Experts to explore public policies concerning nutrition education programs for low-income families at DC forum

WASHINGTON — Nationally recognized experts in food assistance and nutrition programming will explore the public policies needed to improve the nutritional status of low-income Americans at a policy forum at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., May 14.

The forum, co-sponsored by RTI International and Altarum Institute, will examine the role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in nutrition education. SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp program, is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. It offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make healthy choices within a limited budget and choose active lifestyles consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate.

The policy forum, titled, “Helping Low-Income American Families Eat Healthier: The Role of SNAP in Nutrition Education” will be held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the National Press Club, Holeman Lounge.

Panelists will discuss how SNAP nutrition education programs can improve nutritional behaviors of low-income families, and the public policies needed to address poor nutrition.

The panel includes:

• Jessica Shahin, associate administrator of SNAP, Food and Nutrition Service at USDA
• James Hersey, Ph.D., principal scientist at RTI
• Jamie Dollahite, Ph.D., professor and leader of  Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program for New York State and Cornell Cooperative Extension’s SNAP-Ed Program, Cornell University
• Tracy Fox, MPH, registered dietitian and president of Food, Nutrition & Policy Consultants, LLC
• Marci Scott, Ph.D., RDN, vice president of health programs at Michigan Fitness Foundation, a SNAP-Ed Implementing Agency

Loren Bell, fellow and co-director of the Center for Food Assistance and Nutrition at Altarum Institute, will moderate the program.