The Douglas County Health Department is preparing to conduct the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS) assessment in local retail food outlets (grocery and convenience stores). This will be the fourth assessment since 2009. The NEMS assessment is important to evaluate access to healthy foods among Douglas County residents.
This assessment is not possible without the help from dedicated volunteers. The Douglas County Health Department is seeking passionate student volunteers to help with this important task (a number of COPH students have volunteers for past assessments and found it to be a wonderful learning experience!). By helping to conduct the assessment, you will see first-hand what the level of access to nutritious food looks like for community members. You will be asked to go into select retail food outlets and assess the availability of healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat and/or non-fat dairy and lean meats. With the information gathered, students will assist in making the community healthier by helping to:
- Provide information to Public Health Officials that can be used to inform community leaders of health issues that positively and negatively contribute to obesity and chronic disease rates.
- Describe the nutrition environment to decision makers so that they can discuss possible policies, changes, improvements, and incentives that can ensure access to healthy food in neighborhoods.
- Inform and support nutrition education professionals in crafting appropriate education messages that encourage consumers to eat healthy foods that are available to them.
All student volunteers will be trained and receive all necessary materials to conduct the assessment. Volunteers are asked to attend one of the following training sessions:
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
10:00am-11:30am
Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties
8015 West Center Road
Omaha, NE 68124
OR
Thursday, February 22, 2018
1:00pm-2:30pm
Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties
8015 West Center Road
Omaha, NE 68124
To sign up as a volunteer, or receive more information, please contact Shelby Braun (recent COPH grad) at Shelby.Braun@douglascounty-ne.gov.