The School Nutrition Foundation has been providing School Nutrition Association members with professional development and education programs for many years. SNF programs are developed to meet specific training needs for SNA members and to support the SNA certification and credentialing programs. As the needs of the school foodservice business and child nutrition industry change over time, SNF has responded to recent legislation with strong support on wellness and HACCP, as well as updated materials to reflect changes in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Developing high-quality professional development programs and making them available to SNA members requires the support of a number of partners including industry partners, School Nutrition Association members, government agencies, allied non-profit organizations, professional expert, state agencies, and state associations.
Current outreach professional development programs are listed below. Click on each program for more information.
Keys to Excellence
Keys to Excellence, SNF’s flagship program, is a streamlined, online self-assessment tool for child nutrition programs. Keys enables directors to assess their programs against best practices and benchmark against other districts on a range of operational and demographic factors. All of SNF’s outreach and professional development programs are based upon the best practice standards in the Keys to Excellence.
Online Education
SNF is meeting a variety of training needs by offering professional development courses through SNA’s Child Nutrition U.
Healthy Edge - Healthy Edge: Building Healthy School Meals has been revised, updated, and reformatted to contain the most recent nutrition information, fulfills 10 continuing education credits required for all levels of SNA Certification. A scholarship is available for employee level SNA members who complete and pass this course.
Prime Purchasing Practices - Prime Purchasing Practices: A Child Nutrition Guide to Purchasing teaches basic concepts and best practices in purchasing to school nutrition managers and directors. PPP has been approved for 5 CEUs.
Expanding Breakfast -This course teaches school nutrition professionals how to Expand Breakfast outside the cafeteria and increase participation in your breakfast program. It illustrates the many benefits of eating breakfast, helps determine which Expanding Breakfast serving option would work best in your operation, assists in examining the financial impact and takes students step-by-step in developing an implementation and communication plan. Upon completion of the course the student will receive a completion certificate which must be turned into the School Nutrition Association to receive 2 CEUs.
Training Manuals and Other Resources
SNS Credentialing Exam Study Guide -The School Nutrition Foundation developed the Credentialing Study Guide to assist users in preparing for the SNA Credentialing Exam. The Guide reinforces subject matter and lessons learned through activities, review questions and a comprehensive review exam.
Expanding Breakfast - The Expanding Breakfast Manual and Video Kit – Second Edition is designed to help schools start an alternative breakfast service. This hands-on, step-by-step guide takes school nutrition professionals through operational and financial considerations.
Partners in Nutrition Backpack Brochures - Help educate parents and school officials with these free educational and fun-filled two-page full-color newsletters featuring the latest information on nutrition, wellness, school breakfast, and portion control.
Bridges to Wellness - Work with teachers to deliver nutrition education lessons that connect the cafeteria and the classroom for students in grades 5-10. Nutrition background resources and communication tools are provided to help teachers and school nutrition professionals work better together. Lessons also provide cafeteria connections to engage students in applying nutrition education concepts at school.
Eat Smart Get Moving - SNF and SNA launched the Eat Smart, Get Moving! personal wellness challenge for school-based teams in July 2006. The 2007-2008 program begins on September 18 and ends on April 14, 2007. Complete program materials as well as nutrition and physical activity resources for adults are available on the program website.