SNAP Education Benefits Hi-Line Area

Published: 2020
By Julianne Snedigar

SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education), taught through MSU Extension, continues to provide nutrition education to eligible individuals within Blaine and Phillips Counties, and the Fort Belknap Reservation. Some individuals who are eligible are families with children, youth, seniors, single individuals, and individuals with developmental disabilities. For over 15 years, SNAP-Ed Educator Joann Beard has served the area delivering programming. In May, Beard retired to spend more time with her family. Prior to her retirement, she was able to teach 69 classes reaching 229 children in 17 different workshops. As a result of these programs, 83% of children and youth improved their diet quality via their abilities to choose foods according to Federal Dietary Recommendations or gained knowledge, 39% of children and youth improved their physical activity practices or gained knowledge, and 52% of children and youth use safe food handling practices more often or gained knowledge. Upon Beard’s retirement, the position has been moved to Fort Belknap MSU Extension, where the people of Blaine and Phillips Counties and the Fort Belknap Reservation continue to benefit from the direct and indirect contact they have with the Blaine County SNAP-Ed program.