Just Say Yes to Fruits and VegetablesJust Say Yes to Fruits and VegetablesSGS DI Program, Jan 2010

IntroductionIntroduction

Today’s presentation:

JSY program historyProgram highlightsNew initiatives and expansion plansKeys to success

MISSIONMISSION

The Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables Project, in partnership with organizations that serve the food insecure, is dedicated to improving the health and nutritional status of food stamp eligible populations in New York State. The Project accomplishes this by providing comprehensive nutrition education programs for food stamp populations accessing emergency food relief organizations (EFRO), WIC and Summer Food.

VISIONVISION

Empowering food stamp recipients/applicants in New York State to make healthier food choices.

HistoryHistory

1996—Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables created!

1997—4 nutritionists hired; 1 Contract Manager and Administrative Coordinator

HistoryHistory

2001—Statewide expansion of JSY

2002—JSY website created

2004—Acquired Veggie Van

Map of Food Bank regionsMap of Food Bank regions

HistoryHistory

Significant growth by FFY 06-07:

10 field nutritionistsAdministrative CoordinatorFull-time Contract ManagerWIC expansion (NYC)

HistoryHistory

In FFY 07-08:

3 Regional Team Leader positions addedAddition of JSY Program Research

SpecialistStatewide WIC expansionExpansion into Summer Food Program

(Buffalo)

JSY through the years:JSY through the years:Location of classesLocation of classes

Then….. Food pantries, soup

kitchens, shelters

Now…. Food pantries, soup

kitchens, shelters

WIC

Summer Food

Low-income public housing

JSY through the years:JSY through the years:Nutrition EducationNutrition Education

Back in the day…… Informal nutrition

education; one-on-one education

No curriculum

Train-the-trainer model using JSY Handbook

Now….. Standardized nutrition

ed activities; structured groups

9 USDA approved lesson plans

Handbook replaced with client-tested cookbook

JSY through the years:JSY through the years:Nutrition EducationNutrition Education

Now (continued)…..

Use of learner-centered approach

More client interaction

Addition of Facilitated Discussion lesson plans (currently piloting in WIC)

JSY through the years:JSY through the years:Nutrition education handoutsNutrition education handouts

Then... Create-your-own

handouts!

No standardized handouts

Now…. Standardized

handouts

Meet low literacy criteria

Simple, easy-to-understand concepts

Provide action messages

JSY through the years:JSY through the years:Program EvaluationProgram Evaluation

Then….. Limited program

evaluation

Now…. Strong evaluation

component in place

JSY selected as Top 6 Finalist for model SNAP-Ed program across the country!

JSY through the years:JSY through the years:RecipesRecipes

Then……. 60 recipes created

using common pantry foods

Now…. 100+ fruit and

vegetable recipes Standardized recipe

criteria Emphasis on good

nutrition Field testing Addition of more

cultural fruits and veg

JSY through the years:JSY through the years:Team StructureTeam Structure

Then….. On your own!

Now…. Regional, team-based

approach

Strong orientation program for new staff

Annual staff development training

JSY through the years:JSY through the years:Program StructureProgram Structure

Then….. JSY

Now… Traditional JSY

Stellar Farmers Markets

RFA

Program Highlights:Program Highlights:Traditional JSYTraditional JSY

Goals for 07-08:

Educate 9,100 low-income clients

Statewide expansion into WIC

Summer Food(WNY)

How did we do????

Program Highlights:Program Highlights:Traditional JSYTraditional JSY

Yearly statistics (FFY07-08):

Provided 924 nutrition education sessions across NYS

Educated 13,000+ clients

Attended 80 low-income community events

Program Highlights:Program Highlights:Traditional JSYTraditional JSY

WIC Expansion

Increased WIC collaborations in EVERY Food Bank region across NYS!

Educated more than 2,200 WIC clients!

Program Highlights:Program Highlights:Traditional JSYTraditional JSY

Summer Food Pilot Project Highly successful!

Better than expected!

Clients LOVED programs offered and can’t wait for programs to begin this year!

Program Highlights:Program Highlights:Traditional JSYTraditional JSY

JSY Van Utilized the JSY vehicle at 27 low-income

community events statewide

2,400+ clients

Received PHENOMENAL USDA exposure!

Proud Accomplishment….Proud Accomplishment….

16,000 pounds fresh produce distributed to low-income families

2 New JSY Initiatives….2 New JSY Initiatives….

Stellar Farmer’s Markets

Expansion through Request for Application (RFA)

Stellar Farmers MarketsStellar Farmers Markets

JSY SNAP-ed at farmer’s markets in all 5 boroughs of NYC

Coordinated by NYC DOH and Mental Hygiene

GoalGoal

Attract more residents to the markets by offering a variety of health activities at the markets

Target locations: South Bronx, East and Central Harlem, North and Central Brooklyn, Jamaica/Queens, Northern Staten Island

ReachReach

Pilot in 8 markets in all NYC boroughs

Provide nutrition education and food demonstrations at the markets

Seasonal staff will include 4 nutrition consultants and 8 nutrition assistants

Sessions will be provided throughout the growing season

JSY RFAJSY RFA

• Targeted to not-for-profit organizations that have experience working with low income or food stamp clients and have experience in providing nutrition education

• Examples of potential applicants: hunger relief organizations, agencies sponsoring summer food and community organizations providing other services to food stamp participants

JSY RFA FundingJSY RFA Funding

• A total of approximately $905,000 is available for awards

• Range of awards is from $100,000 - $300,000 per contract year

• Funds provided to applicants are based on the estimated cost per participant, the minimum number of participants the applicant has proposed to reach through direct nutrition education, and the length of the grant.

Challenges……..Challenges……..

• Language barriers

• Literacy barriers

• Transient populations

• Unstructured work environments

Resolutions……Resolutions……

Language and literacy barriers:• Bilingual nutrition educators• Enlist assistance of bilingual site program

staff• All JSY materials available in English and

Spanish• Consulted with health literacy experts to

develop program materials• Field testing with target audience

Resolutions……Resolutions……

Transient populations:

• Interagency collaborations

• Increased marketing efforts

• Consistent scheduling with selected sites

Resolutions……Resolutions……

Unstructured work environments:

• Shift from “pass through” food pantries to client choice model has allowed for more JSY teaching time

• Interagency collaborations

Keys to success…..Keys to success…..

JSY Best Practices:

• Pilot testing

• Collaborate with other experts in the field

• Staff development training

• Teamwork

THANK YOU!Danielle Quigley, MS, RD, CDN

Public Health Nutritionist 1NYSDOH, Division of Nutrition

Bureau of Nutrition Risk Reduction

www.jsyfruitveggies.org