During NC State Extension’s First Night Celebration at the 2026 North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) conference, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) brought nutrition education to the forefront.
Shewana H. McSwain, NC A&T EFNEP Coordinator, and Paula Norris, Regional Nutrition Extension Associate for NC State EFNEP, presented an interactive exhibit highlighting how evidence-based nutrition education supports families statewide, giving county commissioners a clear view of EFNEP's reach and, more importantly, the difference the program is making in the communities it serves.
The exhibit featured a visual map showing where EFNEP is delivered across North Carolina. The map sparked insightful dialogue among visiting county commissioners and NC State Extension leaders, opening doors for future collaboration on food security, self-sufficiency, and family wellness. It also reinforced that EFNEP’s impact begins at the local level. In the past year, EFNEP reached 17,635 North Carolinians. Participants reported significant improvements, including:
- 97% eating healthier
- 85% becoming more active
- 97% managing food resources better, and
- 64% improving their food security.
These results are more than numbers. They represent families gaining confidence in preparing nutritious meals, parents learning to stretch limited food dollars, and young people building habits that can support their health well beyond the classroom. By meeting people where they are, EFNEP helps participants turn practical skills into meaningful changes at home.
County government plays an important role in sustaining this impact by investing in community health. In the past year, North Carolina counties with EFNEP provided $551,278 in local government support, strengthening the program’s ability to reach and serve families.
EFNEP is a federally funded program administered in North Carolina by NC State University and NC A&T State University and delivered through county Extension centers. At the heart of the program are EFNEP educators, trained peer educators who provide practical, evidence-based nutrition education directly to families and youth. Through a series of hands-on lessons, educators help participants build skills they can use every day to prepare healthy meals, stretch food dollars, manage food resources, and make healthy choices for themselves and their families. Visit ncefnep.org for more information.
