Health Ambassador Coach

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If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact either Michael McRae at mmcrae@capitalareafoodbank.org or Stephanie Sneed at ssneed@capitalareafoodbank.org.

Department:

Programs/Partners Division

Reports to:

Healthy Eating Educator

No. of Volunteers Needed:

2-10 per series, 4 series per year

Date requested:

Ongoing

Position Overview:

Health Ambassadors is a dynamic health and nutrition training program for representatives from the Capital Area Food Bank’s corps of 700 community partner agencies. Partner agencies range in size and scope, but all work to address issues related to hunger and diet-related illness in the DC Metropolitan Area. The purpose of the Health Ambassador program is to equip motivated individuals from partner agencies to champion healthy eating on a budget in their communities. Graduates of the program will be equipped to identify healthy food products in the food bank inventory, articulate key healthy eating messages, promote healthy ingredients, and integrate healthy eating concepts into the work of their organizations.

The Health Ambassador program is made up of five 2.5 hour sections, delivered in two full days. Students will complete all five sections in order to graduate the program. All students must have completed an introductory course called Nutrition 101 before enrolling in the program. The five course sections are:

• Nutrition 101: Nutrition Basics
• Nutrition 102: Nutrition at Your Site
• Nutrition 103: Healthy Eating on a Budget
• Nutrition 201: Addressing Community Needs
• Nutrition 202: Inspiring Health

Each section is taught by a team of at least two volunteer instructors with expertise in nutrition, culinary or teaching skills. Health Ambassador Coaches may sign up to teach one or more sections within each series. Coaches will be matched to the sections for which they are best qualified.

Coaches will also contribute a one-hour coaching session to each student during the first four weeks after the first course. There will be multiple coaches assigned to each course, and therefore, each coach will be responsible for coaching between 2 and 10 students per course.

Basic Function:

• Train representatives from the CAFB’s 700 partner agencies on how to equip their communities to understand, promote, and integrate healthy eating concepts.

Primary Duties:

• Teach nutrition, culinary, and health-related skills to a group of 10-20 adult participants, using the lesson plans for each class provided by established curricula;
• Use visuals and hands-on activities, and ask open-ended questions so each class participant can actively participate and learn from each other;
• Work in partnership with another volunteer to lead the class;
• Highlight and supplement course content with own culinary/health knowledge and experience; and
• Coach students on a one-on-one basis after course is over to actualize the things they’ve learned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Strong knowledge of nutrition and health. Nutrition/medical/health professional or B.S in Nutrition preferred. Experience with nutrition education a plus. Highly motivated and experienced Senior nutrition students also acceptable and may work in pairs to lead the nutrition lessons in class
• Teaching and/or leadership experience
• Interest in working with low-income individuals with diverse backgrounds
• Dedication to helping alleviate hunger and poverty
• Communication or public speaking skills; comfortable speaking in front of an audience
• Ability to travel to class location
• Willingness to be trained in the curricula, and plan for lesson delivery
• Willingness to work as a team and adhere to program policies and procedures

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to stand for at least 3 hours at a time, teaching in front of a class.