County Overview

Population

• 2000 U.S. Census Bureau Report 146,438
• County ranks lowest per capita income in NJ $15,869
• 1990 Census indicates that 3,603 families out of a total population of 35,383 are below poverty guidelines
• Only 63.4% of residents over 25 years of age possess a high school diploma
• 14,528 residents of Cumberland County have less than a 9th grade education

Demographics

• 73.5% White
• 18.9% African American
• 13.3% Hispanic
• 0.9% American Indian
• 7.8% Other

USDA Food Stamp Participating Families

• 5,220 households in Cumberland County including 12,521 individuals are Food Stamp Program participants

Cumberland County FSNEP Project

Cumberland County ranks the lowest of the state's counties in income and education. As a result there is a great need for nutrition education and low literacy materials in Cumberland County. The project serves the needs of limited resource seniors and food stamp participants who are attending four-week job training programs.

• Project Activities
  • To promote the FSNEP Project and its statewide mission
  • To increase food security through nutrition education programs Food Stamp eligible adults. Food stamp eligible adults are identified through senior centers, work development centers, job training programs and other related program centers.
  • Improve and increase collaboration and cooperation among government agencies, non-profit organizations and private enterprise that work with limited resource audiences.
  • To improve the nutrition education services available to persons eligible to receive food stamps in Cumberland County.
  • To solicit the participation of representatives of the collaborative target agencies and organizations.
  • To expand and enhance the Cumberland County Food Stamp Nutrition Education Support Network
  • Network partners will meet on a regular basis to 1) assess present future needs for nutrition education in Cumberland County, 2) develop and implement methods to coordinate food stamp nutrition education more efficiently and cost effectively, 3) develop and implement methods to promote use and participation in the NJ FSNEP by food stamp eligible residents of Cumberland County.
• Evaluation
  
  The evaluation methodology, which is used includes an overall measurement of the impact of nutrition education amongst the senior population of Food Stamp program participants. The ERS reporting system is used for Pre and Post Diet Recalls and Behavioral Checklist. Only the Behavioral checklist is used in programs lasting less than 6 weeks. An evaluation report of the project will be submitted for possible publication in a peer reviewed Nutrition and/or Family and Consumer Sciences journal.

Collaborative Relationships

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County
Cumberland County Office on Aging and Disabled
Cumberland County Medical Day Care Center
Bridgeton Employment Service
Deerfield Senior Center
Edgar Joyce Senior Center
Luther Acres Senior Residence
Millville Congregate Housing Services/Housing Authority of Millville
Tri-County Head Start
Vineland Adult School
Vineland Congregate Housing Services/Housing Authority of Vineland
Vineland Employment Service
Vineland Senior Center

Contact

Sharon Blasé, FCSE
Cumberland County FSNEP
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County
291 Morton Ave.
Millville, NJ 08332
Phone: (856) 451-2800
Fax: (856) 451-4206
E-mail: Blase@aesop.rutgers.edu