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., Ammerman A 2., Baker S 3., Dollahite J 4., Savaiano D 5., Vail A 1., 1 University of Kentucky, 2 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3 Colorado State University, 4 Cornell University, and 5 Purdue University National Coordination Center University of Kentucky Dr. Ann Vail Four Regional Centers: North Central Region Purdue University: Dr. Dennis Savaiano Northeast Region Cornell University: Dr. Jamie Dollahite Southern Region University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Dr. Alice Ammerman Western Region Colorado State University: Dr. Susan Baker Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) Change Research Center: To be announced Signature Research Project To be announced 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 the Centers’ site visits. RNECE 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: of EFNEP and SNAP-Ed I Utilize complementary and integrated community and public health approaches: Direct nutrition education Nutrition marketing/promotion Policy, systems and environmental (PSE) change Evaluate long-term effectiveness of EFNEP and SNAP-Ed. 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 The Goal of the RNECE: Improve the health of low-income Americans by fostering a culture of health by implementing strategies at each level of the socio-ecological framework. www.rnece-ncc.org A Social Ecological Framework for Nutrition and Physical Activity Decisions