1. Improving Health through USDA’s EFNEP & SNAP-ED: Regional Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Centers of Excellence (RNECE) Brewer D 1., Kurzynske J 1., Mullins J 1., State University, 4 Cornell University, and 5 Purdue University National Coordination Center Responsibilities: Coordinate communications among all Centers; aggregate and disseminate research findings to stakeholders, and identify common themes and results. Collaborate and coordinate with the Center working groups as they develop the direct education and PSE toolkits, the research translation and training program and the affiliate registry for researchers and implementers. Ensure timely posting of Center content on the eXtension Community Nutrition Education Community of Practice website, SNAP-Ed Connection website, and other NIFA and FNS websites working in conjunction with Center web sites. Coordinate other tasks as needed which are undertaken by one or more of the existing and new PSE Center which require broad cooperation and collaboration across Centers and associated projects. Work with NIFA to organize and conduct the annual Centers’ directors meetings and Center site visits. RNECE Overall Objectives: Build the evidence base for nutrition education and obesity prevention strategies, interventions and translational activities that produce measurable improvements in health, obesity, nutrition and physical activity-related outcomes. Strengthen the evidence-base for EFNEP and SNAP-Ed. Utilize comprehensive community and public health approaches: Direct nutrition education, Nutrition marketing/promotion, and Policy, systems and environmental (PSE) change. Evaluate long-term effectiveness of EFNEP and SNAP. Identify new research opportunities. Identify and create research collaborations and synergy. Regional Center Responsibilities: Build synergistic relationships, garner stakeholder input, and conduct research. Plan, develop, and administer at least one signature research program that is targeted to meet an identified need in that region. Administer and evaluate competitive sub-awards to support the objectives of the Centers, using pre-established, center determined – and NIFA and FNS approved – project award and project evaluation criteria. Develop and support a comprehensive community intervention direct education and PSE toolkit, a research translation and training program, and an affiliate registry for researchers and implementers. www.rnece-ncc.org A Social Ecological Framework for Nutrition and Physical Activity Decisions Kurzynske, J. 1, Brewer, D..1, Mullins, J. 1, Vail, A. 1, Ammerman, A. 2, Baker, S. 3, Dollahite, J. 4, Savaiano, D..5, Stephenson, L. 6 University of Kentucky 1, North Carolina State 2 University, Colorado State University 3, Cornell University 4, Purdue University 5, University of Tennessee 6 The Regional Nutrition Education Centers for Excellence (RNECE) are pointing the way to good nutrition for low-income and disadvantaged Americans by strengthening USDA nutrition education and promotion programs across the country. Their work equips SNAP-Ed and EFNEP program implementing agencies to create a culture of wellness where program participants experience measurable improvements in their health, nutrition and physical activity. To make this culture shift, RNECE is strengthening current evidence-based programs, evaluating program effectiveness, identifying research opportunities and building collaboration around research. The National Coordination Center advances this work by coordinating communication among Centers, disseminating research findings, and combining national data. Using a Comprehensive Approach: This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the USDA.