Prenatal - Pre-K Issue Work Group Focuses on Nutrition

          At its April meeting, the Prenatal to Pre-K Issue Work Group contemplated how it could impact nutrition on a community-wide basis.  Many of the members of this group work with children who receive inadequate nutrition, which impacts the child’s performance and ability to learn.  At the meeting, Dr, Lelia Mullis, Associate Professor and Director of Field Experiences at Dalton State College School of Education, and Dr. Cordia Starling, Dean of the Dalton State College School of Nursing, shared ways that their program may be able to impact community wide nutrition efforts through educational programs and information. Other ideas offered at the meeting included starting a “Grow Your Own Health Food” campaign utilizing the community garden at Lakeshore Park; using high school students to develop nutrition publications and videos; and working with the juvenile court, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Family and Children Services to require their clients with young children to attend nutrition and/or fitness classes.

The group will next meet on May 10 at Dalton State College’s Brown Center from 5:30 – 6:45 PM to further this discussion.