Welcome to the Team!
We are delighted to welcome you to the Food and Nutrition Education in Communities (FNEC) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Team. We look forward to getting to know you. Please don't hesitate to reach out, any time. We encourage you to ask questions! We can be reached at fnec-admin@cornell.edu or 607.255.7715.
Data Collection and Reporting Overview
Data collection from program participants serves many purposes within the Food and Nutrition Education in Communities (FNEC) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) programming.
The data:
- Assesses the current needs and interests of program participants.
- The participants’ demographic data and reported current knowledge, skills, and behaviors related to food, nutrition, and health allow frontline staff to gain an understanding into family size, resources available, and areas of current practice that can be enhanced through education.
- Encourages participants to consider changes that can be made.
- The diagnostic reports generated from the WebBased Nutrition Education Evaluation and Reporting System (WebNEERS) provide the adult participants with an assessment of their own current practices and helps them to determine changes that they may be willing to make.
- A 24-Hour Diet Recall assessment, when completed outside of our programs, is quite expensive to attain. We provide this to our participants at no cost.
- Demonstrates, numerically, the impact nutrition education has on the lives of participants who complete a series.
- The comparison between the participants’ reported entry and exit information demonstrates the changes in behaviors that have occurred through education efforts.
- Ensures the continuation of funding.
- The data collected and reported to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the funding source for EFNEP, demonstrates that tax-dollars invested in these programs are being put to good use.
- Without these data, programs across the state, as well as the country, would be discontinued.
Get excited about the data!
Food and Nutrition Education in Communities (FNEC) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) collect evaluation information on all participants engaged in nutrition education. The information collected from program participants is invaluable to the interactions with those participants. Investing the time necessary to collect quality data from participants not only strengthens the evaluation, but also increases the usefulness of the personalized summary reports available from WebNEERS. For some participants, the diet summary report, generated from the 24-Hour Recall, may be the only time they will have access to a nutrition analysis. Through quality data collection, the analysis provided can assist the participant in making life-changing decisions!
Institutional Review Board
All research and evaluation projects at Cornell University that involves human participants must be either exempted from review or approved by the Institutional Review Board for Human Participants (IRB). The Cornell IRB office operates a Human Research Protection Program to protect the welfare of individuals who participate in research and evaluation projects at the University.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Oversight of FNEC & EFNEP
Food and Nutrition Education in Communities (FNEC) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) fall under the review of the IRB, as we collect confidential, identifiable information about our program participants. FNEC works with the IRB to secure approval of our data collection and handling protocols used by EFNEP across New York State. An important part of the oversight provided by IRB is the assurance that all staff related to the project have been trained as to the appropriate and approved protocoles. As such, the IRB requires all staff working with the FNEC and EFNEP to participate in one of two trainings designed to provide the foundation of knowledge and detail the protocols in place for working with and collecting data from program participants. Detailed below are the two types of trainings offered and identification of which training must be completed by which type of staff.
Training
New Frontline staff will complete the eCornell Navigating For Success (eNFS) Module on Working with Human Subjects. Upon completion of the Module and related follow-up activities, the staff member's regional coordinator or eNFS facilitator will submit a request to FNEC-Admin requesting the staff member be added to the on-line 10-question assessment located at the this link.
Note: Access to the assessment is limited; be sure to submit the request to gain access to the assessment.New Nutrition supervisors, regional coordinators, data managers, and program interns are required to complete the full version of the on-line IRB-sponsored training and examination. The link to access the training is: http://www.irb.cornell.edu/training/citi/ Instructions for which survey to complete and how to fill out the registration form is located at this link.
At the conclusion of the appropriate training and related online assessment, notification of successful completion, must be provided to FNEC-Admin, the FNEC administration email system.
Renewal of Certifications
Frontline staff will participate in a county or regional-level training, provided in the first quarter of each new program year, to affirm IRB standards and review protocols to ensure compliance with expectations associated with working with participants, and collecting and storing data.
Nutrition supervisors, regional coordinators, and data managers will complete a CITI refresher course once every 5 years, as required by Cornell University IRB.
About EFNEP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) administers the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP); land-grant universities conduct the program in all states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. EFNEP focuses on reaching the poorest of the poor by working through families to address the health disparities associated with some of our most pervasive societal challenges—hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and obesity. EFNEP provides practical, hands-on nutrition education that changes behavior. EFNEP remains as relevant and essential today, as it was in 1969, when it began.
Adult and Young Adult Programming
The educational strategy for FNEC participants is enrollment in a series of lessons, delivered over time. Participants are engaged in interactive learning, known as learning by dialog, which allows them to apply the lesson content while still within the learning environment. This method of facilitating allows the participant to gain confidence in the information in a supportive environment. The goal of the program is to facilitate the healthful enhancement of participants’ lifestyles. Graduation upon successful completion of the series is one outcome. The number of sessions offered in a series is defined by the curricula and dependent upon both the venue and the audience being reached. The standard number of lessons offered should be 8 – 12, with 6 being the minimum number of lessons a participant must attend to graduate. No participants will be considered a graduate with less than 6 lessons and the related pre- and post-education paperwork. See Section 300 of the FNEC Policies and Procedures Manual for more information on adult programming.
