Calling all health educators, nutritionists, community health workers and more!
Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VCHA) is excited to announce the launch of a comprehensive new Food as Medicine nutrition initiative designed to educate and empower patients at Virginia’s community health centers about the critical role nutrition plays in their health and wellness.
The 12-session curriculum includes engaging discussion questions, interactive activities, and recipes that reinforce the course materials. Complementing the sessions are video modules featuring voice-over narration, which include periodic knowledge checkpoints to enhance learning and retention.
“This course represents a significant advancement in VCHA’s mission to promote health through education,” stated Adrienne Harden, VCHA’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. “Participants will gain valuable insights into their daily nutrition habits and learn to create healthy, affordable meal plans.”
In 2024, VCHA partnered with the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation to establish the Food as Medicine Program, with the goal to address food insecurity and cultivate partnerships within Virginia’s health centers to improve patient health outcomes. Through the program, VCHA member health centers have direct access to a Registered Dietitian, offering group nutrition education classes, individualized nutrition counseling, nutrition-focused workshops, cooking demonstrations, webinars and more!
“Ultimately, the new curriculum program’s goal is to improve patient health, remove financial barriers to accessing nutrition services and increase awareness of the importance of nutrition education,” said Harden.
Program FAQs:
What is the Food As Medicine Nutrition Education Program Curriculum?
A 12-session nutrition education program created to equip facilitators in leading a participant-centered nutrition education group class. Each session has an overview of information related to the session topic, modules, discussion, surveys, activities, recipes and more.
Who is eligible to facilitate the sessions?
Trained staff within any of VCHA’s member community health centers (most often community health workers, health educators, nurse educators, nutritionists, some clinicians, community engagement staff, patient engagement staff, and care coordination team members, etc.).
How do facilitators receive training?
Email our FAM program lead to express interest and schedule a virtual 90-minute training session: aharden@vcha.org
Do facilitators need to have a background in nutrition to lead sessions?
Not at all! Facilitators are only required to receive training on the program prior to receiving access (details below). They will need to review all of the materials prior to leading the course.
Patient-education experience is preferred due to the nature of leading in the curriculum. The program is designed for facilitators within health centers to feel confident in providing patient-centered nutrition education in group settings within their health centers, even if they do not have a strong nutrition background. They are also encouraged to follow up with our FAM program lead if they have any questions.
What does training include?
90-minute Virtual Training will include:
- Introductions and Curriculum Overview (10 mins)
- Form and Survey Review (10 mins)
- Online Toolkit Detailed Site Tour (10 mins)
- Video Module Instructions with Examples (20 mins)
- Participant Practice and Q&A (25 mins)
- Password for Access (5 mins)
- Next Steps, Closing, and Certificate of Completion (10 mins)
- Full session attendance is required to receive your certificate. If you are not available to attend the full training block, you must request an alternate date.
What does the program and training cost?
Thanks to generous funding from the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, this program is provided at NO COST to VCHA’s member health centers. Training is also provided at no cost to member health centers. Please note this program is valued at over $800!
For more information about the Food as Medicine program or to enroll in the new curriculum program, please visit https://vcha.org/food-as-medicine/ or contact aharden@vcha.org.
