·
WIC
WIC is the first national organization that
appealed to me. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,
and Children (WIC) provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods,
health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant,
breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and
children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. You can find
more information about it at http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic
. The job opportunity that I could be associated with WIC is the nutritionist.
I would be able to educate the parents as well as educate the children about
healthy lifestyles. They also have cooking classes that are incorporated in the
nutrition education so that parents can see how to cook items on the WIC list. The skills that you would need to fulfill this
career are nutrition knowledge, communication skills, and compassion.
·
The
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center
to Prevent Childhood Obesity is a national organization dedicated to reversing
the childhood obesity epidemic by changing public policies and creating
healthier environments in schools and communities. The center helps to shape
and
coordinate the efforts of policy-makers,
advocates and community organizations by identifying and promoting the most
promising obesity-prevention strategies and supporting the nationwide movement
to improve food and physical activity environments. Their goal is to reverse
the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015 by improving access to affordable
healthy foods and increasing opportunities for physical activity in schools and
communities across the nation. You read more about this organization at http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/program-areas/childhood-obesity.html?cid=xdr_rco_001
. The organization offers opportunities in communications, program development,
and research and evaluations. Available positions offer varying levels of
responsibility for the identification, development, and support of programs and
projects associated with our mission to improve the health and health care of
all Americans. We also offer professional opportunities in administration,
finance and technology.
·
USDA
USDA food and nutrition is the third
organization that I have found useful . The USFA is under the U.S. federal executive
department responsible for developing and executing federal government policy
on farming, agriculture, forestry, and food. It aims to meet the needs of
farmers and ranchers, promote agricultural trade and production, work to assure
food safety, protect natural resources, foster rural communities and end hunger
in the United States and abroad. They have implemented many new guidelines for
the school lunch and breakfast program that help prevent obesity. It would be important to have communication skills
as well as knowledge of federal regulations and nutrition knowledge to work
with USDA. You can find more information at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome
Hi Karen,
ReplyDeleteMy school uses the USDA program. In order to receive continued funding we so have some requirements, point of meal service counts and serving prescribed portions, which is great for calorie control. The USDA program offers a balanced meal for the children for the children and helps to foster good nutritional habits. Thanks for you post.
Jackie
HI Karen,
ReplyDeleteI never thought about looking into the USDA or WIC as organizations for which I could work. I suppose they always can use highly-qualified teachers and educators to consult with. Your knowledge of health and wellness is sure to be exactly the things you need to land jobs at either of those places.
Kim
Karen,
ReplyDeleteI was very pleased with the annual CACFP training this summer and their focus on fresh not processed foods, whole fruits instead of juices and whole grains. The training I attended was for childcare, are the school lunch programs being given the same guidance?
Hi Karen,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these organizations. I had heard of WIC, but I did not realize that they offered so many services to low-income pregnant, breast-feeding, and non-breast-feeding women and children. I think the idea of providing cooking classes as a part of their nutrition education classes is a smart and effective way of teaching women the importance of healthy eating. Thanks for sharing!