Utilizing the Resources of the Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) to Impact Staff and Family Wellness
by the National Head Start Social Services Training Contractor, National Alliance of Business, Washington, DCThe United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Library, Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC), provides a wide variety of training materials. These materials can be used to develop creative and exciting social services staff training experiences.
Head Start staff can borrow materials from the FNIC. The only cost is return postage. Head Start consultants and contractors can borrow through an interlibrary loan. Nutritionists can be consulted about food, nutritionpublications, lists of holdings, or library searches by dialing 1-301-504-5719 and pressing 1, then 4. To borrow materials, dial 1-301-504-5719, press 1, then 2.
The training videos listed below can be used in distance instruction, instruction in both large and small groups, and in self study and home study situations.
Observing and Assessing Nutritional Habits of Families: Staff training to improve interviewing, observation, and assessment skills related to nutritional issues could incorporate the following:
"Dietary Recall Instructions for Infants" (1990). Video on how to interview parents to obtain correct information. Also gives advice on counseling parents.Family Weilness: A basic nutritional background needed by staff to plan parent education activities, evaluate family needs assessment data, identify appropriate resources, and counsel parents, can be obtained through the following resources:"Young Child Nutritional Protocol" (1986). This protocol provides information on feeding practices to professionals and parents concerned with early childhood development.
"Matter of Balance: Easy Steps for Good Nutrition"Special Dietary Needs: Materials on nutritional needs of families with disability and/or special health considerations, family eating habits of various ethnic groups, and information on adolescent mothers, nursing mothers, and substance abuse during pregnancy, include:
(1990). This video provides guidance to adults on the recommended amount of fat in a diet."Nutrition and Your Health Guidelines for Americans" (1990). Reviews the seven new nutrition and dietary recommendations of the USDA and DHHS.
"Oatmeal In My Hair" (1991). Parents discuss problems with feeding their preschool children. Available in English. Spanish, and Sino-Tibetan.
"ABCs of Children's Nutrition" (1992) video, and a workshop packet, "Nutrition for Children."
"Living Well" (1990). This PBS video covers factors that impact our physical and mental well-being, especially nutrition, and stresses the importance of beginning healthful eating habits at an early age.
"Eating for Two" (1991). Highlights key nutritional concepts during pregnancy.Improving Family Self-Sufficiency: Training videos that provide information on consumerism and budgeting include:"When Your Unborn Child is on Drugs, Alcohol, or Tobacco" (1990). Shows the dangers to the unborn child when a pregnant woman smokes, drinks, or uses drugs.
"Mommy, What's Anemia?" (1987). For mothers and children, discusses the importance of iron in the diet.
"Diabetesand Food": The Challenge of Choices (1990). Discusses changes in diet and meal planning for diabetics.
"Buy Better, Eat Better" (1989). Contains visual and written lessons on nutrition and the selection, preparation, and storage of food.These are a few samples of audio-visual materials that can be utilized to train social services staff. The videos can be combined with print materials that the Center also has to provide an interesting and indepth training program on nutritional issues. For more infor mation on the FNIC, write to:"Shopping Smart": Consumer's Guide to Healthy Food Selection (1988). Nutritionists answer commonly asked questions about packaging claims and label terms.
"Picking the Winners," Shopping Basics. Discusses how to plan and budget money and time for grocery shopping and preparing food.
"Saving Food Dollars," a video for Hmong populations suggesting good ways to purchase food; "Nutrition for Better Health," in Spanish; and "Eating Healthy On a Budget" (1992).
FNIC
National Agricultural Library
Beltsville, MD 20705
(301) 504-5472