SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED - FEBRUARY 2, 2004

Agenda Item No. 26

Introduced by the Human Services and Finance Committees of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE FEDERAL CUTS FOR

THE EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM (EFNEP)

RESOLUTION #04-015

WHEREAS, EFNEP has provided nutrition, food safety, and life skills education to vulnerable families with small children since 1969; and

WHEREAS, EFNEP utilizes the research and knowledge base of the state's and nation's land grant university system, and is part of the three-way partnership between federal, state, and local governments; and

WHEREAS, EFNEP has had flat federal funding for 10 years, and more than 95% of funds go to salary and fringe, the majority of that for paraprofessionals providing direct educational programming; and

WHEREAS, nearly 92% of Ingham County EFNEP graduates report making positive changes in eating, and increases in positive practices around resource management and food safety increased 18% and 23% respectively last year; and

WHEREAS, cost benefit studies done in several states have demonstrated that for every $1 invested in EFNEP approximately $10 is saved in health care costs; and

WHEREAS, EFNEP works to empower individuals and families to healthier choices and higher levels of self-sufficiency.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby opposes the recent decrease in funding to EFNEP at the federal level.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners supports the reinstatement of this funding.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners directs the County Clerk to forward copies of this resolution to Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and Congressman Mike Rogers.

HUMAN SERVICES: The Human Services Committee will meet 1/26/04

FINANCE: Yeas: Lynch, Grebner, Dedden, Thomas, Minter

Nays: None Absent: De Leon Approved 1/21/04