CLASS TITLE:                  COMMUNITY NUTRITION ASSISTANT

CLASS DEFINITION:

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

To assist with an assessment of community nutrition needs; to recruit program participants and volunteers; to teach a pre-designed nutrition and food safety education curriculum; to help evaluate knowledge and behavior change in income eligible adults and youth; and to do related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Works under the direct supervision of a licensed dietician/nutritionist; work is evaluated in progress.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Participate in the supervision of volunteers assigned to assist. 

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

To assess the nutritional needs of individuals and groups.

To teach normal nutrition through USDA dietary guidelines; food safety and sanitation; maternal/child nutrition; breastfeeding promotion and support; comparison shopping using nutrition labeling unit pricing, food stamps and commodity foods.

To keep up-to-date records, both computer-generated and hard copy.

To refer program participants to appropriate social service agencies as need indicates.

To participate in continuing education, including peer teaching.

To assist in planning single and multi-unit programming to participants.

To do related work as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND CAPACITIES:

Experience in community health programming with culturally diverse families of limited income. Good oral communication skills; fluency in English; fluency in second language desired. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with adults and youth. Capacity to learn the basics of nutrition and demonstrated ability to teach adults and youth in small group settings. Computer literacy.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

EDUCATION:

Such as may have been gained through graduation from a senior high school or GED; associate’s degree in nutrition, education or health sciences or related field preferred.

Or, any combination of education and experience and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Introductory nutrition course (URI FSN 207), or equivalent, required within six months of appointment. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license as a condition of employment.