2018 National EFNEP Coordinators' Conference

The University of Florida IFAS Extension EFNEP partnered with the Florida Hospital to pilot the Food is Medicine (FIM) program in Hillsborough County, Florida. Each EFNEP FIM location was in a “food desert” and served low-income parents. EFNEP FIM participants received a ten-dollar food voucher redeemable at a mobile food pantry after each of the eight classes. Among 158 EFNEP FIM graduates, most were female (80%), reported a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (96%), and were pregnant/nursing/had children at home (92%). EFNEP pre/post survey data in Hillsborough County showed that when FIM participant outcome data was compared to non-FIM Hillsborough County participant outcome data (n=1,01), a higher percentage of participants in FIM showed greater improvements: food resource management practices (94% vs 86%), nutrition practices (95% vs 88%) and food safety practices (78% vs 64%). Additionally, 58% of EFNEP FIM graduates reported an increased consumption of vegetables as compared to a 51% increase in Hillsborough County. EFNEP coordinators may find this approach useful when initiating or fostering community partnerships. Future research is underway to further examine this relationship.