Research & Practice

Creating Policy Briefs for Infant & Child Nutrition & Physical Activity: A Case Study for Dietitians’ Participation in Policy

State and federal policies affect the clinical and public health practices of dietitians, but few dietetic professionals participate in the process of improving policy. An intern spent seven weeks observing the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition (COPC) core staff and its partners during Washington state legislative session, participating in activities such as:

  • Attending legislative hearings and weekly meetings of the Prevention Alliance, an active advocacy group with a strong lobbyist presence in Olympia.
  • Drafting a report summarizing active transportation metrics.
  • Creating individualized policy briefs for ~35 legislative districts in favor of increased active transportation funding.
  • Attending other health-related workgroups who seek to inform or enact policy change.
  • Completing a Voices for Healthy Kids spokesperson training on effective communication in advocacy.

Lastly, in a partnership between the COPC and Washington State Department of Health (WA DoH), three policy briefs were generated. The briefs were made to share findings from the recent Washington State Survey of Nutrition and Physical Activity in Early Learning survey completed by DoH, which describes current adherence to best practices in early learning statewide. The briefs emphasize the importance of improving those practices as a tool to promote the long-term health of children. In addition, they are Informed by a brief review of both scientific and gray literature to support the importance of nutrition and physical activity in child development and chronic disease prevention. The goal is that the briefs will be adapted for future dissemination to early learning providers, advocacy groups, and legislators.

The policy briefs and other deliverables described above are just a few examples of how dietitians and other practitioners may inform public policy and effect change. Professional training should emphasize policy-specific written and in-person communication strategies so that dietitians can advocate effectively. In addition, health agencies employing dietitians should create more formalized and visible protocols to facilitate participation in advocacy and lobbying.

Materials Available

Project Type(s): MPH Practicum, PH Concentration Poster

Author(s): Jessica Wolf

Program(s): Master of Public Health, RDN Training

Year: 2019

Adviser(s):