Montana 's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education(SNAP Ed) offers educational assistance to Food Stamp participants and those applying for food stamps. SNAP Ed consists of families with children, seniors, singles, individuals with developmental disabilities, and youth.

The goal of SNAP Ed is to provide educational programming that will increase, within a limited budget, the likelihood that all food stamp recipients are making healthy food choices and choosing active lifestyles consistent with the most recent advice reflected in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

SNAP Ed includes behaviorally focused, science-based nutrition education interventions.        The focus of SNAP Ed is health promotion, and primary prevention of diseases.

SNAP Ed partners with numerous community agencies and organizations to optimize effective programming. Our program works to effect positive behavior changes in participants concerning nutrition and physical activity. The Montana Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education provides educational programs for food stamp households and those eligible. In Montana counties, paraprofessionals (nutrition assistants) provide a series of lessons or single demonstrations with practical information and skill-building tips for choosing better foods, food handling, food storage and food safety practices.    

Impact for Youth and Adult Programs:

  • In 2010, 5168 youth were reached statewide.
  • 71% of those youth stated they had adopted healthier food and lifestyle choices after attending these lessons.
  • 1,273 adults were reached statewide.
  • 60% of adults who attended showed improved food choices and better food money management.

Funding Sources:

Federal Food Stamp Program nutrition education funds are made available through a contract with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. MSU, MSU Extension and other county and state organizations provide in-kind support to match the federal funds.  

SNAP Ed