Youth Programming
The educational strategy for FNEC youth participants is to engage youth in a series of learning activities, delivered over time to empower youth with skills to make healthy food and active lifestyle choices, as well as to strengthen personal and social assets that help young people reach their full potential. FNEC nutrition programming targets low-income youth, ages 8 to 19. Youth are engaged in interactive learning, allowing them to apply the knowledge and skills shared in the education, while in the learning environment. The goal of the FNEC program is to facilitate mastery, as defined by 4-H, related to health and nutrition. Youth have successfully completed the series of sessions after participating in a minimum of 6, with a range of 6-12 sessions being offered. Not all counties choose to offer youth programming. See Section 700 of the FNEC Policies and Procedures Manual for more information on youth programming.
Policy, Systems and Environemtal Efforts (PSE)
EFNEP applies a social-ecological framework, as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, for improving the nutritional health and well-being of program participants and their families. EFNEP provides direct education and establishes community partnerships to facilitate personal, family, and community change. Coordination, collaboration, and coalition work with community partners is integral to the effectiveness of Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) change efforts. The goal of PSE change efforts in EFNEP is to facilitate sustained change for nutritional health and well-being of low-income families with youth within EFNEP communities. These efforts expand EFNEP's reach beyond direct education through work with community, regional, or state coalitions, committees, and initiatives. See USDA, NIFA EFNEP Integration of Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Efforts for more information.
About The Forms Used with Participants
The EFNEP forms used with program participants are available for Adult and Young Adult and Youth audiences. The Adults forms are available in English and Spanish. The forms used with youth are available in English only.
Adult Audiences
When Data Are Collected – Adults
The time at which the enrollment data are collected from participants varies by county. Check with your local supervisor or regional coordinator to determine the session(s) during which the data should be collected from program participants. Generally, paperwork should be completed by the conclusion of the second session.
Setting the stage for collecting the most complete paperwork from participants begins with a solid, positive introduction of the program and forms that will be completed. Staff then guiding participants through collecting these data. Facilitation guides have been developed to assist staff through this process. These guides are the foundation upon which staff should build their personal facilitation guide, respecting their own style, audience, and delivery method.
The exit data are most often collected from participants on the last session in the series.
Note: When collecting paperwork in a group setting it is always best if more than 1 staff person, or a staff person with a volunteer(s), is present to assist in the collection process.
From whom do we collect data?
Any adult or young adult who participates in the nutrition education series and completes the Informed Consent should complete the Entry/Enrollment information. The data collection process should be completed by any adult/young adult who is participating in the education, regardless of eligibility.
Note: Adult is defined as an individual who is 18 years of age or older, or a pregnant or parenting teenager.
Defining Enrollment
Completion of the enrollment/entry process (Direct Data Entry, Paper-Pen, or Interview), including the Informed Consent, constitutes enrollment. These initial data provide a baseline on the participant’s strengths and needs and are used to assess behavior change when compared with information collected at graduation. Data collected from enrolled participants who do not maintain connection to the education through graduation, must also be entered into the WebNEERS system [Web-Based Nutrition Education Reporting System].
These data serve two purposes:
- Accurately represent the number of participants reached.
- Provides an opportunity to understand characteristics of participants who are lost before graduation.
Youth Audiences – When Data Are Collected
The behavior data collected from youth are the limit of information collected directly from enrolled youth. These data are generally collected at the first session, in the series for the pre-education and at the last session, for the post-education. As with adult participants, setting the stage with the youth to collect the most complete information from the youth is important. Facilitation guides have been developed to assist staff through this process. These guides are the foundation upon which staff should build their personal facilitation guide, respecting their own style, audience, and delivery method.
Printing the Data Collection Forms
The data collection forms are reviewed and approved by the IRB. The forms change, as needed, to meet the expectations of the IRB, to address changing data collection needs, and to address issues with data collection raised by staff.
Forms should not be printed in quantity. Print only what you need in the immediate/near future. Don’t over-print and create the need to recycle outdated materials. Always print forms from the FNEC Website, not versions stored on a local computer or from a previously printed version of the form.
About Facilitation Guides
Facilitators guides provides briefing notes and helfpul hints to you, as a facilitator, to guide the introduction, of both the program and the forms to be used, as well as collect data from program participants, adults and youth. These guides are the foundation upon which staff should build their personal facilitation guide, respecting their own style, audience, and delivery method.
