2018 National EFNEP Coordinators' Conference

EFNEP Educators and Cybersecurity – Are We Prepared?
Muhammad Khan MS, CHG-IT Specialist & Ph.D. Student in Food Science & Technology Program
Virginie Zoumenou, Ph.D., CNS, LDN-Professor of Dietetics and Nutrition/ Extension Nutrition Specialist  EFNEP Coordinator
2018 EFNEP Annual Conference
1890 EFNEP Pre-conference 03-19-18 at 3:00PM

ABSTRACT
Background:
EFNEP educators’ duties consist of lessons delivery, annual reports, data collection, and data entry using diverse devices such as emails, tablet, computer, internet, hotspot, Wi-Fi, websites, social media, and WebNeers. Hackers are also ratcheting up their attacks on Internet-connected appliances, also called the Internet-Of-Things or IoT. By using all these devices, the EFNEP educators are being more and more connected to the internet and they become more and more vulnerable. Cybersecurity may be one of the emerging threats to the profession of the EFNEP educators. It makes sense to take a proactive approach to cybersecurity. There is a need for EFNEP educators to be educated on how to approach these challenges. 
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to emphasize how data security has become crucial for EFNEP educators and to increase their knowledge of cybersecurity.
Methods:
The framework, launched in 2014, formally known as the National Institute for Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework for Critical Infrastructure will be used. The 5 essential steps: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond and Recover will be covered.
Expected Outcomes:
The EFNEP educators will learn about the challenges faced while using common devices and the first steps needed to protect their data and websites against hackers. They will also learn about how hackers may attack food consumption through smart farming.
Keywords: Cybersecurity- Nutrition Education- Essential Steps

Culturally Appropriate Methods to Promote Nutrition Education among Black African Americans
Virginie Zoumenou, Ph.D., CNS, LDN-Professor of Dietetics and Nutrition/ Extension Nutrition Specialist EFNEP Coordinator
2018 EFNEP Annual Conference
1890 EFNEP Pre-conference 03-19-18 at 3:00PM

ABSTRACT
Nutrition education has shifted from the emphasis of didactic talk to mothers to using participatory methods and a range of communication channels. Sensitivity to cultural differences in ourselves and in those of different ethnic backgrounds is an important aspect of competence in reaching a diverse population particularly in nutrition education. Nutrition educators will now be evaluated on their ability to produce desirable behavioral changes in clients from different culture.
This project aimed to identify the strategies to effective nutrition education programs among Black African Americans. A survey was conducted with 105 nutrition educators with diverse cultural backgrounds to assess their perception of another culture’s traditional food. In addition, a focus group was conducted with 8 African Americans women in the Tri-county area of the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.  A structured questionnaire was used. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis were conducted.
The results indicated that approximately 80% of the nutrition educators were ethnocentric. An effective nutrition education program might take into consideration the nutrition educator’s experiences, attitudes, values, and biases that could influence nutrition education; a knowledge of the participants’ cultural eating patterns, family traditions such as core foods, traditional celebrations, taste and flavor, and the meaning of food and health is needed. Overall, a knowledge of the socio-cultural context of food, and the ability to incorporate these into the teaching methodologies may promote desirable health and behavior changes needed.
Keywords: Nutrition Education- Culture – Diversity-Behavior Change