Overview

Population

• 2006 (estimate) Census Bureau 66,595
• Per Capita Income (1999) $20,874
• 9.2% of the population is below the poverty level (2004)

Demographics

• 82.7% White persons (2005)
• 15.1% Black persons (2005)
• 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native persons (2005)
• 0.8% Asian persons (2005)
• 1.0% Persons reporting two or more races (2005)
• 4.8% Hispanic or Latino origin (2005)

USDA SNAP Participating Families

• 1,005 households in Salem County are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participants (2006)
• According to the Salem County SNAP Office, there were 33.5% households with one or more people 60 years and over (2006)
• 68.3% with children under 18 years of age (2006)
• 65.4% of households are below poverty level (2006)
  
  

Salem County SNAP Project

The SNAP Project addresses the following needs for limited resource individuals in Salem County:

• Inability to have SNAP Benefits and food budget last throughout the month
• Limited food preparation and food storage facilities
• High reliance on convenience foods and fast food restaurants
• Limited nutrition and food safety knowledge
• High consumption of high fat foods and low consumption of fruits, vegetables and dairy products
  
  
• Non Duplication
  • There is no EFNEP program in Salem County

• Project Objectives
  • To promote the SNAP-Ed Project and its statewide mission.
  • To increase food security through nutrition education programs to the SNAP eligible population, resulting in improved dietary habits, food purchase and food preparation practices and improved eating behaviors.
  • To improve and increase collaboration among existing agencies that currently work with low-income audiences, other governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations and private enterprises to improve the nutrition education services available to food stamp program participants in Salem County.
    
    
• Project Activities
  • Market program in order to increase county network collaboration opportunities
  • Provide nutrition education to participants
  • Increase outreach to new participants
    
    
• Evaluation
  • The evaluation methodology, which is used, includes an overall measurement of the impact of nutrition education amongst the population of SNAP participants. The ERS reporting system is used for Pre and Post Diet Recalls and Behavioral Checklists. Only the Behavioral Checklist is used in programs lasting less than 6 weeks. An evaluation report of the project will be submitted for possible publication in a peer reviewed Nutrition and/or Family and Consumer Sciences journal.
  
  

Collaborative Relationships
John Fenwick Elementary School - Salem City School District
Salem Middle School - Salem City School District
RCE of Salem County
Field Street Elementary School - Penns Grove School District
Paul W. Carleton Elementary School - Penns Grove School District
Work Force New Jersey
Mid Atlantic State Food Systems New Jersey

Contact
Janice Jenkins
Program Associate
RCE of Salem County
Salem County FSNEP
51 Cheney Road Suite 1
Woodstown, NJ  08098
Phone: (856) 769-0090 Ext. 215
Fax: (856) 769-1439
Email:  jjenkins@njaes.rutgers.edu