The Family Nutrition Program for Infants, Toddlers and Children (FNP-IT):

Since 1995, the Hispanic Health Council and the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture and Natural Resources have partnered to deliver culturally competent nutrition education to thousands of children and their caretakers who are enrolled in the Food Stamp Program. This FNP-IT is the product of a multi-disciplinary team of community nutritionists, social scientists, and members from the community. FNP-IT provides nutrition education using culturally tailored puppet shows, jeopardy games, presentations and other social marketing tools including educational materials developed by the program. The program conducts regular process and outcome evaluations of our projects; and conducts research in to the nutrition problems facing our community.

The program has developed a range of educational materials and has used them successfully to promote: the use of the food guide pyramid; the increased use of fruits and vegetables; food safety practices; breastfeeding; diabetes prevention; and food access and security. The focus for the next three-year will be on obesity prevention. You can visit the Family Nutrition Program at http://www.hispanichealth.com/pana.htm