The Clinton County Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with Foothills Academy in Clinton County to bring nutritional information to their employees. Foothills Academy is a residential treatment facility for young boys who have found themselves in trouble with the court system but whose actions haven’t warranted jail time. The Clinton County School District provides certified teachers to assist the young men in achieving their high school education while housed at the facility. To help with discipline issues and to help provide structure to the young men in their care, Foothills Academy hires line staff to escort the boys to and from class, lunch and all other activities. The line staff spends class time waiting in the hallway, ready to take action if the need arises. This proved to be the perfect opportunity for the NEP Assistant to teach nutritional lessons to the hourly employees. Most of the employees pass their day by sitting and waiting to transport the students and snacking on unhealthy snack foods to pass the time.

                Over a period of 7 weeks, the NEP Assistant taught a series of 7 lessons from the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum with 11 total staff members, 100% showed at least one positive nutritional change in their daily dietary needs. Moreover, 45% meet their daily fruit and vegetable recommendations at exit. More importantly, 82% showed an increase in their physical activity level. They are now using the physical activity tips provided within their lessons to increase their physical activity. The NEP Assistant has also been able to make outside resource connections for a couple of the participants, by putting them in contact with Diabetes Educators and Nutritionists to assist them in making lifestyle changes to improve their health.