Cost-effectiveness model for youth EFNEP programs: what do we measure and how do we do it?

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Education
• Public Health Policy
• Program Evaluation

Background:

• The Youth Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is a key USDA initiative providing nutrition education to limited-resource youth.
• Existing cost-effectiveness models do not specifically address the unique aspects of youth-focused nutrition programs like EFNEP.
• Understanding the economic impact of such programs is crucial for resource allocation and program sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify expert consensus on the costs, effects, and instruments necessary for developing a cost-effectiveness model for youth EFNEP.
• To lay the groundwork for a novel cost-effectiveness model tailored to youth nutrition education programs.
• To address the absence of a dedicated economic evaluation tool for youth EFNEP.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi method or similar consensus-building technique was employed, gathering opinions from experts in EFNEP and related fields.
• Experts were consulted to identify key inputs (costs) and outputs (effects/impacts) relevant to youth EFNEP.
• Potential instruments and methodologies for cost-effectiveness analysis were explored.

Main Results:

• Significant challenges were encountered in achieving expert consensus on program inputs and their associated costs.
• Key components for a cost-effectiveness model were identified, though consensus was difficult to reach.
• A clear roadmap for the development and adoption of a youth EFNEP cost-effectiveness model was proposed.

Conclusions:

• Developing a cost-effectiveness model for youth EFNEP presents considerable challenges, particularly in defining and quantifying inputs.
• The study provides a foundational roadmap and expert-informed insights for creating a much-needed economic evaluation tool.
• The proposed model, once developed, could be adopted by state EFNEP coordinators to better demonstrate program value.