The purpose of this project was to describe the process used for the development of core competencies for paraprofessional nutrition educators in Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE). The development process included the efforts of an expert panel of state and multicounty FSNE leaders to draft the core competencies and the validation of those competencies by FSNE paraprofessionals. The result of the project was a comprehensive list of 10 core competency areas with specific competencies for each. The core competencies will be useful with FSNE for state and local program planning, implementation, evaluation, and decision making, with possible implications for other community-based education programs.

Logic models are a practical method for systematically collecting impact data for community nutrition efforts, such as the Food Stamp Nutrition Education program. This report describes the process used to develop and test the Community Nutrition Education Logic Model and the results of a pilot study to determine whether national evaluation data could be captured without losing flexibility of programming and evaluation at the state level. The objectives were to develop an evaluation framework based on the Logic Model to include dietary quality, food safety, food security, and shopping behavior/food resource management and to develop a training mechanism for use. The portability feature of the model should allow application to a variety of community education programs.

This study compared consumer reactions to four media formats — video news release, video public service announcement, print news release, and newsprint column — that contained a parallel message about the use of agricultural chemicals in the food supply. Eight message evaluation sessions were held in four regions of the United States with 86 women. Based on their responses to a background questionnaire, the women were distinguished by level of concern for pesticide use and food safety, urban versus rural residence, and farm versus nonfarm employment. While all formats were favorably received, Likert-type scale reactions, cognitive responses, and some focus group comments showed audience preference for the video news release and newsprint column approaches. Consumers who indicated high concern for the pesticide/food safety issue responded more favorably to the two print formats than did less concerned consumers. No such distinctions based on level of concern were found for the two broadcast formats. This work illustrates the dilemma communicators have in educating about controversial risk issues, that is, in creating messages that are considered objective and nonsensational, yet also maintain the interest of readers and viewers. Also, the study provides an example of combining quantitative research designs with qualitative message evaluation focus groups.

Audience segmentation and focus group methods were used to evaluate consumer reactions to a risk/benefit/option message about agricultural chemicals in the food supply. The approach was well‐received and showed potential for raising consumers' concerns regarding health and environmental risks associated with pesticides, along with confidence in their ability to minimize exposure to residues. Concern and confidence increased most among consumers who already were concerned and who were most removed from agriculture.

Situational theory provides a conceptual framework for identifying and examining the active and passive information use behaviors of audiences in public relations campaigns. We suggest that the utility of situational theory may be increased by examining several possible dimensions of passive information use, using the cognitive response measurement approach. Data were collected from 85 female consumers at eight experimental sessions across the United States. Results suggest that situational theory and cognitive response approaches may be usefully combined to study a variety of dimensions of attention to messages. Such a combination may also serve to better inform message strategy in communication campaigns by providing a conceptually rigorous approach to conducting message tests.

To review the effect of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in changing nutrition-related outcomes.Relevant research conducted before December 2020 was identified using PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the EFNEP Research Database. The methodological quality of each eligible study was assessed.Of the 406 studies found, 30 were eligible; 26 studies were on EFNEP, and 4 included both EFNEP and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed). The sample sizes ranged from 35 to 122,961. Outcome measures included consumption of food groups, nutrients, other nutrition-related behaviors, and food security. At least 1 immediate behavior change (P < 0.05) was reported in each study, but long-term maintenance of behavior change was not evident.This review found a consistent, immediate improvement in nutrition behaviors after program participation but poor retention over time. Overall, variation in programming and outcome measures, incomplete reporting, and generally low study quality by modern standards precluded strong conclusions.This review identified the need for control groups, improved reporting of program protocols, theory-based curriculum, and measurement of long-term outcomes.