ASPHN is committed to developing leaders in the field of public health nutrition. It’s part of our mission, and it’s the driving force behind the diverse resources and programs we develop for our members. Regardless of your practice area, chances are we have content you’ll find valuable in your own work and which you’ll want to share with others.
The best way to familiarize yourself with ASPHN’s resources is to visit our association’s website and then explore our sister sites, which focus on specific areas of public health nutrition. Following is a brief overview of our online offerings. Don’t forget to bookmark these sites for fast access and convenience.
ASPHN.org
ASPHN’s member website, asphn.org, was streamlined and redesigned a few years ago to make it easy for members to find the information they need. A Resource tab is dedicated to trainings, webinars, publications, and other ASPHN websites, and an Impact tab links to ASPHN-related projects that are having a direct impact on public health nutrition initiatives. Additional resources including infographics and informational hand-outs are found throughout the remainder of the site as they relate to the work done by our various committees and councils.
ASPHN.org facilitates networking with fellow members thanks to a searchable online membership directory. Use the search feature to find peers with specific job titles, those doing similar work to yours in other states, or even members of ASPHN’s various councils and board of directors. We also encourage members to reach out to our consultants, who work directly with our members and funders, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), to develop our products.
PublicHealthNutrition.org—A Nexus of Resources
Resource sharing is at the very heart of publichealthnutrition.org, an ASPHN website which houses hundreds of resources related to the public health nutrition training series developed jointly by ASPHN and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Public Health/Community Nutrition Practice Group.
This website can be of tremendous value not only to public health nutritionists who need evidence-based reference materials, but for RDNs with limited exposure to broad public health nutrition work, as well as public health preceptors who need resource materials for interns in their public health nutrition practice.
Resources are organized by broad categories of practice and include nutrition, advocacy, communication, research, PSE (policies, systems and environmental change), and leadership. With updates recently completed this past fall, you can be confident that the content is current.
Food Service Guidelines—A Compilation of State Resources
Housed within ASPHN.org is a treasure trove of food service guidelines offered by states. Among these resources are products, success stories, and partner collaborations which the states have developed and use. The Food Service Guidelines web page is the only one of its kind in the nation. It was developed by ASPHN after the need was identified through an assessment of state health agencies regarding their food service guidelines (FSG) strategies. Thanks to support from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity (DNPAO), ASPHN was able to undertake this effort, which is continually updated as new resources are made available.
Moving to the Future—A Five Step Process
If you or your colleagues are in the planning stages of a new program in nutrition or physical activity, Moving to the Future offers step-by-step instructions for conducting a community assessment, writing objectives, developing a plan, and evaluating your program. Developed in booklet form several years ago, this five-step process has been adapted and enhanced as an online resource, and is broadly used by public health nutrition educators and those new to public health program planning. Thanks to its clear and straightforward approach, as well as the worksheets, planning tools, and examples it provides, this resource is a must to share with partners and colleagues who are new to community program planning.
See It. Say It. Share It.—A Marketing Campaign Built to Share
Perhaps one of the most vexing aspects of public health nutrition is helping others understand the value of the work done by its practitioners. With ASPHN’s See It. Say It. Share It. campaign, the name says it all. This website offers marketing sound bites specifically designed for use when communicating about public health nutritionists, and it features a Share tab with tips and ideas on how to share the messages with others. There are also downloadable marketing posters and case study videos that can be forwarded to colleagues, collaboration partners, and funders.
Whether you’re new to ASPHN or visit our websites on a frequent basis, you’re bound to find the tool you need to help you with your day-to-day work. For questions or more information, please contact Lourdes Pogue at Lourdes@asphn.org.