Curriculum: Health Promotion/Community Nutrition

Objectives and Activities

1. Establish professional relationships in the practice of dietetics.
   a. Interview select individuals regarding roles and responsibilities. Examples include: Administrators, health educators,
   nutritionists etc.
   b. Review policy and procedure manual for the agency. Review state and/or county regulations for food and
   nutrition programs.
   
2. Identify, evaluate, interpret, and communicate current nutrition information to the public.
   a. *Write an article or program information sheet for the lay public.
   b. *Develop an educational tool for a community group based on current research recommendations.
   c. *Plan and/or implement a nutrition marketing event. Examples include a PSA, news release or flyer.
3. Identify community resources, services and materials available.
   a. *Critique web site resources for nutrition and health.
   b. Survey available resources and utilize, if appropriate, resources in preparation of education materials for programs.
4. Develop and deliver nutrition programs to the community or to professionals.
   a. *Plan and implement a community nutrition intervention program.
   b. Incorporate appropriate educational materials into all presentations.
   c. Participate in community education programs. Conduct and/or observe education programs for a variety of groups. This
   may include the following: Health fairs, cooking demonstrations, food safety classes, extension activities (county programs,
   4-H meetings, inservice training) committee or program development meetings.
   d. Participate in laboratory testing. If applicable, take finger stick blood tests for hemoglobin and cholesterol. Interns are trained on this procedure during the two-week orientation in August.
   e. Accompany nutritionist, nurse and/or social worker on home visits. Observe nutritional assessment and counseling procedures. Consider client's environment, surroundings and socioeconomic situation. Discuss a plan for intervention for the client and/or family.
5. Review budget allocations for community education programs.
   a. Review budget allocations for community education programs.
6. Assess socioeconomic status of a client in a public health setting, and the impact on nutritional status.
   a. * Write a case study describing the social and economic problems that impact on the nutritional status of the client.
   b. * Develop a food plan for one client seen in public health.
   c. * Evaluate menu for nutritional adequacy using a computer nutritional analysis program.

Evaluation Methods

• Daily journals
• Evaluation of projects by internship faculty
• Ongoing feedback on performance by preceptor
• Performance evaluation, final

*Denotes assignment. Directions for assignments will be provided to interns and preceptors. All internship assignments will be submitted to internship faculty for evaluation via an on-line course management system.