Extension Today

Food safety is a vital component of Alabama Extension’s health and wellness programs. However, it is gaining importance with more people growing, harvesting and preserving their food, along with a spiked interest in culinary cooking. To meet these increasing demands, Alabama Extension hired its first food safety and quality specialist, Dr. Terence Martin.

Martin’s primary responsibilities include educating audiences about food safety issues and helping farmers to meet food safety certification requirements. This month, however, he reminds us of the importance of food safety among breast cancer patients.

Food safety and breast cancer

Food safety and breast cancer awareness go hand in hand. Today, 1 in 6 people are victims of foodborne illnesses, including those diagnosed with breast cancer. Food safety is important for cancer patients because their immune systems may already be weakened from treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments decrease white blood cells in patients, which are necessary to fight off infections. Therefore, families must be careful when preparing meals for family members battling cancer.

For example, breast or other cancer patients should avoid consuming raw or undercooked meat such as poultry and seafood. Raw milk and eggs, unwashed fruits and vegetables, cheeses made from raw milk, cold hot dogs and even sprouts should also be avoided. All raw food should be properly washed and cooked at appropriate temperatures. In addition, cancer patients should be aware of chemicals from food packaging materials. These materials are known to leach into food and are linked to some cancers, developmental disorders and other diseases. Visit www.aces.edu for more food safety information.

The health and safety of our families has become increasingly important. Below are four ways we can influence family well-being: nutrition, physical activity, mental health and emergency preparedness.

Nutrition and healthy eating practices

Suggestions for enhancing family eating habits are:

• Plan balanced meals that include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats.
• Increase home-cooked meals to better control ingredients and portion sizes.

Promoting physical activity within families

Suggestions to engage the family in exercise:

• Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week for adults and 60 minutes daily for children.
• Select activities the entire family can enjoy like biking, hiking or dancing.

Supporting mental health and emotional well-being

Ways to encourage family mental and emotional health:

• Encourage open communication with regular check-ins with each family member.
• Teach stress management strategies, such as deep breathing or mindfulness exercises.

First aid and emergency preparedness

Guidelines to ensure your family is well prepared:

• Create and maintain a first aid kit.
• Develop and rehearse an emergency evacuation plan for your home.
• Assemble an emergency kit that includes water, non-perishable food, flashlights and batteries.

Central State University (CSU) Extension is dedicated to impacting communities with its innovative Health Education Mobile Unit (HEMU).

This initiative brings essential health education directly to communities, embodying CSU Extension's commitment to community engagement and transformation. Renita Porter, program leader for CSU Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) program, highlights the profound impact of HEMU.

"Our mobile unit bridges gaps in health education, empowering communities to thrive," she says.

At the heart of CSU Extension's efforts lies the HEMU, which serves as a community-based outreach program focusing on health education. FCS educators and program coordinators use the HEMU to deliver vital education on nutrition, family dynamics and financial literacy. Through workshops and demonstrations, educators equip families with practical skills for daily life, promoting healthier living and stronger community ties.

CSU Extension’s HEMU actively engages with local communities, schools and organizations to address health-related challenges head on. By emphasizing preventive health measures and promoting healthy eating habits, HEMU strives to enhance overall well-being and empower families through increased health literacy and access to valuable resources. For more information, contact Renita Porter at rporter@centralstate.edu.

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) engaged 108 youths at the Smyrna/Clayton Boys and Girls Club from July 8 to Aug. 16, with 75 graduating from the program.

The mission of the Boys and Girls Club aligns with the EFNEP's vision, focusing on empowering young people to lead healthy lifestyles. The program emphasized the U.S. Department of Agriculture's dietary guidelines through interactive lessons and activities designed to teach basic nutrition, healthy eating habits and hydration.

Six lessons were completed, covering topics such as limiting sweetened drinks, understanding nutrition facts labels and the benefits of whole grains. Participants engaged in practical activities, including recreating recipes like fruit and veggie smoothies and breakfast parfaits. They learned to identify the five food groups, measure portion sizes and the significance of consuming fresh fruits and vegetables.

