Community Nutrition
The Community Nutrition Program at United Indian Health Services is a Local Incentive Awardee of the Network for a Healthy California, a statewide movement of local, state and national partners collectively working toward improving the health status of low-income Californians through increased fruit and vegtable consumption and daily physical activity. Funding for the Network is made possible by in-kind contributions from state and local governments and financial reimbursement from the USDA Food Stamp Program.
The work that the Community Nutrition Staff do with children is what we are most proud of. Culturally relevant Nutrition and Physical Activity lessons are conducted monthly at a number of sites throughout the UIHS service area including Northern California Indian Development Council after-school program, Margaret Keating, Jack Norton and Weitchpec Schools and Klamath, Elk Valley, Howonquet, and Kepel Headstarts. Participation in UIHS Traditional Resources Youth Programs ensures that we reach an even greater number of kids of all ages.
Community Nutrition reaches the rest of the Native American population of Humboldt and Del Norte County by it's partipation in various community events such as the Salmon Festival, UIHS' HAWC Walk, and the Spring Flings held in both Klamath and Weitchpec. A series of Nutrition classes for UIHS clients are held once a year at Potawot Health Village.
The two-acre on-site Potawot Community Food Garden serves as an amazing resource and education tool for Community Nutrition. At the bi-weekly Produce Stands, cooking demonstrations are conducted featuring a fruit or vegetable grown in the Garden and available that day. Samples, recipes and nutrition information are distributed as well.