MSU Extension SNAP-Ed

The Big Picture

22 Adult Direct Education Trainings

19 Youth Direct Education Trainings

12 PSE Trainings

98 staff completed the Nutrition 1-2-3 Training

MSU Extension Action

Michigan State University Extension places a high priority on training and statewide support. Training is provided to ensure that Michigan State University Extension staff comply with SNAP-Ed regulations, program fidelity, and best-practices. In addition to these competencies, content-rich orientation and training is offered throughout the year to ensure curriculum is delivered with fidelity and in a manner that is appropriate for the given audiences. New staff are oriented to the SNAP-Ed program through a videoconference series, a training manual, and are provided ongoing guidance from their supervising and staff development educators. New supervisors are teamed with a mentor and are provided guidance from the SNAP-Ed Coordinator and Health and Nutrition Associate Director. Staff throughout the organization are required to participate in Civil Rights training each year. Fidelity to curriculum and evaluation processes is paramount and emphasized in training that is specific to curriculum implementation, reporting, and evaluation protocols.

SNAP-Ed Grant Compliance

SNAP-Ed rollouts were completed across the state with current staff and new hire training for new staff which included the following topics:

• Business procedures
• SNAP-Ed eligibility
• Delivery guidelines for series and presentation
• SNAP-Ed approved curriculum
• SNAP-Ed evaluation framework
• Reporting and evaluation
• Additional PEARS training
• Civil rights
• Human Research Protection Program

The Impact

In fiscal year 2018, 141 live trainings were provided as well as an additional 8 recordings were available to staff for on demand viewing. Curriculum trainings include information on nutrition and physical activity content, delivery method and program fidelity.

What trainings and how many staff?

• 8 staff, or 5 percent, trained in SNAP-Ed Grant Compliance
• 9 staff, or 6 percent, trained in Reporting and Evaluation
• 45 staff, or 30 percent, trained in Curriculum & Content
• 34 staff, or 23 percent, attended Training and Compliance
• 2 staff members attended New Hire Training
• New Hire Training
• 51 staff, or 34 percent, attended Organizational Development Trainings

Percentage of staff that feel knowledgeable and skilled in nutrition education topics after completing Nutrition 1, 2, 3 online training (required of all staff):

• 92% of staff reported that they felt confident in their knowledge and skills regarding dietary guidelines.
• 92% of staff reported that they felt confident in their knowledge and skills regarding physical activity guidelines.
• 87% of staff reported that they felt confident in their knowledge and skills regarding SNAP Ed grant guidelines.
• 96% of staff reported that they felt confident in their knowledge and skills regarding MyPlate.
• 96% of staff reported that they felt confident in their knowledge and skills regarding food label reading.
• 96% of staff reported that they felt confident in their knowledge and skills regarding food safety.

What Our Staff Are Saying

“I felt that this training did a great job of incorporating different activities for different types of learners. There was a wide variety of activities, resources, videos, etc."

“[The training had] different formats of information. [It wasn’t] just all videos. Some were interactive and included readings as well.”

“I think this is a very good training for new staff. It focuses on all the things we teach. I like how classroom management and working with different populations was included in this training. Just knowing basic nutrition will not help you if you can’t relate to the participants in your class.”

“[The training] was broken up into sections that helped me better understand the materials.”