Feedback indicated a positive impact on participants’ attitudes toward healthy eating. Many expressed intentions to make healthier food choices at home. Notable comments included enthusiasm for new recipes and a commitment to reducing soda consumption.

Overall, the program successfully equipped youths with essential nutritional knowledge and skills, fostering healthier lifestyle choices and encouraging family involvement in meal planning and grocery shopping. The engagement and enthusiasm of the participants underscored the effectiveness of the EFNEP at this site.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) Extension has been actively involved in the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching & Engagement (EXCITE) project. It is funded by the Extension Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

FAMU’s efforts include three initiatives:

• Excite 1: FAMU LOVE (Leveraging Organizations for Vaccine Engagement).
• Excite 2: Florida VIP (Vaccinate-Immunize-Protect) for Healthy Communities Program.
• Excite 3: Florida Extension Immunization Education and Community Action Program.

These community-based projects aim to overcome vaccine access barriers and provide science-backed information to help Floridians make informed decisions about protecting themselves and their communities from preventable diseases like COVID-19, flu, shingles and RSV. Working alongside the University of Florida, local health departments and community organizations, FAMU has used face-to-face events, social media and innovative methods like billboards to reach people in six rural Panhandle counties.

To date, more than 60 partnerships have been formed, 90,000 community members reached and 3,500 individuals educated about immunizations, with more than 200 vaccinations and health screenings administered. Additionally, this project offers training for Extension professionals to enhance their skills in promoting adult vaccine education to priority groups.

The Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Cooperative Extension Program serves hundreds of people throughout Georgia every year. County agents deliver research-based educational programs that improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities.

With October recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ginger Chastine, FCS agent in Hancock County, has been working with families in Georgia to share valuable resources about breast cancer at major events and faith-based organizations.

FVSU exhibits at the annual Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, and Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition in Moultrie, Georgia, to engage with visitors about the various services offered through Extension, research and education. Chastine took the opportunity to demonstrate a 3D model to show the sizes of various breast lumps to stress the importance of following a mammography schedule. She also shared breast care educational resources and materials.

“The demonstrations raise awareness about the importance of breast self-examination and mammography in the early detection of breast abnormalities,” Chastine said. “The displays feature palpable, lifelike lumps that teach audience members how to locate potential abnormalities.”

Chastine connected with hundreds of people at both events, where many shared their breast cancer stories. Visitors included both women and men, as well as high schoolers.

“Their stories were profound and touching,” Chastine said. “It is important to have those early conversations with their health care provider and for our young people to start having those conversations with their caregivers and making sure to add self-exams to their regimen of health care.”

She plans to develop resources for families on how to talk to their children and spouses about their breast cancer diagnosis.

Physical activity is vital for optimal health and the prevention of chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, yet many Americans fall short of recommended leisure activity levels.

Parents play a key role in modeling active behaviors for their children. In Blaine County, adult obesity rates exceed those of Oklahoma and the national average, and residents have limited access to physical activity opportunities compared to other areas.

To address this, Langston University partnered with Watonga City Hall, Watonga Library, local author Brooke Cowan and Opportunities Inc. to launch a story walk during the Cheese Festival held in mid-October, which attracts more than 15,000 visitors over two days. This initiative encourages literacy and promotes physical activity among families. More than 200 families and youths participated, walking approximately one mile through 14 locations in downtown Watonga while reading The Wild Adventures of William Cash, written by Cowan.

“The story walks not only fostered community engagement but also allowed families to exercise together, modeling healthy behaviors,” stated Dr. Tiffany Williams, program leader for the Family and Consumer Sciences Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.

Langston University Cooperative Extension and Outreach is committed to providing resources to underserved communities. The initiative will continue to rotate various locations in Watonga, with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (2022-38821-3736).

Access to healthy, nutritious food is crucial, but many underserved communities, particularly those in food deserts, struggle with limited availability. This lack of access increases the risk of poor health outcomes.

At Lincoln University of Missouri (LU), commercial kitchen manager Joshua Dunne has expanded an innovative program focused on improving food security and nutrition through food preservation techniques. Building on the work of Sarah Eber, former LU Cooperative Extension’s nutrition coordinator, Dunne’s program goes beyond simply providing access to food. It teaches families how to extend the shelf life of healthy, nutrient-dense produce.

