The SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework: Nationwide Uptake and Implications for Nutrition Education Practice, Policy, and Research

Puma, J. E., Young, M., Foerster, S., Keller, K., Bruno, P., Franck, K., & Naja-Riese, A. (2021). The SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework: Nationwide Uptake and Implications for Nutrition Education Practice, Policy, and Research. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 53(4), 336–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2020.10.015

Objective: Provide the first baseline census of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) state implementing agencies’ (SIAs) intent to use and evaluate 51 indicators described in the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to administer electronic surveys to 124 SIAs who received SNAP-Ed funding in 2017. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results. Results: Of 51 indicators, SIAs reported their intent to impact an average of 19 indicators and evaluate an average of 12. More SIAs reported the intention to impact indicators at the individual (59%) and environmental levels (48%), compared with the sectors of influence (20%) and population levels (30%) of the framework. In addition, more SIAs intended to impact and evaluate short- or medium-term indicators, compared with long-term indicators. Conclusions and Implications: These findings illustrate the progress made toward aggregating metrics to measure the collective impact of SNAP-Ed. © 2020 The Authors