Free Training Opportunities for Disability Services Providers
Nutrition & Disability
The MENU-AIDDs Program
- Basic Training
- Booster Session
The Montana Disability and Health Program team created MENU-AIDDs(Materials supporting Education and Nutrition of Adults with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities), a nutrition support and education program for DD group homes.MENU-AIDDs was developed together with adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, DD service providers, and nutrition professionals.
MENU-AIDDs is not a therapeutic diet! It is a comprehensive food and menu-planning system that group home managers can tailor to the needs, preferences, and constraints of their homes and consumer clientele. This MENU-AIDDs program and training can teach you how to better utilize the menus you already have by tailoring them to your home’s specific needs.
MENU-AIDDs Basic Training
Billings, MTBillings Inn & Convention Center October 28th, 10:00-4:00
Who should attend this training? People who have not yet participated in MENU-AIDDs training.
Group home managers who want the MENU-AIDDs program in their home
Provider trainers
Provider health specialists, directors, or coordinators
MENU-AIDDs Booster Session
Billings, MTBillings Inn & Convention Center October 29th, 10:00-2:00
Who should attend this training? People who took MENU-AIDDs training previously and who want more skills and information on menu planning, cost containment, menu evaluation, and special dietary needs.
Group home managers
Provider trainers
Provider health specialists, directors, or coordinators
The MENU-AIDDs program is only available to individual group homes with the accompanying training. Participating in an evaluation of the training and first six months of the MENU-AIDDs program is required.
Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Montana Developmental Disabilities Program, and the Montana Disability and Health Program, the MENU-AIDDs program and training events are free!
Enrollment is limited! To reserve a place for this unique training opportunity, contact the DDP Central Office, 444-2995
Call Kathy Humphries if you have questions (406)243-2515
About MENU-AIDDs
MENU-AIDDs provides:
Menu planning tools for healthy, well-balanced meals that reflect the unique preferences and needs of individuals in I/DD group homes;
Nutrition education and reference materials;
A 75-page cook book of simple, healthy, and inexpensive recipes selected for the unique features of I/DD group homes. Recipes include nutritional analyses;
Nutrition standards and guidelines for adults with I/DD;
Menu assessment and evaluation tools;
Easy tracking of past menus; and
Many other daily food system supports.
MENU-AIDDs is proven in Montana group homes. MENU-AIDDs was shown to:
- Improve quality of menus created by direct care staff;
- Improve the nutritional quality of diets served to consumers;
- Keep costs constant while improving dietary quality;
- Improve consumers’ gastrointestinal function;
- Improve weight management and weight status without consumer complaint;
- Increase consumer engagement in food system activities and self empowerment; and
- Be acceptable to managers, health specialists, direct care staff, and consumers.
Trainees receive:
Freetraining led by Montana Disability and Health Program nutritionist Kathy Humphries, Ph.D.
Acopy of the MENU-AIDDs Program, First Edition, a 180-page binder of nutrition supports for ongoing use.
Interactive forum with of DD professionals to create and evaluate specific home menus, swap best practice ideas and have fun while learning more about food and nutrition.
Continuing education for yourself on food and nutrition for disability.
Door prizes!