The number of nutrition educators has increased in the United States particularly in Oregon in the last ten years. Part of that increase is due to the number of nutrition education programs for audiences with low incomes that are delivered by the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES). CSREES provides community-based programs and information around agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being. In plain language, this means that Extension provides programs in the community that meet people's needs such as food safety, managing money and eating healthfully. The Extension Service, as it is known, can be found in every state and territory and locally, at the county level. For example, in Oregon there are 36 counties. In 1999 there were 5 counties with nutrition education programs; as of October 1, 2002, there will be 23 counties employing nutrition educators. This is a HUGE increase.

With the increased number of nutrition educators it is important that, at a minimum, they be aware of plain language issues as they develop or choose nutrition education materials. It has been my observation that trained nutritionists/dietitians do not always learn plain language basics in school or as part of internships. I know I did not and I received academic training that included undergraduate and graduate levels.

Thus, on-the-job training is necessary. However, the reality is, there are barriers to training. Do these sound familiar to you? In Oregon, too much to do and too little time is an issue for staff. Often it is difficult to find the time to schedule training. Even if there were enough time to conduct face-to-face plain language workshops, large geographic distances are a reality for many Oregon staff. Some staff would have to drive eight hours to a training site. And increasingly, limited budgets often mean that training opportunities are curtailed.

In 1997 when I began my position as state nutrition specialist I wanted to develop a unique web site. There are numerous nutrition web sites but my vision was to develop a web site for nutrition educators interested in information, resources, tips and skill-building so that they can more effectively work with low income, culturally diverse audiences and develop nutrition education programs. This web site has been rated "Among the Best" by Tufts University's Nutrition Navigator which scores nutrition web sites.