Community
Husky Reads
Husky Reads is a SNAP-Ed toolkit evidence-based program and one of UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport’s most enduring programs. Since 1998, this program has combined the benefits of reading with the building blocks of healthy nutrition and physical activity. The learning objectives aim to increase MyPlate and food group knowledge, the ability to name fruits and vegetables, and willingness to eat a variety of foods from different food groups.
600 Yearly Participants (Pre-Kindergarten Students)
45 Pre-K Classrooms across 10 Early Childhood Education Centers
Husky Nutrition Workshops
Husky Nutrition Workshops, most often designed to engage small groups of adult participants, integrate nutrition education as part of interactive cooking classes, led at partnering health care centers, public libraries, senior centers, recreation centers, and schools. Single sessions and series of workshops (based on Cooking Matters Snap-Ed toolkit framework) are both offered, with focus on food resource management, food prep safety, idea sharing on healthy cooking and eating, as well as nutrition messaging associated with the MyPlate.
500 Yearly Participants (Adults)
15+ Early Childhood Education Centers, Schools, Senior Centers, Community Organizations, Libraries
Husky Nutrition & Sport Clinics
Husky Nutrition & Sport Clinics are collaborations with community organizations and school partners that support middle and high school-aged participants. Students travel through a series of stations where they will engage with UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport staff leading curriculum focusing on age-appropriate; food demonstrations with healthy snack preparation and tastings, physically active games, sports-based physical activity stations, and MyPlate-themed nutrition lessons.
300+ Yearly Participants (Youth ages 11-18)
4+ Schools and Community Centers
Husky Food Pantry Collaboration
UConn HNS works in partnership with the CT Department of Public Health and agencies associated with food pantry focused efforts to identify food pantries to provide technical assistance for implementing the Supporting Wellness At Pantries (SWAP) framework and increasing opportunities for client choice.
Husky Sport @ Wish School
Husky Sport @ Wish School utilizes the power of sport to build relationships and support youth development as part of the everyday culture and climate of the Wish School environment. The program focuses resources at Fred D. Wish School in the North End of Hartford, CT. Through shared program planning, delivery, and evaluation Wish School and Husky Sport stakeholders work together for teaching, learning, and application of physical activity, healthy nutrition, transferable life skills, and academic enrichment for students, families, and staff.
385 Yearly Participants (Elementary School Students, Staff, Caregivers)
Fred D. Wish Museum School in Hartford
Husky Nutrition On-the-Go
The Husky Nutrition On-the-Go: Sugary Drink Reduction project is a SNAP-Ed toolkit research-tested ten-week series delivered to caregivers of preschool-aged students. Each week focuses on a tailored message, game, and supportive display about reducing sugary drink consumption, limiting use of fruit juice to American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended levels, and promoting water consumption for their children.
200 Yearly Participants (Caregivers of Pre-Kindergarten Students)
2 Early Childhood Education Centers
Husky OST (out-of-school time)
Husky OST programs encompass collaborations with neighborhood community organizations and school-based programs to increase physical activity opportunities and opportunities to explore healthy eating and nutrition during after school, weekend, and summertime hours (i.e., “out-of- school-time”). Partnerships and curriculum offer activities designed for youth audiences such as food demonstrations, sports-based physical activity clinics, and MyPlate-themed nutrition lessons.
300+ Yearly Participants (Youth ages 5 - 17)
4+ Community Organizations and After-School Programs
Husky Smart Shopping
Husky Smart Shopping Partnerships are a collaboration with food retailers and shoppers to improve the healthy eating environment while offering learning opportunities for SNAP-Ed eligible adult populations in the form of interactive Grocery Store Tours (with point-of-decision promotions) and brief Nutrition On-the-Go interactions using curricula that highlights food-resource management skills, new ideas for preparing healthy foods, and dietary guidelines.