Infant Nutrition Education 1
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Nutrition Education Table of Contents Page 1 NE-1: General Guidelines 1. General Guidelines Effective: August 2009 NE-2: Nutrition Education Goals 1. Nutrition Education Goals Effective: August 2009 NE-3: Nutrition Education Plan 1. Annual Nutrition Education Plan Effective: May 2006 NE-4: Certification Visit Education 1. General Guidelines Effective: August 2009 2. Counseling Methods Effective: August 2009 3. WIC Program Explanation for Participants Effective: September 2009 4. High Risk Policy Effective: August 2009 NE-5: Secondary Nutrition Education 1. General Guidelines Effective: August 2009 2. Individual Nutrition Education Contacts Effective: August 2009 3. Group Nutrition Education Effective: August 2009 4. Attendance Logs Effective: May 2006 NE-6: Infant Nutrition Education 1. General Guidelines Effective: May 2006 2. Initial Contact Effective: August 2009 NE-7: Education Materials 1. Teaching Aids Effective: August 2009 NE-8: Department Assistance 1. General Information Effective: January 2007 Illinois WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Issue Date: May 2006 Nutrition Education Section 1: General Guidelines Page 1 NE-1: General Guidelines 1. General Guidelines Effective: August 2009 Definition Nutrition Education is the "process by which beliefs, attitudes, environmental influences and understanding about food, breastfeeding and physical activity leads to practices that are scientifically sound, practical, and consistent with individual needs and available resources." Through nutrition education, WIC seeks to extend the benefits of the program beyond the period when the WIC supplemental foods are provided. General Guidelines All nutrition education contacts must be designed to be effective nutrition education interventions. Effective nutrition education should elicit a behavior change that will help the participant achieve and maintain a positive change in dietary, physical activity habits, and breastfeeding habits and practices resulting in improved nutritional status and in the prevention of nutrition- related problems regardless of the delivery medium. Effective nutrition education contacts/interventions should be easily understood by participants and must address the participant’s personal language and cultural preferences, as well as educational and environmental limitations. The most effective WIC nutrition education contacts/interventions should incorporate the following six elements: a) A review of the WIC nutrition assessment to identify the participant’s nutritional risk factors, needs and concerns; b) Messages that engage the participant in setting individual, simple, attainable and desired goals and provide clear, do-able and relevant “how to” actions to accomplish those goals; c) Counseling methods/teaching strategies that are relevant to the participant’s nutritional risk and are easily understood by the participant; d) A delivery medium that creates opportunities for participant interaction and feedback; e) Continuous support through informational/environmental reinforcements; f) Follow-up to assess for behavior change, determine intervention effectiveness and allow for continued interaction. Federal regulations mandate that each participant be provided at least two nutrition education contacts during a six-month certification period (7 CFR 246). Nutrition education is a benefit of the WIC Program, and must be made available to all clients at no cost. Nutrition education must be provided by the local agency staff or through arrangements made with other agencies. If outside agencies are used, Letters of Agreement or MOUs are encouraged. Illinois WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Issue Date: May 2006 Nutrition Education Section 1: General Guidelines Page 2 Nutrition education must also bear a practical relationship to the clients' nutritional needs, household situation (including homeless) and cultural preferences including information on how to purchase food for themselves and their families. Nutrition education must be thoroughly integrated into participant health care plans, the food prescription and other program operations. All local agency staff must display a positive attitude toward long-term benefits of nutrition education, the uniqueness of breastmilk and efficacy of exclusive breastfeeding and encourage the clients to attend and participate in nutrition education activities Illinois WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Issue Date: May 2006 Nutrition Education Section 2: Nutrition Education Goals Page 1 NE-2: Nutrition Education Goals 1. Nutrition Education Goals Effective: August 2009 Nutrition Education in WIC must be designed to achieve the following three broad goals: A. Stress the relationship between proper nutrition, physical activity and health with special emphasis on the nutritional needs of pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children under five years of age and raise awareness about the dangers of using drugs and other harmful substances including alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy and breastfeeding. B. Assist the individual who is at nutritional risk in achieving a positive change in dietary and physical activity habits, resulting in improved nutritional status and in the prevention of nutrition-related problems through optimal use of the supplemental foods, other nutritious foods and breastfeeding. This is to be taught in the context of the cultural preferences of the participants and with consideration for household situation and educational level of the participant. C. Promote and support exclusive breastfeeding as the standard infant feeding practice. Breastfeeding has been shown to have significant advantages for women and infants. WIC staff should provide women with appropriate and adequate information and support to successfully breastfeed. Illinois WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Issue Date: May 2006 Nutrition Education Section 3: Nutrition Education Plan Page 1 NE-3: Nutrition Education Plan 1. Annual Nutrition Education Plan Effective: May 2006 A Nutrition Education Plan will be submitted to local agencies from the Department annually, including a client satisfaction survey. This is done through the Integrated Plan For Healthy MCH Outcomes. A. Instructions for implementing the plan are provided by the Department. Local agencies are asked to determine community specific methods which are effective in attaining the state goals. B. The local agency’s Nutrition Education Plan is evaluated by a Regional Nutritionist Consultant during the management evaluation and via quarterly outcome reports. C. An annual summary report is due by August 31 to the Regional Nutritionist Consultant. Illinois WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Issue Date: May 2006 Nutrition Education Section 4: Certification Visit Education Page 1 NE-4: Certification Visit Education 1. General Guidelines Effective: August 2009 Individual nutrition counseling is considered to be part of the certification process. A. Counseling must be appropriate to the individual participant’s nutritional needs, including breastfeeding practices. B. Counseling must be provided after completing the nutrition assessment of the client. C. The counseling must not be provided as a written or audio-visual contact alone (e.g., newsletter, pamphlet, video, poster, etc.) D. The counseling must address the cultural and language needs of the individual participant. E. An individual nutrition care plan is developed for clients as determined by the CHP and per client’s request. This will include plans for intervention, follow-up, and referral. 1) For pregnant and breastfeeding clients, the individual nutrition care plan will include plans for dealing with common breastfeeding situations and specific client concerns. 2) Breastfeeding counseling must be provided by staff trained in breastfeeding education, promotion and support. F. If a participant is found to have a high-risk condition, the Certifying Health Professional should follow the action as indicated in the High Risk Criteria-Values/Actions. Addendum - High Risk Criteria - Values Actions Illinois WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Issue Date: May 2006 Nutrition Education Section 4: Certification Visit Education Page 2 2. Counseling Methods Effective: August 2009 A. Using critical thinking skills and professional judgment, CHPs should consider the client’s interests, risks and abilities when developing nutrition education messages. B. Counseling must address the individual's nutritional needs and concerns. C. Effective nutrition counseling should incorporate behavior change methods that address the client's readiness to make change and that facilitate and maintain positive change in their health and nutritional status. There is not one counseling method that fits the needs of all participants. However, the approach must be interactive in order to facilitate behavior change. For pregnant and breastfeeding clients, these questions should include exploring client’s desire to breastfeed, support system, knowledge of breastfeeding and any barriers to successful breastfeeding. Breastfeeding counseling should focus on uncovering and addressing client concerns and developing a plan to facilitate continued exclusive breastfeeding. The client should be engaged in identifying individual goals. D. The following are recommended strategies: 1) Motivational Interviewing - Motivational interviewing is a directive (focused and goal directed), client-centered method for facilitating behavior change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. Key concepts involve, expressing empathy, developing