"EVERY TIME YOU EAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOURISH YOUR BODY"

GROWING A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD

BY GRETA LATVYTE, MPA, JOAN PERKS, PHD, APN-C, RN AND DARA LOBUONO, PHD, RD

The Family Resource Network launched The Center on Nutrition and Disability, which aims to further assist families and professionals with fostering a healthy relationship with food for people with special health care needs, chronic conditions, and their caregivers.

Get FIT@Stockton is an exercise and nutrition program led by an interdisciplinary team for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Prior to the pandemic, participants came to campus two evenings a week to attend a 90-minute interactive nutrition class and physical exercise session. Currently, the programs have been adapted and are being held via Zoom.

To date, there are no known nutrition efforts in the United States focused solely on the needs of people with disabilities. The Center's focus is to provide accurate and accessible information directly to families and service providers who need it most. Through the use of universal design for simple recipes, cookbooks, fact sheets, and ongoing webinar series, The Center aims to become an accessible and inclusive partner in creating and maintaining health.

The Family Resource Network (FRN) developed two key health initiatives – GetFIT and The Center on Nutrition and Disability. The development of both initiatives concentrates on the person-centered approach. Each approach is tailored to the needs and unique circumstances of the participant. GetFIT and the Center partner with universities, group homes, and day programs.

Another program on Stockton's campus is Get FIT Kids: Fun, Food and Fitness. This program is an exercise, nutrition literacy and cooking program led by an interprofessional team aimed at assessing children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ages 8-15, and a parent or caregiver to improve the child's wellbeing through physical activity and heathy eating. The fitness and nutrition program is an eight-week (two per week) session.

Another university site is GetFIT @ Rowan, established in 2008. The first and longest-running Get FIT program in New Jersey, it serves 45 or more participants each year. Prior to the pandemic, one-on-one fitness sessions for adults with IDD or their family caregivers were offered on-campus, and led by Rowan students. Each academic semester, participants had the option to attend the program for 10 weeks and participate up to four times each week. In response to the pandemic, the Fall 2021 semester was offered via Zoom. Rowan student volunteers offered one-on-one virtual sessions and group fitness sessions for clients and family caregivers.

A HEALTHY APPROACH: The Center aims to become an accessible and inclusive partner in creating and maintaining health.

ABOUT THE CENTER ON NUTRITION AND DISABILITY

The Center on Nutrition and Disability was launched in 2013 to be the educational and training resource of the national Get FIT Movement. Get FIT, which was launched in 2008 by The Family Resource Network provides opportunities for people with disabilities, chronic illness and their caregivers to lead a healthy lifestyle by increasing physical activity levels and maintaining a healthy diet. The Center recognizes the significant impact that diet has on health-related quality of life, activities of daily living and chronic disease prevention and management. Visit NutritionAndDisability.org or like them on Facebook @TheCenterOnNutritionAndDisability

During the Fall 2020 semester, with the initiative of a student intern, four virtual "Snack and Chat" sessions were offered via zoom. "Snack and Chats" were a time where Get FIT clients, their families, and Rowan students would meet to make a healthy snack together. Looking ahead to the Spring 2021 semester, Get FIT @ Rowan plans to offer "Snack and Chats" more frequently throughout the semester to expand and enhance their nutrition education component. "Since taking part in GetFIT, participants with developmental disabilities reported more interest in doing things like walking the dog and walking on the beach," shared a GetFIT Coordinator.

In 2020, The Center addressed health barriers that have surfaced and persisted throughout this pandemic. Sharing the County-Based Food Resource Bank with Health Insurance Navigators, Information and Referral Specialists, and community partners has allowed us to reach families at the onset of the pandemic to present day. The Center's Facebook page has been a focal access point for information on accessible local food banks and pantries.

With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Center collected anecdotal data from family caregivers, direct support professionals, advocates, individuals with disabilities, and additional stakeholders in our state of New Jersey. Through a series of interviews, the main barriers became evident: lack of access to information and resources, budget and planning assistance, and resistance to foods/selective eating. The launch of the Health Education Webinar Series addressed the listed barriers with topics about the utilization of nutrition assistance programs in NJ, how to stretch food dollars, how to teach adults with developmental disabilities to plan, cook, and enjoy meals, and the introduction to horticultural therapy for children with disabilities. All webinars are archived and housed on The Center's website for reoccurring access.

In 2021, with the support from the New Jersey Healthy Communities Network, The Center's Coalition will complete the development and application of Inclusive Nutrition Standards of Care and Guidelines for Implementation in collaboration with key stakeholders in the State. Our partners (New Jersey providers who support children and/ or adults with disabilities: Rowan University, Stockton University, Rutgers Collaborative Extension, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network) will pilot the Inclusive Nutrition Standards of Care and Guidelines for Implementation through their active programs. This will serve as a guide to outline best practices for discussing dietary behaviors with patients and caregivers. •

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Greta Latvyte, MPA is the Health Advocacy Coordinator at the Family Resource Network where she implements health-related initiatives and programs to advance the health of people with special needs, chronic conditions, and family caregivers. She attended Kean University where she attained a Master's in Public Health Administration. Joan Perks, PhD, APN-C, RN is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Stockton University where she collaborated with Mary Kientz, OTD and Alysia Mastrengelo, PhD, DPT to develop and implement the Get FIT@Stockton Programs. She has 40 years of nursing and teaching experience and was awarded her doctorate from Widener University. The Get FIT@Stockton Program is a collaborative effort between Stockton University, FACES 4 Autism, the Arc of Atlantic County and the Family Resource Network (FRN).

Dara LoBuono, PhD, RD is an Assistant Professor of Nutrition in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Rowan University. She collaborates with Leslie Spencer, PhD to develop and implement the Get FIT @ Rowan Program. She has been a registered dietitian for seven years, and has worked with a variety of special populations and their family caregivers. She completed her doctoral studies and dietetic internship at the University of Rhode Island.

ABOUT THE FAMILY RESOURCE NETWORK

The Family Resource Network (FRN) is dedicated to offering individuals and their families with continuing needs the greatest opportunities, resources and services to support a full and happy life. Visit familyresourcenetwork.org