Through hands-on workshops titled "You Can, Can," Dunne teaches food preservation methods like freezing, dehydration and canning. Participants learn to preserve a variety of vegetables, ensuring that their harvests last beyond the growing season. Creative methods, such as making jams and fruit leather, are also introduced, showcasing how local ingredients can be preserved for year-round use.

Workshops, held in collaboration with LU’s Innovative Small Farmers’ Outreach Program and other organizations, aim to equip families with practical skills that promote food sustainability. By preserving food, families can ensure access to nutritious options year-round, improving food security and health outcomes. This initiative helps communities in food deserts gain more control over their food sources, fostering healthier lifestyles and strengthening local food systems.

The Fresh & Local Nutrition Incentive Program, a project implemented by a multidisciplinary team led by Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, completed its second year in August.

Offered on most Wednesdays through Aug. 7, the market provided half-priced Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box options to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants and was open to the entire community in the parking lot adjacent to the N.C. A&T Student Health Center.

The Fresh & Local Nutrition Incentive Program is an effort to reduce food insecurity and help people in East Greensboro and Guilford County, North Carolina, enjoy more fruits and vegetables. With about 78,000 people relying on SNAP benefits in Guilford County, the double EBT bucks initiative enables families to make healthier food choices.

The program engaged more than 300 SNAP recipients in Greensboro through partnerships with community-based organizations, providing weekly deliveries of CSA boxes filled with locally sourced, fresh vegetables and fruits to participants. The program is funded by a $98,948 grant from the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program’s Produce Prescription and Nutrition Incentive, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Te’Anna Donaldson, Family and Community Health Extension agent for Harris County, collaborated with Jonathan Leung, senior manager of the Seniors Enrichment Program for Harris County Precinct One, to host the Spring into Action Health Fair.

This event provided attendees with the opportunity to engage in educational workshops and fitness demonstrations aimed at inspiring proactive steps toward healthier lifestyles. The health fair featured interactive activities presented by Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) Wellness in Houston and the 4-H & Youth Development units. Participants benefited from informative workshops conducted by Harris County Public Health and received essential parenting and mental health awareness resources from PVAMU Extension’s Family and Community Health (FCH) unit.

Health fairs serve as invaluable educational platforms, equipping attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed health decisions. Through the collaborative efforts of PVAMU Extension and Harris County Precinct One, the recent event successfully reached 143 seniors and 25 youths from the surrounding area. Plans are already underway for the 2025 Spring into Action Health Fair.

Dr. Rhea Bentley, state program leader for family, nutrition and health, and assistant Extension administrator for field operations, is spearheading a new initiative to enhance the well-being of families across the state. The Eat Well, Fight Strong program, designed to promote cancer prevention through healthy eating habits, will be introduced in February 2025.

This program is part of a larger effort to address public health concerns by focusing on nutrition as a key factor in cancer prevention. Bentley believes empowering families with the tools to make informed food choices will lead to long-term health benefits and lower cancer risks.

"Good nutrition is a powerful defense against cancer," says Bentley. "With Eat Well, Fight Strong, we aim to provide families with the resources and knowledge to make healthier choices that can make a real difference in their lives."

The program will roll out in two counties per Extension region with plans to expand to each region in South Carolina. It will include workshops, cooking demonstrations and educational materials tailored to meet the needs of each community. By focusing on prevention, Eat Well, Fight Strong is positioned to make a lasting impact on the health and safety of families for generations to come.

For more information, contact Bentley at rbentley@scsu.edu.

The Southern University Ag Center is committed to improving the health and safety of Louisiana families through innovative public health initiatives. These programs are culturally tailored to meet the diverse needs of our communities, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Nutrition, health and wellness programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Healthfully Whole promote healthy living across age groups, providing practical tools to reduce the risk of chronic diseases through healthy eating and physical activity.

Youth programs, such as C.H.E.F. Camp, teach students about food safety and making nutritious choices. JAGcation Summer Camps introduce students to agriculture, showing how it connects to family health through hands-on experiences in nutrition, wellness and sustainable practices.

