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High-Impact University of Illinois
Extension SNAP-Ed Programs Face Elimination
[June 28, 2025]
URBANA, Ill. — There are many
barriers to making healthy choices for Illinois residents. For over
30 years, University of Illinois Extension’s Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program Education “SNAP-Ed” programs have helped people
stretch their food dollars while increasing their nutrition and
improving their health. Each year, SNAP-Ed reaches over 1 million
Illinois residents, working with over 1800 community partners across
all of Illinois’ 102 counties, making healthy choices and healthy
food more accessible throughout the state.
The SNAP-Ed workforce, housed in Illinois Extension’s portfolio of
work under the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental
Sciences, has engaged a wide network of local regional, and
statewide partners, to provide in-person, community-based nutrition
education for those that qualify for SNAP assistance. The Illinois
Extension SNAP-Ed team, operating via the "Eat.Move.Save." brand,
also works to reduce the risk of chronic disease by helping to make
nutritious food choices and active living opportunities more
accessible and viable in Illinois. The program is delivered by
University of Illinois Extension and University of Illinois Health’s
Chicago Partnership for Health Promotion.
Jennifer McCaffrey, Illinois
Extension’s assistant dean and program leader for Family and
Consumer Sciences, emphasizes that, “every week, our educators hear
from parents who say they finally feel confident reading nutrition
labels and stretching their food dollars to make ends meet while
providing healthier meals for their families. We work with seniors
learning new ways to manage chronic conditions through the food they
eat, and with children trying fresh fruits and vegetables for the
first time. These are real people — our neighbors — whose lives are
changed because someone took the time to meet them where they are
and offer support. Eliminating SNAP-Ed would erase those touchpoints
of trust, progress, and health in communities that need them most.”
Federal program funding at serious risk
The House-passed reconciliation bill, currently under consideration
in the Senate, ends funding nationwide for SNAP-Ed, including all
programs administered through University of Illinois Extension. The
Senate’s current version of the bill also eliminates SNAP-Ed
funding. If this happens, Illinois will lose significant impact and
returns on investment, including:
Illinois SNAP-Ed would no longer serve as a statewide connector and
collaborator across federally funded nutrition programs, community
partners, and public agencies to improve access to healthy food and
promote active living for low-income families.
Discontinuation of collaborations with over 1,800 organizations in
245 communities — SNAP-Ed drives impactful initiatives including
public health partnerships, food policy development, and innovative
projects like Find Food Illinois, a comprehensive food resource map
with statewide reach.
Elimination of programs such as Hunters Feeding Illinois and mobile
food markets that expand nutritious food access in underserved areas
and grocery store and community revitalization efforts promoting
local food systems.
230 Illinois SNAP-Ed program staff
positions would be eliminated, creating gaps within our communities
where SNAP-Ed community and organizational supports, direct
education programming, and social marketing interventions are
delivered with the current workforce. An additional 100 positions
that are partially supported by the program would need to be
reassigned or adjusted. One million dollars in operating expenses
would need to be reabsorbed affecting the size of local Extension
offices.
Over 60 IDHS Family and Community Resource Centers would no longer
receive SNAP-Edinformation which directly helps those who receive
food benefits use them more effectively.
Over 8,600 seniors would no longer receive nutrition education
information that help them use their food packages.
There will be a ripple effect across all USDA nutrition programs
that SNAP-Ed supports via policy systems and environmental changes
and through community coalitions and committees lead/co-lead by
SNAP-Ed.
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Real results
and real impact for a substantial statewide need
SNAP-Ed efforts in Illinois are generating quantifiable impact
in the health and wellness of the state. Illinoisans receive
between $5.36 and $9.54 in return for each dollar spent helping
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance. Benefits include health
care cost savings ($35.7 - $65.8 million) and increased
education, life expectancy, and lifetime earnings ($40.3 - $69.5
million) due to decreased rates of obesity and food insecurity.
For a single year of programming, IL SNAP-Ed was estimated to
generate future benefits for:
Federal government between $23.9 million and $43.5 million
State and local governments between $5.4 million and $9.4
million
Households and the private sector between
$46.7 million and $82.4 million
More than 59% of SNAP-Ed participants report increasing their
physical activity, eating more fruits and vegetables, and trying
healthy recipes because of their involvement in these
educational activities.
Altarum, an independent nonprofit health research organization,
analyzed the return on the government’s annual $18 million
investment in Illinois SNAP-Education. Individual benefits of
obesity prevention, reduced chronic disease risk, and overall
health improvements translate into long-term societal benefits:
Decreased healthcare costs and morbidity lead to improved
education and employment opportunities over a longer life
expectancy. Illinois SNAP-Ed programs are estimated to generate
future societal benefits from $76 million to $135.3 million for
a single year of programming. In a typical year, over 5,000
cases of obesity and nearly 600 cases of food insecurity among
Illinois children and adults are prevented. To access additional
highlights of the evaluation, visit
go.illinois.edu/ILSNAPedImpacts.
Action Needed
This isn’t a minor cut — the current state of the reconciliation
bill would result in a total shutdown of a national program that
individuals, families, and communities across the country and right
here in Illinois depend on to promote healthier lives and stronger
food systems. College of ACES Dean Germán Bollero has urged advocacy
for this key programmatic priority. The Illinois Connections network
is one pathway for concerned individuals to respond. Partners and
advocates with connections to legislators in other states are also
urged to share their concerns and experiences with the impact of
SNAP-Ed in their communities.
About SNAP-Ed: Making healthy choices is not always easy, especially
when families struggle financially. University of Illinois SNAP-Ed
makes a difference by working with partners to reach Illinois
families through engaging face-to-face classes or events, online
resources, and healthy messaging strategies. SNAP-Ed participates in
strategic local, regional, and statewide partnerships to transform
the health of communities.
ABOUT ILLINOIS EXTENSION: University of Illinois Extension develops
educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to
support people, communities, and their environments as part of the
state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading
public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county
units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is
responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy,
environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology
and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through
six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and
agribusiness, community and economic development, family and
consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural
resources, environment, and energy. Learn more at
extension.illinois.edu.
[SOURCE / WRITER: Bridget Lee-Calfas, Director of Marketing and
Communications, Illinois Extension.]
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