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Overview
Population
- According to 2000 census data the estimated population of Middlesex country is 750,162. It is projected that the population will increase to 777,600 by the year 2005.
- 7200 households were receiving some kind of public assistance.
- Middlesex is ranked third in terms of population size in New Jersey.
Demographics
- Minorities comprise most of the low income population lead by Hispanics.
- The racial composition of Middlesex County is 513,298 (68.4%), Asian (104,212 or 13.9%), Hispanic (101,940 or 13.6%), Asian - Indian (54,880 or 7.3%), African American (68,467 or 9.1%).
- In April 2003, More than 80% of children in New Brunswick and Perth Amboy qualified for free or reduced school lunch.
USDA Food Stamp Eligible Families
As of September 2004:
- 14,700 residents of Middlesex County receive food stamps.
- 6,102 households in Middlesex County are program participants.
Middlesex County Project
The Middlesex Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP) will serve the preschool children in Abbott schools in New Brunswick and Perth Amboy. Additionally, it will provide nutrition education to youth in Elementary schools and adults in Work First Programs.
Non- Duplication of Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Services
- The Middlesex FSNEP program does not duplicate the FSNEP Child Nutrition program, which is taught by Rutgers students in local elementary schools./span>
- The program will only target grades that are presently not being educated by the FSNEP CNP program.
- The Middlesex FSNEP program will serve food stamp eligible audience. It will only serve audiences that are not being served by the EFNEP Program in Middlesex County.
Project Objectives
- To promote the FSNEP project and its statewide mission to food stamp eligible population in Middlesex County, not already served by EFNEP and FSNEP CNP.
- To deliver behaviorally-focused, research-based nutrition education via lessons, approved by the nutrition specialist to Abbott preschoolers and their parents.
- To deliver behaviorally focused, learner driven, outcome based lessons to adult groups where 50% or more of the class population receives or is eligible to receive food stamps.
- To conduct train the trainer sessions to train High School students. The New Brunswick Health Science Technology High School students will deliver pre-school lessons.
- To improve collaboration among municipal, local, county and state agencies in order to assist the eligible population to apply for food stamps in the state of New Jersey.
Project Activities
- To provide behaviorally focused, learner-driven, outcome-based nutrition lessons to preschoolers, youth and adults.
- Provide behaviorally focused, learner driven nutrition education workshops for parents of preschoolers.
- To distribute and disseminate information about FSNEP and specific nutrition education opportunities available to the target population.
- Collaborate with local, municipal and county-wide agencies to better coordinate food stamp services.
- Provide 'Train the Trainer' program for High School students to enable them to teach culturally and developmentally appropriate curricula.
- Hire new staff and provide necessary ongoing training on lessons approved by the state nutrition specialist(s).
Evaluation
The Evaluation Reporting system (ERS) is used to input Diet Recalls and a Behavior Checklist to look at dietary change and Behavior change in adults.
Collaborative - Relationships
Department of Nutritional Sciences Rutgers University
New Brunswick Public Schools-Early Childhood Education
New Brunswick Public Schools -Adult Learning Center
Central New Jersey Maternal and Child Health Consortium
Perth Amboy Public Schools- Early Childhood Education
Division of One Stop Programs
Middlesex County College, Perth Amboy
Project Budget
FY 04 $100,021
FY 05 $192,332
Contact
Shailja Mathur, MS, MEd, Program Associate
Middlesex County, FSNEP
Dept of Nutritional Sciences
26 Nichol Avenue, Davison Hall, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: (732) 932-1236
Fax: (732) 932-6522
Email: mathur@rcre.rutgers.edu
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