ACTIVITIES
2024 Jeanne M. Priester Extension Health Awards
Nominations and self-nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Jeanne M. Priester Extension Health Awards. The awards are named for Jeanne Priester, former National Program Leader at ES-USDA involved in the development of such landmark programs such EFNEP and Mulligan Stew. Today, these awards recognize extraordinary programs and professionals that are modeling next generation work in health and well-being. Awards are presented in six different categories. Award recipients will be recognized at the 2024 National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference in Greenville, SC in May. For more information, please download the Priester Awards Flyer
National Diabetes Prevention Program
The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is a partnership of public and private organizations working to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Partners like Cooperative Extension use the CDC-recognized Lifestyle Change Program to make it easier for people to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes. Many Extension professionals across the nation are implementing the program in the communities they serve. Find out more about Cooperative Extension’s involvement in this program at https://preventdiabetes.extension.org/#burden-of-prediabetes
Dining with Diabetes
Dining with Diabetes (DWD) is a fun and interactive diabetes self-management educational program open to all, and of particular interest to individuals with prediabetes, type 1 or type 2 diabetes and members of their support system. An exclusive program offered only by Cooperative Extensions across the United States, Dining with Diabetes helps participants build food skills through cooking while learning self-management strategies to better manage, prevent, or delay complications surrounding diabetes. Focused on disease management and prevention, Dining with Diabetes covers topics such as healthy eating, being active, monitoring, taking medications and reducing risks. Classes include research-based education, cooking demonstrations and healthy recipe tasting. Links to various state programs can be found below.
Kansas https://www.k-state.edu/diningwithdiabetes/
Pennsylvania https://extension.psu.edu/dining-with-diabetes
Michigan https://www.canr.msu.edu/dining_with_diabetes/
Ohio https://fcs.osu.edu/programs/nutrition/dining-diabetes
West Virginia https://extension.wvu.edu/food-health/diabetes/dining-with-diabetes
Mississippi http://extension.msstate.edu/food-and-health/health/dining-diabetes
Delaware https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/nutrition-wellness/nutrition/dining-with-diabetes/
Maryland https://extension.umd.edu/programs/family-consumer-sciences/nutrition-and-health/dining-diabetes
Maine https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/dining-with-diabetes/
Indiana https://extension.purdue.edu/news/county/lawrence/2021/11/Dining-with-Diabetes-Program.html
Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE)
EXCITE is a nationwide initiative implemented by the Cooperative Extension System that is focused on increasing uptake of vaccinations that adults need to be healthy. EXCITE is made possible through an Interagency Agreement between USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and focuses its efforts on addressing health disparities among rural and other underserved communities. More than eighteen million people have been reached through the EXCITE efforts of land grant universities across the country. Find out more at https://excite.extension.org
Youth Advocates for Community Health
Youth Advocates for Community Health (YACH), developed by the University of Wisconsin – Madison, provides Extension professionals and their community partners with a step-by-step model for positioning young people to catalyze change in their communities related to issues that matter to them. The YACH guidebook is organized around a five-step process which includes choosing a battle, raising awareness, creating an action plan, implementing the plan, and evaluating results. The guidebook includes a wide variety of resources and tools for each step in the process. Learn more at https://healthyliving.extension.wisc.edu/programs/youth-advocates-for-community-health/
National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference (NHOC)
Originally known as the Priester Conference, NHOC is a three-day annual gathering of Extension faculty and staff, cross-campus collaborators, and external partners focused on the role that they can collectively play in improving the health and well-being of the nation. The conference has historically been held in May of each year and attracts approximately 250-300 participants. Typically included in the program are plenary sessions, concurrent sessions, and poster sessions. Proposals to present are evaluated through a blind peer review process. The conference is held in a different location each year. In 2024 the conference will be held May 12-14 in Greenville, SC.
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is the nation’s first nutrition education program for low-income populations and remains at the forefront of nutrition education efforts to reduce nutrition insecurity of low-income families and youth today. Collectively, 76 Land-grant Universities conduct EFNEP and reach roughly 200,000 low-in¬come adults and 450,000 low-income youth in rural and urban communities each year through Cooperative Extension. EFNEP is available in all states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Annual data consistently show that more than 90 percent of adults and 80 percent of youth report implemented new food-related practices following EFNEP involvement.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Program
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program paves the way for positive behavior changes that lead to improved health for individuals and communities. The goal of SNAP-Ed is to improve the likelihood that SNAP-eligible Americans with lower income will make healthy food and lifestyle choices that prevent obesity. Collectively, 58 land grant universities reach roughly 1.7 million people each year with nutrition education activities delivered at more than 25,000 delivery sites. More about Cooperative Extension’s role in this USDA program can be found at https://snap-ed.extension.org
Health Insurance Literacy
Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Cooperative Extension has played an active role in educating consumers on how to choose and use health insurance. In 2012, University of Maryland Extension and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension collaborated to launch the Health Insurance Literacy Initiative (HILI). HILI has produced evidence-based, empowerment programs intended to reduce confusion, increase capability, and increase the confidence of consumers to make a smart choice and use decisions about health insurance. To learn more about this work, visit https://extension.umd.edu/programs/family-consumer-sciences/health-insurance-literacy/
