Melissa R. De Leon

The Extension agent will provide 75% effort as the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) supervising agent. The employee will provide leadership to EFNEP, including the hiring, training, evaluating and the supervision of local EFNEP personnel; develop and sustain collaborative relationships with community agencies and grassroots organizations serving limited-resource audiences; train and support volunteers’ role within the program; collect and analyze program data, create reports and communicate outcomes; manage program assets and funds and promoting EFNEP goals and objectives that meet the requirements of federal program policy guidelines.

Additionally, the agent will spend time (25%) directing efforts focusing on nutrition, health, and wellness by planning, implementing, and evaluating educational workshops, series of lessons and other teaching activities for general Adult audiences with the Healthy Bites Healthy Moves - 8 class session series & Cooking With EFNEP - 4 class session series. For Youth audiences, we have - Healthy Hero (s) Adventures (K-5th grade) & Teen Cuisine 6 class sessions for (6th-12th grade).

The agent will work on Healthy Community projects in Hidalgo County for both EFNEP, FCH & BLT. Healthy Community projects are designed to improve the nutrition and health of all community members using a model that is being replicated throughout the state. The agent will organize community-based nutrition advisory committees involving stakeholders, volunteers, community partners, and health professionals to identify the most critical needs in the communities served as well as programs to address those needs. The agent will identify, recruit, and maintain relations with community partners for EFNEP in conjunction with the FCH & BLT program.

Coordination and collaboration with other TX A&M AgriLife Extension faculty and staff will be essential to avoid duplication & overlapping of program participant efforts within the same quarter. The agent will support community nutrition outreach for target populations within diverse, urban neighborhoods and communities within the assigned parish. The agent is expected to be computer literate. The incumbent is expected to complete an annual plan of work with teaching objectives and will be responsible for reporting programmatic results to parish, regional and/or state partners as required by local or regional supervisor(s), state office personnel or state nutrition administrators. As an extension employee, the agent must be willing to continue professional improvement to maintain professional competence as a faculty member of the TX A&M AgriLife Extension Service. To meet the needs of clientele and for professional development opportunities, this position requires occasional overnight travel and work on evenings and weekends. Additionally, the agent is expected to perform other tasks that may be as assigned by supervisor(s).

All effort should be documented through an annual plan of work (POW) and report on accomplishment. For those who are hired will be expected to attain promotion per TX A&M AgriLife Extension Service guidelines.

Qualification Requirements: A baccalaureate degree in community nutrition, human foods and nutrition, family and consumer sciences, dietetics or a closely related field from an accredited college or university is required. A master’s degree in nutrition or health promotion is preferred. Must have an undergraduate degree with an overall grade-point average of at least 2.5 (all GPA requirements based on a 4.0 system) and a 3.0 for graduate work attempted, if any, or master’s degree or a current grade-point average of at least 3.0 on at least 1 This applicant must demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills. Applicant must have knowledge of programming planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. Experience in recruiting, training, and managing volunteers, as well as experience in teaching and applying principles of leadership development to both adults and youth is also desired. Knowledge of public relations and the ability to cope with change are highly desirable characteristics. The ability to work with and through others in a multicultural setting is essential, as is the ability to function with minimal supervision. Successful candidates will exemplify a positive attitude and a passion to improve the lives of others. Supervisory experience is preferred.

Performs supervisory work in support of assigned clinic. Duties include providing nutrition assessments and counseling; entering data into automated systems, verifying data and processing transactions. Under the supervision of WIC Director or designee, is responsible for ensuring the delivery of program services are performed in compliance with federal, state and county policies and procedures. Duties include planning, coordinating, evaluating clinical, and breastfeeding and nutrition services. Positions in this class perform routine analysis and identify needed corrective actions to resolve discrepancies; answer questions; and maintain documents and records.

Performs supervisory work in support of assigned clinic. Duties include providing nutrition assessments and counseling; entering data into automated systems, verifying data and processing transactions. Under the supervision of WIC Director or designee, is responsible for ensuring the delivery of program services are performed in compliance with federal, state and county policies and procedures. Duties include planning, coordinating, evaluating clinical, and breastfeeding and nutrition services. Positions in this class perform routine analysis and identify needed corrective actions to resolve discrepancies; answer questions; and maintain documents and records.

Completed detailed nutritional assessments of each patient based on health history, medical conditions and energy requirements. Coached individuals on methods for managing chronic diseases with effective dietary plans. Determined client-specific nutrient and energy requirements, with consideration to specific lifestyles, physiology and medical concerns. Assisted patients clients with mean plan development, addressing individualized dietary requirements. I had initially worked three months as an Outpatient Clinical Dietitian and then transferred within the Hospital to work with their Mission Hospital Home Health unit; under the direction of Home Health Director - Juan Larade, until their services were no longer available through the Hospital.

Assessed high risk patients (DM, Cardiac, HIV, CA and Psyche Unit). Coached individuals on methods for managing chronic diseases with effective dietary plans. Completed detailed nutritional assessments of each patient based on health history, medical conditions and energy requirements. Determined client-specific nutrient and energy requirements, with consideration to specific lifestyles, physiology and medical concerns. Offered diet instruction as per physician order and information to educate patients, and their families.