Mission:
The mission of the Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program (TNCEP) is to empower limited resource
families to reduce the risk of poor nutrition and to effectively use the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) and related resources while moving toward self-sufficiency.
T
he Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program (TNCEP) is a SNAP-Ed program funded by
the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and managed by the Tennessee Department of Human
Services (TDHS). USDA FNS provides funding for the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention
Grant Program (SNAP-Ed), and the USDA Southeast Regional office in Atlanta approves funds for
SNAP-Ed in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Human Services has the responsibility of
contracting with agencies in the state to conduct nutrition education, and UT Extension contracts
with TDHS to deliver SNAP-Ed.
The purpose of SNAP-Ed is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will make healthy food choices within a limited budget and
choose physically active lifestyles consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and
USDA food guidance. The partnership between SNAP and UT Extension supports Extension’s mission
to help people improve their lives through an educational process using scientific knowledge to
address issues and needs.
TNCEP is conducted through local community-driven coalitions to meet the needs of SNAP recipients
and eligibles in each participating county. TNCEP programming includes behaviorally focused,
evidence-based nutrition education and obesity prevention interventions that fall within the scope
of SNAP-Ed and is consistent with Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) priorities, as outlined in the FFY
2017 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education Plan Guidance: Nutrition Education and
Obesity Prevention Grant Program.
The SNAP-Ed program in Robertson County offers multi-session classes and one-time programs for youth and adults. Please contact the Robertson County Extension office for information about joining the coalition, offering classes at your organization or attending classes.Contact: Rachael Ragsdale, UT SNAP-Ed: TNCEP Program Assistant (615) 384-7936 or rmann14@utk.edu 
