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Cabell County Family & Community Development

WVU Extension experts are at the forefronts of health and relationship education in West Virginia communities. For parenting tips, relationship education and information about family programs, visit WVU Extension's youths and families section. For recipes, nutrition advice, heart health information, fitness tips and more, check out our food and health section. The Family Nutrition Program shows people better ways to maximize value while cooking healthy meals.

We’re always looking for ways to help strengthen West Virginia and the people and communities that make our state great. Visit WVU Extension's community, business and safety section to learn about these programs. With everything from community and tourism development to our Community Educational Outreach Service, we’re impacting many counties throughout the state. We also have information on home safety, occupational safety and disaster preparedness, along with the Fire Service Extension that trains firefighters in communities across West Virginia.

What is the W.Va. Family Nutrition Program (FNP)?

The Family Nutrition Program is comprised of numerous nutrition, food and physical activity projects designed to help limited resource families,  youth, and adults improve their health. FNP targets risk factors associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic diseases.

Goals & Objectives

FNP encourages the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors by:
  • Teaching nutrition education using the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines
  • Providing food demonstrations
  • Improving access and availability to local community resources
  • Helping participants to stretch their food dollars, plan menus and read food labels
  • Encouraging participants to devote more time to being physically active
  • Collaborating with state and local agencies to form the W.Va. Nutrition Network

Focus Audiences

FNP targets limited resource adults living at or below 185% of the federal poverty level and youth at schools, groups or summer camps where more than 50% of participants are eligible for the free/reduced lunch program.

Program Delivery

Each year, approximately 50 Nutrition Outreach Instructors, 50 County Extension Agents, and more than 2,000 volunteers contribute their time and expertise to carry out the Family Nutrition Program in over 40 counties.

Programs range from the direct delivery of nutrition information to social marketing campaigns.

Cabell County Family Nutrition Program Classes

For more information about classes available in Cabell County, contact Kandi Messinger, Health Educator, at 304-526-8458.

  • Teen Cuisine
  • Eating Smart/Being Active
  • Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go
  • Neat (Nutrition Aimed at Toddlers)
  • Rethink Your Drink
  • School Gardens
  • Pop-up Markets

Food & Health News for Cabell County

Dining with Diabetes Virtual Program

A close up of a couple cutting produce and cooking healthy meal.Dining with Diabetes - National Extension Working Group.

Dining with Diabetes is a series of classes that run once a week for four consecutive weeks (times vary to provide participants flexible options). A follow-up class will be scheduled three to four months later. Participants are expected to attend all classes. Dining with Diabetes is a free program that is open to individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes, their family members, and their caregivers.

October Dining with Diabetes Virtual Program

Mother showing her daughter how to cook.Dining with Diabetes - National Extension Working Group.

Dining with Diabetes is a series of classes that runs once a week for four consecutive weeks. A follow up class will be scheduled three to four months later. Participants are expected to attend all classes. Dining with Diabetes is open to individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes, their family members and their caregivers.

Community, Business & Safety News for Cabell County

2023 Spring CEOS Conference Recordings

https://humanimalbond.org/heartsofgold/ Hearts of Gold is a service dog training program providing service dogs for individuals with mobility impairment and/or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Partnering with the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and Interdisciplinary Curriculum of West Virginia University, the program offers university courses in service dog training, is developing research activities and provides many other services to the community.

This 1-Hour training will help you; Recognize the warning signs of suicide, Know how to offer hope, Know how to get help and save a life.

This workshop will show you the basics of making charcuterie. What is needed, how to fill a board, presentation, nutrition and food safety.

Family & Community Development Webinars

Presenter: Tony Michael, Professor, Program Director, WVU Extension Family and Community Development

Join us Monday, January 31, for an Intro to Sustainable Rural Tourism Development Webinar

Like a pathway in a lush forest, sustainable tourism requires communication and collaboration to build a mentality of "haves" and "cans" in rural areas of places like WV to not be seen as competing for precious resources.

The 2022 Sustainable Rural Tourism Webinar Series kicks off at 11 a.m., on Monday, January 31 with an introduction to the concept. People interested in tourism and tourism professionals should plan to register online to attend throughout the year. Recordings will be available afterward for those not able to participate in person. 

Doug Arbogast, WVU Extension tourism expert, suggests participating in the series is a way that newcomers and veteran experts can come together to collaborate and create a brighter future for tourism in the Mountain State.