Dietetic Internship Opportunities in Child Nutrition

USDA and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Collaboration

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics have joined forces to help increase the number of dietetic interns who complete rotations at state agencies administering Child Nutrition Programs.

The Academy administers internship programs that prepare dietetic students to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Dietetic interns can complete a rotation at a state CN agency while meeting their dietetic internship competencies. Having completed extensive coursework on many nutrition-related topics, dietetic interns can bring their knowledge, experience, and fresh perspective to state CN agencies.

There are a variety of benefits to having a dietetic intern complete a rotation at a state agency. With the passage of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, the nutrition requirements of the CNPs have been strengthened. Dietetic interns can help state agencies provide technical assistance to schools, day care centers, family day care homes, and summer sites. Dietetic interns can assist state agencies in developing resources, such as hand outs and activities for hands-on learning, and delivering training to CNP operators on the nutrition standards.

Along with benefiting the state agency, a rotation at a state CN agency can connect dietetic interns with the professional experience needed for future career opportunities at state or local-level CN agencies. This makes it a win-win opportunity for the dietetic intern and the state agency.

To help foster this opportunity, USDA and the Academy designed resources to connect dietetic internship programs and state CN agencies, prepare dietetic interns for their rotation at a state agency, and activity ideas for them to complete while there.

One-Page Program Summaries

• Summary for State Child Nutrition Agencies
• Summary for Dietetic Internship Program Directors

Internship Activity Resources

• 11 Activities for Dietetics Interns at State Child Nutrition Agencies

Pre-internship Training Resources

Interns can complete the following training modules before reporting to their rotation at a state CN agency so that they can arrive ready to make a contribution.

• Online Training Modules on the School Nutrition Programs
• Online Training Modules on the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Other Useful Links

• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
• Blog about USDA’s and the Academy’s Collaboration