Paper-Pen Data Collection
The facilitation guides used when collecting data from program participants in a paper-pen format have been developed to be used as a stand-alone guide. Staff should familiarize themselves with this guide to ensure consistent guidance regarding answering those questions will occur.Paper-Pen Enrollment/Entry
In-Person Facilitation Guide – English — Spanish
30 Federal Question Facilitation Guide – English - SpanishProtocol for the 3-Pass Method for 24-Hour Diet Recall Data Collection
Paper-Pen Exit
In-Person Direct Data Entry Facilitation Guide – English — Spanish
30 Federal Question Facilitation Guide – English - Spanish
Protocol for the 3-Pass Method for 24-Hour Diet Recall Data Collection
Direct Data Entry Collection
The Adult/Young Adult facilitation guides used in Direct Data Entry collection are listed below. Staff should familiarize themselves with this guide to ensure consistent guidance regarding answering those questions will occur.
In-Person Direct Data Enrollment/Entry
In-Person Direct Data Entry ExitIn-Person Direct Data Entry Facilitation Guide – English — Spanish
30 Federal Question Facilitation Guide – English - Spanish
Protocol for the 3-Pass Method for 24-Hour Diet Recall Data Collection
In-Person Direct Data Entry Facilitation Guide – English — Spanish
30 Federal Question Facilitation Guide – English - Spanish
Protocol for the 3-Pass Method for 24-Hour Diet Recall Data Collection
Electronic Education Enrollment/Entry
Electronic Education ExitElectronic Direct Data Entry Facilitation Guide – English — Spanish
30 Federal Question Facilitation Guide – English - Spanish
Protocol for the 3-Pass Method for 24-Hour Diet Recall Data Collection
Electronic Direct Data Entry Facilitation Guide – English — Spanish
30 Federal Question Facilitation Guide – English - Spanish
Protocol for the 3-Pass Method for 24-Hour Diet Recall Data Collection
Interview Data Collection
Interview Enrollment/Entry
Interview data collection protocols – English — Spanish
30 Federal Question Facilitation Guide – English - Spanish
Protocol for the 3-Pass Method for 24-Hour Diet Recall Data Collection
Interview Exit
In-Person/Interview Facilitation Guide – English — Spanish
30 Federal Question Facilitation Guide – English - Spanish
Protocol for the 3-Pass Method for 24-Hour Diet Recall Data Collection
Youth Audiences
The facilitator guides used with the youth behavior questionnaires are available for each questionnaire, 3rd – 5th grade and 6th – 12th grade. Care should be taken to ensure the correct guide is used with the corresponding survey. Note: Beginning in FFY2024, there is only 1 survey for 6th – 12th grades.
Documentation and Reporting differs by audience reached. For a complete overview of the, by audience, see the links below.
Adult and Young Adult Education
Checklist: Lesson delivery, data collection and reporting by week
Checklist: Contents of Complete Adult or Youth Adult Record
Checklist: Email Submission Document
Checklist: Record Storage – Method differs by data collection method
Best Practices: Data Submission and Communication
Best Practices: Timeframes for Quality Assurance Expectations for Data Submission and Communication
Checklist: Lesson delivery, data collection and reporting by week
Checklist: Contents of Complete Youth Record
Checklist: Email Submission Document
Checklist: Record Storage – Method differs by data collection method
Best Practices: Data Submission and Communication
Best Practices: Timeframes for Quality Assurance Expectations for Data Submission and Communication
Data Handling
All data collected from or containing information about program participants, adults, young adults, or youth, are to be maintained in a confidential manner.
In-Person or Interview Data
Data collected, from program participants, in-person or through interview, must be stored in a locked travel bag, when being transported, or in a locked file cabinet when not in use.
Documentation of efforts with the individual may be stored in locked travel bag, when being transported, or in a locked file cabinet when not in use or on the EFNEP Data Secure Server/Metropolitan Box Folder within the Group or Individual folder.Checklist: Record Storage – Method differs by data collection methodElectronic Data Collection
Data collected, from program participants, through Direct Data Entry is captured and maintained on the WebNEERS secure system.
Documentation of efforts with the individual/group must be stored on the EFNEP Data Secure Server within the Group or Individual folder or on the Cornell University controlled Box Cloud Environment.Checklist: Record Storage – Method differs by data collection method
Data Submission with Identified Timetables
Adults and Young Adults:
Checklist: Email Submission Document
Youth Groups:
Checklist: Email Submission Document
Best Practices: Data Submission and Communication
Best Practices: Timeframes for Quality Assurance Expectations for Data Submission and Communication
Quality Assurance
Adults and Young Adults:
Checklist: Lesson delivery, data collection and reporting by week
Checklist: Contents of Complete Adult or Youth Adult Record
Youth Groups:
Checklist: Lesson delivery, data collection and reporting by week
Checklist: Contents of Complete Youth Record
