Strengthening Tennessee Familiesfcs.tennessee.ed

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Agent - Amanda Reichwein

Knox C

ounty, TN

Building individual and family life skills to make positive impacts in our community is the mission of Tennessee Extension Family and Consumer Sciences programs. Amanda

Reichwein is the Knox County Extension agent with responsibilities for Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Programs (TNCEP). She graduated from the University of Florida in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Family Youth and Community Science. Previously, she taught math and science in both Florida and Tennessee. This background trained Reichwein to teach Knox Countians skills in money management, family communication and parenting, and healthy lifestyle choices.

TNCEP is a nutrition education program for Tennessee families who receive assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or who are eligible for SNAP. The goal of TNCEP is to teach families how to choose and prepare nutritionally adequate diets and help them feel empowered to move toward self-sufficiency. Families are taught how to use SNAP and related resources effectively. In her role as TNCEP agent, Reichwein has led a series from the Eat Smart, Live Strong curriculum at a local senior living center. She has presented demonstrations with the Farmers’ Market Fresh program at two of Knox County’s farmers’ markets to teach healthy food preparation and storage of seasonal produce. She plans to work closely with Knox County Schools to implement Tasty Tuesday’s in the fall to teach youth the importance of healthy snacking. Additionally, Reichwein collaborates with UT Extension regional staff and state faculty to share their expertise and experience with Knox County residents.

UT Extension programs address everyday problems that families face and provide help through research-based education. Reichwein is committed to educating the people of Knox County with programs that help them make wise decisions related to their health, food, family, and home.

Clean & Healthy Homes

Tennessee Choices for Better Health

Tennessee Shapes Up

Because our home environments affect our health, this program area focuses on teaching about hazards, preventions and treatments for asthma, lead poisoning and household injuries. Of participants surveyed:

This program area focuses on information that addresses the prevalence of chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, arthritis and cancer in Tennessee. Of participants surveyed:

Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and decreasing consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks are key outcomes for this program area to help adults and youth in Tennessee improve health. Of participants surveyed:

Tennessee Saves

Tennessee Families

Because Tennesseans spend too much and save too little, this program area focuses on financial planning activities like bankruptcy and homebuyer education and high school teacher training. Of participants surveyed:

This topic area has helped provide afterschool programming to more than 800 at-risk children across the state, and in those programs, children are presented experiential, “learn by doing” activities. Of participants surveyed:

Learned how regular housecleaning can reduce health hazards

Have maintained a regular exercise routine

Increased vegetable consumption

Increased math and reading grades by a letter grade at the end of the year

Learned how to make a spending plan

Learned the importance of household moisture control

Plan to get age- and gender-appropriate cancer screenings

Decreased sugary drink consumption

Significantly reduced the number of office referrals

Increased their overall financial management skills

Learned the effects of environmental tobacco smoke on children’s health

Have had fewer doctor or emergency room visits

Increased fruit consumption

Increased literacy levels

Better understood credit reporting and scoring and wise use of credit

70%

70%

59%

42%

99%

94%

55%

67%

39%

96%

80%

92%

35%

72%

97%

Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Data Source: University of Tennessee Extension. (2015). SUPER Reporting System.

University of Tennessee and Tennessee State University Family and Consumer Science Extension Agents provide educational programs

for all ages in a total of five topic areas throughout the state.