App. G1 - SNAP-Ed Promoting Nutrition Security Letter - Signed

OMB Number: 0584-[NEW]
Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

Appendix G1. SNAP-Ed Promoting Nutrition Security
Letter – Signed

This information (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education and Obesity Prevention
Grant [SNAP-Ed] State Nutrition Education Plan and Annual Report) is being collected from
State agencies and implementing agencies that are seeking (SNAP-Ed State Plan) or have
received SNAP-Ed grant funding (SNAP-Ed Annual Report) to assist the Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) in (1) evaluating requests for grant funds to conduct SNAP-Ed activities (SNAPEd State Plan), and (2) ensuring that State agencies are maximizing the use of resources to
identify target audiences; implement interventions and strategies that meet the assessed nutrition,
physical activity, and obesity prevention needs of the target population; and promote the
availability of SNAP-Ed activities in local communities (SNAP-Ed Annual Report). Section 28
of the Food and Nutrition Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2046a), authorizes the SNAP-Ed grant
program. This is a mandatory collection and FNS uses the information collected to (1) determine
whether State SNAP-Ed agencies have produced a persuasive and data-driven needs evaluation
of nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention needs of the target population and their
barriers to obtaining healthy foods and physical activity (SNAP-Ed Annual Plan), and (2) ensure
integrity of SNAP-Ed funds, demonstrate program effectiveness, and track SNAP-Ed outcomes
and impacts (SNAP-Ed Annual Report). This collection does not request any personally
identifiable information under the Privacy Act of 1974. According to the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is
0584-[NEW]. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average
137.68 hours (137 hours and 41 minutes) per response. This burden consists of the time it takes
review all instructions and guidance issued by FNS and the Department to clarify or explain
existing regulations and time for initial N-PEARS system training. Send comments regarding
this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions
for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Office
of Policy Support, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314, ATTN: PRA (0584-[NEW]).
Do not return a completed form to this address.

OMB Number: 0584-[NEW]
Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

Food and
Nutrition
Service
1320 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA
22314

May 10, 2022
Dear State Agencies and Partners,
The Biden administration issued an Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and
Support for Underserved Communities that the Federal government pursue comprehensive
approaches to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others that have been
historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and
inequality. In addition, improving nutrition security is a core priority for Secretary
Vilsack. The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed) plays a critical role in promoting and
elevating nutrition security. This letter outlines the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’
(FNS’) expectations for the integration of nutrition security into SNAP-Ed during Fiscal
Year (FY) 2023 and includes examples of approaches that States can consider when
developing their plans.
Nutrition security means ensuring all Americans have consistent access, availability, and
affordability of foods and beverages that promote well-being and prevent – and potentially
treat – disease, particularly among racial/ethnic minority populations, lower income
populations, and rural and remote populations including Tribal communities. FNS is
committed to nutrition security in order to ensure that all Americans have consistent
access to the safe, healthy, affordable food essential to optimal health and well-being.
FNS is also committed to advancing racial equity and support for underserved
communities throughout the Federal nutrition safety net including SNAP-Ed.
Poor nutrition is a leading cause of illness in the United States and is responsible for more
than 600,000 deaths per year – a problem that is only getting worse. Currently, nearly 3 in
4 American adults is overweight or obese, and 1 in 2 have diabetes or prediabetes. A
majority of American children will have obesity by the time they are 35, and half of
American adults will have obesity by 2030. At the same time, reducing food insecurity, or
a lack of reliable access to affordable, nutritious food, remains a priority for FNS.
USDA’s data indicate that about 1 in 10 households were food insecure at some point in
2020. Both food insecurity and diet-related diseases disproportionately impact racial and
ethnic minority populations, lower income populations, and rural/remote populations,
including Tribal communities. Therefore, FNS is committed to tackling food and nutrition
insecurity in an equitable way.
Without question, SNAP-Ed plays a critical role in helping SNAP participants lead
healthier lives on a limited budget. There is growing evidence of impact as outlined in the
research listed in the enclosure. The use of policy, system, and environmental change
(PSE) strategies and interventions, among other SNAP-Ed strategies, could potentially
help non-SNAP participants too. Furthermore, over the last year, FNS has made critical
changes to SNAP-Ed to further promote positive public health impacts, including:
x
x

Creating a new Nutrition Education Branch in SNAP to support SNAP-Ed;
Improving data collection

USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider, Employer and Lender

State Agencies and Partners
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x
x
x

Establishing a National license for the Program Evaluation and Reporting System
(PEARS); and
Encouraging maximum flexibility in the use of policy, systems, and
environmental
(PSE) change approaches.

