SNAP-Ed is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It is administered by SNAP state and local implementing agencies. States conduct needs assessments to ensure that SNAP-Ed is delivered in a hands-on and tailored way for their communities. As a result, SNAP-Ed looks different in every state.
In Missouri, the University of Missouri (MU) Extension is the lead SNAP-Ed Implementing Agency. MU Extension provides direct education, indirect education and policy, systems, & environmental (PSE) initiatives in all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. Annually, the SNAP-Ed program in Missouri reaches over one million Missourians.
MU Extension provides research-based nutrition education to Missouri’s SNAP recipients and those who are eligible. Using the socio-ecological model to prompt behavior change, MU Extension faculty and staff provide education to youth and adults throughout the state of Missouri.
Whether reaching out to youth and adults through classroom education or working with communities to promote healthy policies, systems and environments, the goal of the program is to help participants make behavior changes to achieve lifelong health and fitness. Along with statewide education, MU Extension coordinates the Missouri Nutrition Network activities through the Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition (MOCAN) and collaborates with Operation Food Search to expand nutrition education throughout the state.