Public Health Nutrition: Organizations

Organizations Involved in Community Nutrition Work

A wide ranging network of providers (including organizations, professionals and volunteers) help assure that needed community nutrition programs and services are available to the population and targeted subgroups.

The combined efforts of many providers are necessary to meet the challenge of assuring optimum nutrition for all. A range of providers also enables nutrition programs to be more closely tailored to the needs and interests of the target population or subgroup so programs are easily accessible and culturally relevant to their users.

A part of the coordinating role of the public health departments is to assure necessary and appropriate nutrition services are available and duplication is avoided.

Where to find Community Nutrition Professionals

Government agencies

• Public Health Departments (WIC, maternal and child health, health promotion and disease prevention units)
• Cooperative extension
• Social/human service agencies

Nutrition and food assistance programs

• Food Stamp Program
• Elderly Nutrition Program (congregate meals and home delivered meals)
• Food shelves and emergency meals programs

Schools

• School breakfast and lunch
• Student health services
• Nutrition and health education curriculum

Day care centers and Head Start Programs

• Child and Adult Care Food Program

Community not-for-profit organizations

Voluntary Health Organizations

• March of Dimes Foundation
• American Heart Association
• American Cancer Society

Business and Industry

• Food corporations
• Food producers and commodity groups

Health care organizations

• Community health centers
• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Managed Care Organizations (HMOs)
• Home health agencies

Who are the community nutrition professionals in your community?

How-to locate and contact a public health/community provider in your community

• Look for the organizations listed above in the government and business sections of the phone book
• Call the local health department
• Call the state Dietetic Association
• Search for the organization's Web page on the internet