Reaching Low-Income Audiences Using Innovative Social Marketing Techniques for Nutrition Education

(Recorded 11/14/17)

Speakers: Austin H. Childers, BA; Edda Cotto-Rivera, MPH CHES; and Jung Sun Lee, PhD RDN

Webinar sponsored by ASNNA in partnership with the SNEB Communications Division

The web presents an ever growing opportunity to provide cost-effective and cost-efficient SM nutrition education to a broad audience — but how do you ensure that information reaches your intended audience? This webinar will cover geo-fencing — the practice of restricting online content to particular geographic regions — using specific examples on Facebook and Google's advertising platforms to target SNAP-Ed eligible audiences. 

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this webinar, participants will gain understanding on:

1. How University of Georgia SNAP-Ed SM uses geo-targeting options for promoted content on Facebook and Google AdWords.
2. How geo-fencing helps to achieve 100% SNAP-Ed eligibility in geo-targeted online audiences.
3. The basic knowledge to apply similar practices to other nutrition education program targeted to low-income audiences.

Austin Childers holds a BA in Human Geography with concentrations in Agrofood Systems, Politics, and Uban Development, and New Media Certificate from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. In his current position, Childers 1) coordinates a statewide social marketing nutrition education intervention to promote healthy eating and physically active behaviors of low-income Georgians for the University of Georgia SNAP-Ed;  2) conducts social marketing research while utilizing emerging and traditional methods of communication to create and distribute nutrition education messages; and 3) provides technical marketing assistance to the University of Georgia SNAP-Ed team of nutrition and education professionals.

Dr. Lee holds a doctoral degree in Community Nutrition from Cornell University, and has received additional training in geriatrics and epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Lee has training and background in community nutrition, epidemiology, and aging, with specific expertise in food insecurity research conducting evaluation studies on food and nutrition assistance programs, community-based nutrition interventions, and policy addressing nutrition-related health disparities in low-income population.

Ms. Cotto-Rivera holds a Masters degree in Public Health and a Bachelors of Science in Community Health Education. Ms. Cotto-Rivera's professional background includes community health education and outreach, chronic disease prevention education, and working with diverse audiences. Ms. Cotto-Rivera has extensively contributed to research projects related to health, nutrition, wellness with diverse underserved populations. As the University of Georgia SNAP-Ed Project Coordinator, she is responsible to collaborate with the Principle Investigator to provide guidance to both state staff and county based Extension staff for the design, implementation and evaluation of the program's direct nutrition education, social marketing ,and e-learning interventions.