University of Delaware Sabbatical Work Nancy Cotugna, DrPH, RD, LDN - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

University of Delaware Sabbatical Work Nancy Cotugna, DrPH, RD, LDN

Who Am I? • Professor of community nutrition at UD for the past 31 years • Registered dietitian • Food Bank of DE board member for many years

What a sabbatical is NOT

What IS a sabbatical? • To provide time away from the classroom for research or other professional or creative activity.

Goals of my sabbatical • Increase the access to fresh produce and thus more nutritious foods for clients of the food bank. • Increase consumption of agricultural commodities.

Objectives • Bring the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program to the state • Bring the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program to the state • Research, write and submit proposals for other funding opportunities

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) • USDA funded ‐ $21 million annually • Grants awarded to state agencies • Provides coupons to low ‐ income seniors – 60 years and older – 185% of poverty level • Coupons exchanged at farmers’ markets or roadside stands for locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables

SFMNP • Provides a maximum of $50/person/season • DE is one of only 8 states that does not participate in this program • Program is typically a collaboration between State Depts of Agriculture and Aging • A state plan must be developed to apply for this funding – Defines implementation, operation, and administration of the program (~ 100 pages)

WIC FMNP • Goal is to provide fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants • Also to expand the awareness, use of and sales at farmers’ markets • Open to women, infants over 4 months old and children in the WIC program • Maximum benefit is $30/person/season

WIC FMNP • State must match 30% of admin costs (no match for seniors’ program) • DE is one of 14 states that does not participate • USDA grant similar to SFMNP • Application is development of a state plan similar to SFMNP • I will be writing both of the state plans

Other activities • Assist with establishing the next phase of work plan for AHC • Explore expansion of opportunities for WIC clients – Example: split tender options • Research and write state plans/grants, help obtain funding

Other activities • Explore opportunities/marketing techniques for acceptance and use of EBT cards at local farmers’ markets • Collaborate with FBD development director on grant writing for the development of a CSA program for low ‐ income families