In FY23, we ask States to adopt approaches in their SNAP-Ed programming which further
prioritize nutrition security. This will best leverage limited SNAP-Ed funds and encourage
more harmonization in programming across the country, while still recognizing the
importance of tailoring materials to fit community culture and need. Specifically, States
should:
x

x

x

Adopt approaches which address the co-existence of food insecurity and dietrelated chronic diseases, particularly with an equity lens. There is a strong link
between food insecurity and poor nutrition with individuals who report being most
food insecure also having higher risks of developing a host of diet-related diseases
such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
Prioritize comprehensive multi-level and/or public health approaches that
involve social marketing or PSE change strategies and interventions,
particularly those with the potential to reach underserved populations. PSE is
intended to shape policies, practices, and physical environments to support healthy
eating and is widely considered the most effective strategy for creating large-scale
improvements to the food environment and addressing food security, reducing
chronic disease, and promoting health equity. Of all SNAP-Ed program partners, 87
percent have incorporated some form of PSE in their work in FY20.
Translate the latest science into culturally and contextually relevant actions that
individuals, families and communities can integrate into their daily lives.
Addressing diet-related disparities with cultural sensitivity is critical given that the
United States is increasingly diverse. To help, SNAP-Ed is conducting a webinar
series coordinated by the SNAP-Ed Toolkit team, to help grantees apply racial, social
and health equity considerations to program planning, implementation, and
evaluation.

The SNAP-Ed Toolkit provides a variety of evidence-based examples States could use in
their plans to promote and elevate nutrition security. Selected examples include:
x

Alliance for a Healthier Generation (Healthier Generation) Healthy School Program
was designed to supports school and district leaders in creating and sustaining healthy
schools where students – especially those from underserved communities – can
thrive. The program addresses multiple factors that lead to inadequate health and life
outcomes – from physical activity and nutrition to social-emotional health and sleep.
A 2012 study evaluating healthy school programs found that from 2007-2009 schools
typically reported making “moderate to large” changes in health-related
policies/practices.

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x

Eagle Adventure was designed to address the need for culturally relevant SNAP-Ed
programming to prevent type 2 diabetes in Indian Country and was developed using
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Eagle Book series as the
central theme. Eagle Adventures has had statistically significant impact on children
asking for and helping themselves to vegetables as a snack.

An increased focus on nutrition security in SNAP-Ed programming will make this robust
program even more impactful. Thank you for leveraging SNAP-Ed to enhance and promote
nutrition security in your State.
Sincerely,
signed by
CYNTHIA Digitally
CYNTHIA LONG
Date: 2022.05.09
LONG
14:21:16 -04'00'

JESSICA
SHAHIN

Cindy Long
Administrator
Food and Nutrition Service

Jessica Shahin
Associate Administrator
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Digitally signed by
JESSICA SHAHIN
Date: 2022.05.09
13:52:57 -04'00'

State Agencies and Partners
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Enclosure: Evidence That SNAP-Ed Works
SNAP-Ed plays a critical role in helping SNAP participants lead healthier lives on a limited
budget. An analysis of SNAP-Ed plans shows that through the increasing use of PSE change
strategies in conjunction with direct education and social marketing, SNAP-Ed could
potentially have meaningful ripple effects in helping all Americans. There is growing
evidence of impact; examples include:
x

x
x
x

In FY2019, 56 Land-Grant universities implemented SNAP-Ed programs across the
US. The Land-Grant Impacts Survey found 40 percent of participants increased their
consumption of servings of fruits and vegetables and fewer sugar-sweetened
beverages and 35 percent of participants increased physical activity frequency and
reduced sedentary behaviors. For obesity prevention, PSE initiatives on nutrition and
physical activity changes compromised more than 1,300 policy changes, 3,500
system changes, and 3,200 environmental changes with a reach of more than 3
million.
A 2020 study in low-income schools found that SNAP-Ed physical activity
interventions are associated with greater cardiovascular fitness.
A 2021 study on health behavior change among adults in SNAP-Ed showed an
increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables and in vigorous physical activity.
A 2020 microsimulation on impact of health behavior interventions modelled the
impacts of changes in body mass index (BMI) and exercise interventions over 10
years on future health outcomes among adults aged 25 and older that could
potentially accrue from SNAP-Ed interventions. It found that, by 2029, interventions
that increased vigorous physical activity by 20% would reduce the prevalence of
difficulties with activities of daily living by 4.72% and that interventions that would
reduce BMI by 0.5 could decrease the prevalence of diabetes and heart disease by
5.34% and 0.66%, respectively.