I have been active in my practicum with our local Aging, Disabilities & Resource Center (ADRC) Senior Nutrition Program working on local foods initiatives. The beginning of my practicum started off pretty slow and somewhat rocky, which was frustrating. I originally planned on working through our local Division of Public Health with a Farmers Market initiative; however, I accepted a promotion to WIC program supervisor and felt there would be a conflict of interest working with the WIC FMNP program and farmers market with Public Health. So, I got a little bit of a late start with my practicum hours as I transition to the ADRC. My initial task was to analyze their menu for local foods. It was concluded that there was little to no local foods offered or promoted through the senior dining program in Portage County.

This practicum has been a positive learning experience, learning to juggle my new work responsibilities, personal and family obligations in addition to practicum hours. So far, I have helped gather local data and submitted 2 local food/revitalization grants specifically for Wisconsin senior dining programs. This week we received confirmation that we were awarded $15,000 to work on these two new initiatives by incorporating local foods into our senior dining program to help make Portage County seniors healthier and to increase participation. One of the grants focuses on partnering with Central Wisconsin Farmshed-a non-profit local sustainable food resource center to purchase local produce from area farmers throughout the growing season to incorporate at least 1 serving of local fruits or vegetables every other week year round.  The other grant focuses on partnering with a local fitness club and bistro. Our vision is to provide a restaurant voucher model to senior dining which incorporates healthy lifestyles and activities at the fitness club while promoting healthy, local and affordable food options at the bistro.

I have also developed a local foods survey which will be administered soon to seniors in the community and those who dine with Portage County senior dining.

I am very pleased with the progress so far in my practicum experience and look forward to sharing more information soon!