By Stella Harbilas, APR, CPRC, marketing and communications coordinator for UF/IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program, stellaharbilas@ufl.edu
After nearly 30 years of providing vital nutrition education in communities in Florida, the UF/IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program (FNP) is closing its doors due to a loss of federal funding. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) — known to legislators as the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program — has been eliminated from the federal budget nationwide, beginning Oct. 1 with the passage of Congressional Bill No. H.R.1.
As a result of the cuts, the Family Nutrition Program — which is another name for the UF/IFAS Extension SNAP-Ed program in Florida — is forced to eliminate all 76 employee positions, including 62 local and regional staff, such as nutrition educators, program managers, Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change (PSE) specialists and support staff in 31 counties.
SNAP-Ed was founded to partner with communities in offering nutrition education for people eligible for SNAP benefits, helping them make healthy food choices on a limited budget and increase their physical activity. The Family Nutrition Program began in 1996 and was funded by the USDA through the Florida Department of Children and Families. In the beginning, the focus was on nutrition classes; later, the program added working with communities on environmental and policy changes that improve access to nutritious foods and opportunities for physical activity.
In Federal Fiscal Year 2024, the Family Nutrition Program partnered with close to 600 local organizations in Florida reaching 270,491 youth with free SNAP-Ed programming.
Dr. Karla Shelnutt, director of the UF/IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program and professor and associate dean for Extension engagement at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, said, “SNAP-Ed was never just about nutrition education lessons — it was about connection, encouragement and promoting healthy living. While its closure leaves a gap in vital community networks that help families thrive, we will work hard to find other ways to carry this mission forward, leveraging the infrastructure and partnerships we have built. We are incredibly grateful to the many community partners whose dedication, support and passion over the past 30 years have helped empower SNAP-eligible families across the state.”
The following are some of the ways the Family Nutrition Program has collaborated with partners over the years to support local economies and healthy changes in communities:
- Providing hands-on instruction for participants on cooking, meal planning on a budget, healthy food choices, physical activity, gardening and food safety.
- Connecting farmers with school food and nutrition staff to increase the purchasing of Florida-grown foods.
- Training early learning providers to help young children learn to make healthy choices.
- Working to improve wellness policies in communities, schools and workplaces.
- Providing training and supplies for school and community gardens.
Amy Carroll, coordinator of special projects and student wellness for the School District of Lee County Food and Nutrition Services, said the Family Nutrition Program has had a meaningful impact on the children in her school district.
“The FNP garden and nutrition education programs have had a meaningful impact on both my work and the school community,” she said. “By incorporating hands-on gardening and nutrition lessons, students develop a stronger connection to where their food comes from and a greater willingness to try new fruits and vegetables. This not only supports our meal program participation but also fosters healthier lifelong habits.”
The program’s legacy will also live on through one of its training programs. The Family Nutrition Program partnered with Florida Agriculture in the Classroom (FAITC) in 2020 to create the School Garden Leadership Training program, and its companion guide, the “Florida School Garden Planner.” Several hands-on gardening workshops for teachers are offered each year in different locations around the state. In 2023-2024, seven workshops across North, Central and South Florida attracted 200 educators. The free training empowers Florida teachers — building confidence, fostering collaboration and strengthening garden programs for long-term success. In 2024, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services joined the partnership, further enhancing the program’s reach and impact. FAITC and FDACS will continue offering the workshops. For more information, go to faitc.org/school-garden-leadership-training-series/
“The collaboration between Florida Agriculture in the Classroom and UF/IFAS FNP over the past few years has been a remarkable journey,” said Becky Sponholtz, executive director for Florida Agriculture in the Classroom. “By working together, we’ve expanded opportunities for teachers and students to engage with school gardens in ways that will have a lasting influence. Partnering with a team that values garden-based nutrition education as much as we do has been energizing and meaningful. The loss of this program is creating a significant void, but the legacy of what has been developed and accomplished will continue to benefit schools and communities across Florida for years to come. I hope that decision-makers can see the profound benefits of this funding and work to find a path for this team to continue its work across the state.”
For additional local programming and resources, please visit your local UF/IFAS Extension office.
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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