531 Class Assignments

Assignment	Date Due	Points
Public Health Nutrition Program Student Sign Up Sheet	February 24, 26 & March 3	40
Class preparations & participation Discussion Worksheets (4 @ 12 points each) Active participation in class exercises, questions asked of guest speakers, contributions to class learning (12 points)		60
Science to Policy Paper Student Sign Up Sheet	March 12	60
Assessing School District Wellness Policies in King County Project	March 17	200
Total		360

Public Health Nutrition Program

Objectives:

Students will be able to analyze public health nutrition programs through the framework provided by course objectives.
Students will be able to organize and synthesize information from several sources into a concise document and presentation.
Students will be able to utilize public health nutrition resources for individuals and populations in their work.

Process:

Students will sign up for a public health nutrition program on the first day of class.
Students will gather the following information from legislation, published evaluations, materials provided by the programs, peer reviewed literature, key informants, commentaries and critiques

Why is there a need for the program? Describe the conditions that lead to the initiation of the program. For programs that serve people, include information about numbers of people affected by problems the program addresses, potential adverse outcomes the program is designed to prevent, etc.
What are the mission, goals, and objectives of the program?
What might a logic model for this program look like?
If this is a program that provides services, who is served by the program? What are the criteria for receiving services? How many are served by the program at the local, state, and national level?
Who advocates for this program?
Who are the stakeholders?
Describe any opposition to this program or criticism of this program.
What are the legislative/regulatory and/or non-profit structure and history of the program? Are there proposed changes in regulations?
How is the program funded? Is current funding adequate to meet needs? Are there proposed changes in funding?
If this program includes services other than nutrition, how is nutrition integrated into the larger program?
What role do nutrition professionals play in this program?
How is the program marketed to potential clients, the community, legislators?
Has the program been evaluated? What performance measures or outcome measures where used? Was the program found to be effective?
How does one contact the program to receive services, join the coalition, participate in advocacy efforts?
What opportunities does this program offer for UW students for concurrent fieldwork placements, practicum experiences, and thesis research?

Students will make a 10 minute presentation to the class that covers the points listed above and will prepare a two page hand-out to distribute to the class.

Evaluation

	Points
Addresses all the points listed above	25
Critical Thinking: Demonstrates clear understanding of the program & ability to analyze& synthesize information from several sources	5
Clarity and organization of the class presentation	5
Clarity and organization of the handout	5
Total	40

Science to Policy Paper

Objectives

Students will be able to summarize complex basic scientific information so that it is easily understood by a well informed adult who is not a nutrition scientist.
Students will be able to access clinical and population-based guidelines and recommendations for nutritional practices that are based on nutritional science.
Students will be able to develop potential policies that are feasible within the context of current political and social environments.
Students will be able to analyze the policy environment for specific nutrition environments and the impact of those who will oppose or support these policies.

Nutritional Sciences to Policy Framework

Science to Policy Paper Process

Process

Choose a nutrition topic that is the subject of active research and policy deliberations.
Describe the state of the science about this topic including recent peer-reviewed meta-analysis, well done reviews, any rigorous clinical trials with adequate power and designs, etc. Describe the current state of this evidence and outline any limitations of current knowledge. Provide a short summary that can be understood by a well informed adult who is not a nutrition scientist.
Discuss clinical or population-based applications of the basic science. Support this discussion with research, guidelines or recommendations that have been based on evidence about this nutritional issue.
Discuss policy implications of the science about this topic. Are there existing policies in the US? In other countries? What is the impact of existing policies? What additional research is needed to support policy change?
Recommend at least one policy change. Who would support this change? Who might oppose this change? What steps could be taken to initiate this policy change?
Compile these elements into a 5 page document. This 5 page limit does not include a cover page and references. Revise to make the information accessible to a non-expert. Edit for simplicity and clarity. Delete jargon, passive voice, extra words, etc. Use appropriate headings and sections to make it easy to follow each set of information or arguments.
Prepare a one page briefing paper for policy makers. Include plenty of white space. Use bullets, graphics, call-outs, etc. to make it interesting and possible to get the mail idea in less than 30 seconds.

Timeline

Week 1 - 5	Sign up for a Science to Policy topic. Complete a review of the peer reviewed literature and summarize the state of the knowledge in this area. Write this section of your paper in two, double spaced pages. Prepare a bulleted list of guidelines and recommendations made by national organizations and agencies. Prepare a list of potential policies that could be used to implement these recommendations. Prepare a list of discussion questions about the policy environment (who would support, who would oppose, motivations, feasibility, etc.), the state of the science about the topic and the strength of the argument to make changes based on that science, and your policy recommendations.
Week 6	Email materials prepared in steps 2-5 to your fellow group members and to djohn@u.washington.edu Come to class on February 12 prepared to be an active participant in a small group discussion with others who have similar topics.
Week 7-10	Compile drafts of the paper and policy brief based on the paper. Edit for clarity. Ask colleagues, friends, family to review. Edit again.
Week 10	Submit 5 page, double spaced paper and one page policy brief.

Evaluation: Criteria for each Component

	Points
Science to Policy Paper
Concise and comprehensive presentation of current state of basic science	10
Review of existing recommendations & guidelines	10
Policy options & analysis	10
Strength and organization of arguments made for chosen proposed policy change (s)	10
Organization of paper, flow, introduction & conclusions	5
Quality of references	5
Briefing Paper
Readability & ease of comprehension of short policy brief	5
Selection of information to include in policy brief	5
Total points	60

Return to Nutrition 531 Homepage

531 Class Assignments

Public Health Nutrition Program

Class preparations & participation

Science to Policy Paper

Assessing School District Wellness Policies in King County Project

Public Health Nutrition Program

Objectives:

Process:

Evaluation

Science to Policy Paper

Objectives

Nutritional Sciences to Policy Framework

Science to Policy Paper Process

Process

Timeline

Evaluation: Criteria for each Component