This intensive 5-day course serves public health practitioners (both nutritionists and non-nutritionists) who work with populations with little or no access to health care services. Emphasis is given to nutrition interventions for low-income and minority women at increased risk for chronic diseases associated with dietary and lifestyle practices. The curriculum is designed for practitioners with a desire to learn more about planning and developing nutrition interventions at the individual, organizational, community, and policy levels. Faculty with practical and/or academic expertise in public health approaches to healthy eating will teach both behavioral and environmental nutrition interventions.
The nutrition course offers an informal learning environment, an emphasis on interactive teaching, and a small group practicum applicable to challenges facing participants. Participants and faculty share meals together, and faculty are available for individual consultation sessions. Days are jam-packed with activity but course participants are housed, fed, and learn at the extraordinary Paul J Rizzo Conference Center in Chapel Hill, NC.
Course sessions includes:
- Hot topics in nutrition science
- Socio-ecologic and public health practice models for nutrition
- Needs and assets assessment ‚ individual and community
- Intra- and inter-personal level behavior change
- Organization and community influences on diet, and strategies for change
- Policies that affect dietary intake and potential to influence change
- Program evaluation
- Materials development for low-literacy, low-income, & culturally diverse audiences
- Examples of exemplary nutrition programs
For non-nutritionists and those who may benefit from a refresher, a 3 ˝ hour Nutrition Pre-Course is offered on Sunday afternoon, August 20, 2006 from 1:00 – 4:30 pm. This is a basic nutrition overview that will highlight topics including: portion sizes, choosing foods for a healthy diet, and the balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. There is no additional cost for the Nutrition Pre-Course and attendance is optional. Please note on your application if you plan to attend.
Course Directoris Alice Ammerman, DrPH, RD, Director of the Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Associate Professor of Nutrition, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Course faculty includes national leaders in
public health promotion of nutrition and includes (among others):
Salli Benedict, MPH, CHES
Project Coordinator, Hope Works for Women
UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
William H. Dietz, MD, PhD
Director, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Tom Keyserling, MD, MPH
Associate Professor
Department of Internal Medicine
UNC School of Medicine
Laura Linnan, Sc.D.
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Health Behavior and Health Education
UNC School of Public Health
Janet Ohene-Frempong, MS (invited)
Lecturer on Health Literacy
President, J.O. Frempong and Associates
Carmen Samuel-Hodge, PhD, MS, RD
Research Assistant Professor
UNC Department of Nutrition
The Nutrition Course is designed for professionals involved in learning, teaching, or practicing public health approaches to chronic disease prevention and risk factor reduction. It will be of particular interest to public health professionals in local, state, and federal level health agencies; administrators, managers, and educators from voluntary and health professional organizations; individuals affiliated with CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; and others interested in chronic disease prevention. If you have questions regarding course content or if you are unsure if you should apply, please contact Avia Mainor at 919.843.6947 or email avia_mainor@unc.edu.
Those interested in attending will apply and submit a one or two page statement, indicating basis of interest in the course. Candidates will be selected based on professional credentials, experience, current professional position, and potential to enhance public health practice.
Twenty-five candidates will be selected. Up to 12 slots will be allocated to personnel from state WISEWOMAN programs, a CDC national demonstration project. The WISEWOMAN project provides blood pressure and cholesterol screening and intervention programs to help women, aged 40-64 years, develop a healthier diet and increase physical activity.
The deadline for completed applications is June 1, 2006. Persons applying by June 1 will be reviewed as a cohort and notified of application status no later than July 1. The application period will end with the June 1 deadline if all slots are filled. If some slots remain open after June 1, applications may be accepted until July 1, 2006. The selection committee may accept applications after June 1, on a case-by-case basis, until all slots are filled. If you are applying after June 1, please call Amy Sloane at 919.966.0355 or email amy_sloane@unc.edu to learn if applications are still being accepted.
The Nutrition Course fee is $1,200. These are set fees for all participants. The price includes registration, room accommodations, meals, gratuities, sales taxes, course materials, and on-site computer and printer usage.
ALL FEES MUST BE PAID PRIOR TO ATTENDING THE COURSE!
