FROM THE FIELD
Robin Noeldner, Associate Director of Field Operations
Welcome to our first From the Field article. Our goal is to provide you with
an overview of what our fabulous Field Representatives are doing in your
communities. We welcome your feedback and suggestions so we may highlight issues that are
important in future articles. Simply email me directly at [email protected] to share
your ideas.
Behind the Scenes at Food Program
Training
Have you ever wondered what
happens behind the scenes to
develop your Food Program
workshops each year? This article
will shed light on the enormous
effort to create a workshop that
educates and inspires.
In addition to providing annual
training on specific topics
required by USDA we believe
that it is important for us to go
Lisa Stenzel, PCI Field Representative serving the southwest areas since 1988. Presenting the 2014
above and beyond. This is why
Workshop, “What Would Batman Eat”.
we pump up our workshops
with additional training components that allow for self-discovery, networking with other providers and
collecting new ideas.
2014 Food Program
BY THE NUMBERS
6
The number of people
on the committee that
developed the Food
Program Workshop.
117
The number of cities in
which Food Program trainings
were presented.
4,000
The number of
providers who attended
Providers Choice Food
Program Workshops.
9
The number of weatherrelated cancellations.
165
The number of
workshops held this year.
8 PROVIDERS VOICE
The planning process for the food program workshop begins a full year
in advance. We begin with a theme. Next, we organize a ommittee of
c
several Field Representatives, our registered dietician, and additional
office staff.
The committee takes several months to research, write, and develop
activities and materials that will educate, inform, and engage you so
that you leave the workshop excited to bring your new knowledge to
your child care program.
Once developed, we take the show on the road and do a pilot
workshop in a different community every year. This year our pilot
workshop was in Little Falls. During the middle of December our devoted
test pilot providers braved the cold to attend our test workshop with
Field Repre ͕