History of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program in Tennessee

See Key People

During the 1960s, several events called attention to the plight of low income families. Some of these events included television documentaries, news broadcasts and a White House Conference on hunger. Many Americans were shocked to see the widespread prevalence of hunger and malnutrition in a country that provided food for millions of people around the world. It was in this atmosphere of concern that the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) was created.

In the 1960s, the Extension Service funded pilot studies to test practical methods of implementing a nutrition education program for low-income families. A well-documented study in Alabama demonstrated the effectiveness of program assistants teaching homemaking skills on a one-to-one basis. Other states including Texas, Missouri, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the District conducted pilot programs which demonstrated that educational programs tailored to the interests, needs, competencies and economic level of the homemaker could be effective in changing eating behaviors.

Funds were appropriated by Congress in 1968 to implement the EFNEP program nationwide. Training for EFNEP in Tennessee started in January, 1969. There were ten pilot counties in Tennessee: Shelby, Gibson, Robertson, Davidson, Warren, Coffee, DeKalb, Putnam, Roane and Hawkins. These counties were considered at greatest need because of the number of families living at or below 125 percent of the poverty level.

In January, 1970, the program was launched in 10 additional counties: Carroll, Decatur, Houston, Perry, Bledsoe, Grundy, Clay, Pickett, Campbell and Claiborne.

The program was expanded to an additional 20 counties in 1971: Chester, Dyer, Henry, McNairy, Hickman, Lincoln, Stewart, Moore, McMinn, Polk, Fentress, Macon, Morgan, Cocke, Grainger and Hancock.

EFNEP was at its highest level in 1973 with 42 counties and 371 program assistants. Counties were closed as they reached their potential. Other factors contributing to closing counties were the increasing cost of program operation and federal funding reaching a peak and leveling off.

Today there are 28 counties and 78 program assistants with EFNEP. The counties are: Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Haywood, Hardeman, Madison, Shelby, Davidson, Montgomery, Giles, Hamilton, Rhea, Overton, Fentress, Putnam, Scott, Franklin, Marion, VanBuren, Rhea, Greene, Carter, Johnson, Washington, Unicoi, Cocke, Sevier and Knox.

Even though there are fewer counties and fewer program assistants, the number of program families reached with EFNEP has increased due to a multi-county approach to program coordination and larger numbers of participants are taught in groups.

This was written for the 30^th year celebration of EFNEP in 1999. It was adapted from a report by Ester Hatcher, former Professor and Leader of EFNEP.

Betty Greer, Professor
UT Agricultural Extension Service