr. Ann Vail
RNECE Objectives:
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Build the evidence base for nutrition education and obesity prevention strategies,
interventions and translational activities that produce measurable improvements
in health, obesity, nutrition and physical activity-related outcomes.
•
Strengthen the evidence-base: of EFNEP and SNAP-Ed I
•
Utilize complementary and integrated community and public health approaches:
Direct nutrition education
Nutrition marketing/promotion
Policy, systems and environmental (PSE) change
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Evaluate long-term effectiveness of EFNEP and SNAP-Ed.
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Identify new research opportunities.
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Identify and create research collaborations and synergy.
Four Regional Centers:
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North Central Region
Purdue University:
Dr. Dennis Savaiano
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Northeast Region
Cornell University:
Dr. Jamie Dollahite
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Southern Region
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill:
Dr. Alice Ammerman
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Western Region
Colorado State University:
Dr. Susan Baker
Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE)
Change Research Center:
•
To be announced
Regional Center Responsibilities:
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Build synergistic relationships, garner stakeholder input, and conduct research.
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Plan, develop, and administer at least one signature research program that is targeted to meet
an identified need in that region
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Administer and evaluate competitive sub-awards to support the objectives of the Centers, using
pre-established, center determined – and NIFA and FNS approved – project award and project
evaluation criteria
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Develop and support a comprehensive community intervention direct education and PSE toolkit,
a research translation and training program and an affiliate registry for researchers and
implementers
Signature Research Project
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To be announced
A Social Ecological Framework for Nutrition and Physical Activity Decisions
National Coordination Center Responsibilities:
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Coordinate communications among all Centers; aggregate and disseminate research findings
to stakeholders, and identify common themes and results.
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Collaborate and coordinate with the Center working groups as they develop the direct
education and PSE toolkits, the research translation and training program and the affiliate
registry for researchers and implementers.
•
Ensure timely posting of Center content on the eXtension Community Nutrition Education
Community of Practice website, SNAP-Ed Connection website, and other NIFA and FNS
websites working in conjunction with Center web sites.
•
Coordinate other tasks as needed which are undertaken by one or more of the existing and new
PSE Center which require broad cooperation and collaboration across Centers and associated
projects.
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Work with NIFA to organize and conduct the annual Centers’ directors meetings and the
Centers’ site visits.