Nutrition Services

Children with Special Health Needs (CSHN) must have the opportunity to achieve their potential in all areas of development. Appropriate nutrition services are a critical aspect of the support required for this to occur. CSHN are vulnerable to all of the factors that place other children at nutritional risk, and to a myriad of additional biological, environmental, and psychosocial variables that may further jeopardize their nutritional status and pose barriers to their development.

Training, Conferences, Screening & Assessment, Nutrition Guidelines, Reimbursement for Nutrition Services, Diet Analysis tools

Training

Self-study Curriculum - Nutrition for Children with Special Health Care Needs       

  1. www.pacificwestmch.org
    • This distance-learning activity is designed for RDs and other health care professionals who see children with special health care needs as part of their clinical practices.
    • The curriculum is now available on the project website or on CD-ROM. It consists of six modules; each module is approved for 1 CEU from the ADA/CDR. A 98-page reference and resource manual accompanies the CD-ROM.
    • The web-based curriculum can be accessed free-of-charge; continuing education credits $10 per CEU. The IBM-compatible CD-ROM and Resource Notebook is sold for $25, plus $10 per CEU.
  1. http://nutrition.mchtraining.net

Nutritional Resources

Screening and Assessment

  1. Nutrition Interventions for Children with Special Health Care Needs, 2nd ed. - http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/mch/   Nardella M, Campo L, Ogata B, editors. Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, WA, May, 2002. 372 pages including a glossary and index; 21 chapters; 21 appendices.
  2. Children With Special Health Care Needs: Nutrition Care Handbook , search for children with special health needs at  http://www.eatright.org/Public/ProductCatalog/104.cfm

This newly published provides a quick and practical reference for healthcare professionals monitoring the nutrition care of children with special healthcare needs, including Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other disorders. Ideal for practitioners in outpatient and community settings, this handbook addresses topics such as: feeding difficulties related to oral motor and/or behavioral problems, growth concerns, fluid and bowel problems, tube feedings, issues relating in inadequate energy, and nutrient intake to support growth and health, and community services for these children.

Nutrition Guidelines

  1. New Dietary Guidelines. The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released earlier this month.  Below is the press release.  The Dietary Guidelines are published every five years and are designed to promote good dietary habits and reduce the risk of chronic disease.  The full report can be found at 
    http://healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/
  2. Dietary Recommended Intake Table. Current DRIs are available on the Food and Nutrition Board's Website.  The link is http://www.iom.edu/view.asp?id=21372
  3. Guidelines for Adolescent Nutrition Services, is available online at  www.epi.umn.edu/let/pubs .
    Guidelines for Adolescent Nutrition Services is a comprehensive overview of nutrition issues of teens. Some of the topics discussed in the book include:
    • physical and psychosocial development,
    • obesity, diabetes, hypertension,
      hyperlipidemia,
    • eating disorders,
    • sports nutrition and children with special health care needs.
  4. General Nutrition: Bright futures in Practice- Nutrition http://www.brightfutures.org/nutrition/index.html
  5. Preterm infant nutrition care http://depts.washington.edu/growing/
  6. Nutrition Guidelines for Care Nutrition Practice Care Guidelines for Preterm Infants
  7. Partnership with Education to ensure positive nutrition status in the education setting http://www.rsoi.org/FeedingManuel/fdcontent.htm
  8. CDC Pediatric Growth Charts Web Site www.cdc.gov/growthcharts

Reimbursement for Nutrition Services

Medicaid Reimbursement for Medical Nutrition Products and Nutrition Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs: A Washington State Case Studies Report

To view and download this publication, go to: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/publications.htm

Diet Analysis Tools

The Interactive Healthy Eating Index (IHEI) is an online dietary assessment tool that provides information on your diet quality, related nutrition messages and links to nutrient information. The Physical Activity Tool, assesses your physical activity status and provides related energy expenditure information and educational messages. www.cnpp.usda.gov

EATracker assesses your food choices and provides personalized feedback on your total intake of energy (calories) and essential nutrients and compares this to what is recommended for your age, gender, and activity level. It also determines your body mass index (BMI) and provides information to help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight. www.dietitians.ca/english/frames.html?main=EATracker.asp