Also, the SU Ag Center hosts resource fairs and health luncheons to promote health education and break down barriers to accessing local services. These events provide valuable resources and encourage community engagement.

The immunization education program Stronger Community, Stronger Immunity raises awareness of the importance of vaccines, helping protect families from preventable diseases. JAGriculture, an emergency preparedness program, equips families to respond to natural disasters and other crises, tailored to regional needs. This team recently published a disaster education resource through the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) and the Extension Foundation.

Finally, a new teletherapy program, Rural Connections for Rural Resilience, offers free mental health services to rural communities, providing critical support to those without easy access to care.

Together, these efforts help families across Louisiana live healthier, safer lives. For additional information about the SU Ag Center’s public health initiatives, contact Jasmin Mathews at Jasmin_plowe@suagcenter.com.

Tennessee State University's Extension program is a cornerstone for improving the health and safety of families throughout the state. By offering a comprehensive range of educational programs focused on nutrition, physical activity, food safety, chronic disease management, mental health, emergency preparedness and immunizations, the Extension program empowers individuals to make informed decisions and take proactive steps to protect their well-being.

Through workshops, seminars and community outreach initiatives, the Extension program provides evidence-based information and practical skills to address various health challenges. Nutrition and physical activity programs promote healthy eating habits and encourage regular exercise, while food safety education equips families with the knowledge to prevent foodborne illnesses. Chronic disease management programs offer support and resources for individuals living with conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Mental health programs emphasize the importance of emotional well-being and provide tools for stress management and coping with challenges. Emergency preparedness programs educate families on how to prepare for and respond to disasters, while immunization programs promote disease prevention through vaccination. By addressing these critical areas of health and safety, the Tennessee State University Extension program is making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families across the state.

Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension (TUCE), along with the Rural Alabama Vaccination Education and Events (RAVE2) program, focused on increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates and addressing disparities in COVID-19 outcomes. Reporting showed that during the initial roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, Alabama’s Black Belt counties were having the highest percentage of unvaccinated people in the state.

To reduce this gap, TUCE /Family and Consumer Science (FCS) accepted a grant award from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and partnered with Rural Alabama Vaccination Education Events (RAVE2) to provide COVID-19 educational materials, tests, vaccines and boosters from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson to anyone aged 5 years or older in underserved, rural communities across the Black Belt counties of Alabama.

The Alabama rural communities suffer from limited or no access to health care, food deserts and high poverty rates to name a few, which made this grant so crucial. According to Arthur Nelson, RAVE2 coordinator in Lowndes County, Tuskegee farmers provide fresh peas, greens, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and other seasonal vegetables, which were distributed in disadvantaged communities to improve overall health while providing COVID-19 information.

“We give them the bag of vegetables, and we include our brochure about COVID-19,” said Nelson. “We’re educating the community on good health by giving them fresh vegetables and reminding them to practice safety regarding COVID-19. We also provided T-shirts, masks and hand sanitizers.”

The successful efforts of this grant have encouraged weekly and sometimes bi-weekly events to allow rural communities easy access to educational materials, vaccines, boosters, entertainment and often free food in the convenience of their neighborhoods.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Department of Human Sciences recently announced that the department was awarded a $28,936 grant from VentureWell.

The grant team was led by principal investigator and interim chair Dr. Marilyn Bailey and co-principal investigator Dr. Kimberly Haynie, an assistant professor for the department, in collaboration with the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research at UA Fayetteville.

This grant, part of the course and program grants, supports faculty and staff in U.S. higher education institutions to expand and strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems to accelerate sustainable and inclusive innovation.

This funding supports a groundbreaking course and certificate program designed to empower students to address food and nutrition equity in underserved communities. By connecting students with regional stakeholders, local farmers and entrepreneurs, the program aims to foster the development of innovative solutions to improve food access and equity within food distribution systems.

This initiative is among 19 projects chosen through a competitive national review process for its potential to make significant impacts on community health and sustainability. This project was selected from a competitive national pool of applicants, highlighting the institution’s innovative spirit and commitment to sustainability and entrepreneurship.

