Funded through a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Aid, the program places shelter teachers in ten core sites that serve shelters in each surrounding geographical area. Core sites include Bloomington, Champaign, Chicago, Dekalb, East St. Louis, Harrisburg, Peoria, Rockford, and Springfield. In partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Aid, Extension is tackling the difficult problem of improving nutrition and resource management skills among food stamp eligible people. The Family Nutrition Program is currently in 63 counties in Illinois. Educational programs, delivered by paraprofessional staff, provide practical nutrition information and work to improve the decision-making abilities of food stamp recipients.
Programs focus on healthy eating practices, food safety, and food budgeting.
Developing leadership abilities and skills cannot be left to chance. Participants in FCL are provided learning opportunities in leadership and communications, group process skills, issue analysis and resolution, volunteerism, and community affairs and public policy. These individuals then return to their communities and share this knowledge with others. The goal is to increase the leadership capabilities of individuals who are not traditionally represented in the public decision-making process. Over 300 individuals have received extensive FCL education.