Monday, March 23, 2009

The role of Partnership in community practice


Usually when we are considering some of the challenges associated with community nutrition practice we all looking for funding, support and money needed to allocate interventions and promotion plans.
Partnership consists of multiple terms such as different organization, stakeholders and sponsors. What is important is the rationale behind the partnership.

Here, I’m going to bring an odd and interesting example of partnership. American society of Nutrition education tended to develop education initiative; however they had some funding challenges. Therefore they actually went to McDonald’s foundation and they asked for they support in developing this initiative.
In this partnership all the information and skill sets provided by American Society of Nutrition Education and all funding and budgeting supported by McDonald’s foundation organization.
Series of Public Service announcements in the form of cartoons have been created. these PSAs are mostly targeting young kids by taking engaging and fun approach. McDonald's in partnership with educators and nutrition and health experts, teach students to make balanced nutrition choices and develop an interest in being active and staying healthy.
McDonalds partnership provided great opportunity in terms of funding and through the cartoon PSAs it also offered an accurate, high-quality nutrition education message for kids.
Through this example we learn that no matter with whom we join and collaborate, the nutrition massage should be always clear and grounded in research. As Nutrition professionals, it is our responsibility to make sure that the nutrition education message is accurate and has not been changed to suit the source of funding.