For more information about the grant and other recipients, visit VentureWell.

Low-income families in rural areas like Maryland's lower Eastern Shore face challenges due to limited access to health care, nutritious food and safe living conditions. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive, community-driven approach focusing on health care access, cultural competency, mental health, food security and safety.

Health care access

Rural areas often lack medical services. Initiatives like telehealth and mobile clinics improve access to care for underserved populations (MHCC, 2022).

Cultural competency

Training health care providers to work effectively with diverse populations is key to overcoming barriers related to language and mistrust (Nair & Adetayo, 2019).

Food insecurity

Many rural areas are food deserts, limiting access to fresh produce. Initiatives like farmers markets, community gardens and supporting BIPOC farmers help provide healthier options. Collaborative projects like the Well Connected Community (Zoumenou et al., 2024) foster food security.

Education and outreach

Programs like the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education help families improve dietary habits and reduce chronic disease risks (Aune et al., 2016; Zoumenou et al., 2024).

Community engagement

Collaborative efforts between local organizations and residents drive long-term health improvements. Youth-adult partnerships leverage technology and experience to address health issues (Zoumenou et al., 2024).

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Experts from nutrition, public health, sociology and anthropology work together to address family health by considering cultural, social and systemic factors (Shewmaker et al., 2024).

Policy development

U.S. Department of Agriculture policies on food security should consider cultural appropriateness to avoid health disparities (Socha & Abraham, 2012). Historical issues like redlining and segregation still impact resource availability, requiring systemic change (Shewmaker et al., 2024).

For more than 30 years, Sheree Press and Bernadette “Bee” Darrow have run a program aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect.

February of 2025 will mark 15 years of their program, Family Focus, coming under the umbrella of Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) thanks in part to some out-of-the-box thinking from Virginia State University’s (VSU) Special Assistant to the Associate Administrator Doris Heath, who at the time was a local Extension agent familiar with Family Focus.

Previously, the program was a part of the Virginia Mental Health System’s Prevention services when funding issues forced a temporary closure of the program. After years of struggling to grow and applying for grants acting as financial band-aids for their critical work, Press and Darrow are driving program growth to expand their impact.

“We’re at the moment of growth for the first time in 14 years,” says Darrow. “We joined the VCE Human Development Team and the VSU Extension Program Team during the pandemic. We’ve been uplifted and elevated as people and a program more in the last four years than ever.”

Both part-time program assistants, Press and Darrow credit their ability to run Family Focus under VCE to hard work, grit, dedicated staff, a dose of luck, community grants and support, philanthropic support and the support of the administrations at VSU and Virginia Tech. Their goal is to educate, support and strengthen families with research-based prevention measures to reduce rates of child abuse and neglect.

Family Focus offers science-backed parent/child playgroups, parenting classes and a curriculum called Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices.

Virginia Cooperative Extension extends the resources of Virginia's two land-grant universities, Virginia State University and Virginia Tech, to solve problems facing Virginians every day.

West Virginia State University (WVSU) Extension Family and Consumer Sciences' (FCS) Healthy Cents program is a comprehensive initiative focusing on improving financial literacy and health outcomes for underrepresented populations. It includes various chapters covering budgeting, saving strategies and understanding the relationship between economic stress and physical well-being. The program places a strong emphasis on inclusion and empowerment for all communities.

“The Healthy Cents program empowers our neighborhoods through nutrition literacy and food resource management, paving the way for healthier, more informed choices and sustainable well-being for all,” said Dr. Donte Pennington, program leader for WVSU Extension FCS.

One particularly noteworthy chapter of the curriculum is dedicated to food resource management. It provides practical skills for meal planning, smart grocery shopping and maximizing the use of available food assistance programs.

WVSU has partnered with Family Care, a community health organization, to implement the program in Kanawha and Cabell counties, extending its reach to more diverse communities with limited financial education and health resources. This collaborative effort aims to address the specific needs of these communities and empower individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed financial and health-related decisions.

By addressing financial literacy and health outcomes, the Healthy Cents program contributes to the well-being of underrepresented populations by promoting a more financially and physically healthy future.