2025 National EFNEP Coordinators' Conference

Recruiting and retaining culturally diverse educators in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is critical to sustaining its impact in underserved communities. Strategic investments in program longevity and community engagement are essential to address these goals. Partnering with organizations and institutions that offer Community Health Worker (CHW) programs, such as City Colleges of Chicago and Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI), provides a viable pathway for training paraprofessionals and future EFNEP staff. Through these partnerships, candidates gain skills, receive stipends, and work part-time, contributing to program success while preparing for long-term careers.

A tiered career pathway within EFNEP, ranging from Community Outreach Worker to Program Administrator and County Director, promotes career growth and retention. Additionally, a referral system incentivizes current staff to recommend qualified candidates, further enhancing recruitment efforts.

To bolster professional development, existing staff are encouraged to pursue CHW certification through institutions such as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and City Colleges of Chicago, with a financial incentive for completion. The introduction of a bilingual differential, modeled after the University of Wisconsin’s initiative, underscores the importance of linguistic diversity and creates a more inclusive workplace. These strategies, centered on collaboration, skill-building, and community-focused recruitment, aim to reduce staff turnover and ensure that EFNEP educators reflect the diverse communities they serve.