University of TN - Johnson County
Project Summary

Johnson County is a rural county located in the Appalachian region at the Tennessee-North Carolina border. Johnson County residents face increased economic risks related to high levels of poverty for families and children and Johnson County children are at elevated risk for food insecurity. University of Tennessee Extension is leading the efforts for the Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center grant with a focus on increasing participation in child nutrition assistance programs by working with parents and child care providers. The UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences agent in Johnson County is coordinating efforts with the county health coalition and a state team to help increase participation in Child and Adult Care Feeding Program (CACFP) and the summer feeding program.

As part of a needs assessment, the FCS agent determined that some child care providers did not know about CACFP including how the program works and how to apply and comply with guidelines. Parents reported not knowing where summer feeding sites were and being uncertain about how to apply. In response to these needs, the FCS agent will work with the coalition to help educate child care providers about CACFP and educate parents about summer feeding sites and other child nutrition assistance programs. This will happen through training programs for child care providers and through distribution of resources to parents both as written resources and through a county website and social media platforms. In addition, the agent will explore partnerships with community agencies to coordinate an umbrella agency who could help child care providers with CACFP paperwork and oversight.

Targeted Nutrition Assistance Programs: CACFP, SFSP, WIC