Teaching and Learning Experiences

Suggested Teaching/Learning Experiences in Public Health Nutrition

Let's Hear from the Experts

Invite a public health professional from the community as a guest lecturer.

• Public Health Nutrition Director from the local or state health department Or for a panel invite community nutrition professionals from other organizations with responsibilities for differing population subgroups or programs.

Select from the following community nutrition services available in most communities:

• Community Nutritionist/Dietitian working with a community-based, prenatal care program (contact local health department)
  
• Director of Elderly Nutrition Program (contact the Area Agency on Aging)
  
• Extension Nutritionist in the county or state Cooperative Extension Service (contact the County Extension Office or the State University)
  
• Nutrition Educator in a voluntary health organization such the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, or March of Dimes (contact the office of the local or state affiliate organization), or a program involved in one of these
  organizations’ campaigns such as the 5-A-Day for Better Health
  
• WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) nutritionist (contact the local health department)
  

For contrast also invite:

• Staff with nutrition education responsibilities representing the business sector or food industry that is involved in educating the public (contact industry groups such as the National Livestock and Meat Board [lean meat initiative], American Dairy Association [education about osteoporosis], or a food producer in your area [food labeling and consumer education issues].

Make a Site Visit

Have students, individually or in groups, visit community nutrition sites, observe program operations, and interview the community nutritionist.

Brainstorm Strategies for Addressing a Community Nutrition Problem

Have individual or groups of students identify an important nutrition problem affecting many people in the community and then complete the following exercise. Fill in the Nutrition Intervention Matrix with a range of coordinated, reinforcing programs and services that could address an important nutrition-related problem in your community or a special population group. (For example, the community could be defined by a place with geographic boundaries such as the county, or as a population subgroup with special needs such as pregnant teens, or children with special health care needs and their families and caretakers.)

Other suggested Projects and Assignments:

1. Using the three responsibilities and the list of 10 essential public health service functions, identify nutrition-related issues and challenges and ways public health nutrition professionals are involved in each of the public health service function to foster optimal nutritional health for the population.
   
2. Go to the World Wide Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Health Promotion (CDC). Examine the range of public health activities and programs conducted by CDC, and search for nutrition-related activities and resources.
   
3. Make a directory of public health/community nutrition programs and services in your community.
   
4. Complete the Self-Assessment Tool for Public Health Nutritionists and identify areas to be strengthened through studies and experience.