Head Start

Experience at rotation:  During my rotation at Head Start I felt that I was truly emerged in the program.  I was able to work with a variety of staff members to see the diversity in positions.  During this time I was also able to visit several different sites to view meal and snack times and I was able to visit homes and talk to high-risk families as a part of Early Head Start.

How experience helped achieve career goals:  This rotation helped me build communication skills along with flexibility in working with Head Start staff members and teachers as well as Head Start participants.  Going into families homes was a very powerful experience and it helped me better understand the difficulties that many families face.  This experience will help me in any future community nutrition job and now that I know the services that Head Start offers, I will be able to refer families in need.

Assignment title:  Design, implement and evaluate presentations to a target audience. 

Assignment description:  Head Start has recently seen a dramatic increase in food allergies.  Nutrition staff is working on educating the Head Start teachers on the severity and importance of keeping children with food allergies safe.  I was asked by my preceptor to create a presentation on food allergies that the nutrition staff could use during their summer orientation to educate teachers and staff members.