Are dietitians prepared to work with handicapped infants? PL 99-457 offers new opportunities

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutrition Science
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Public Law 99-457 mandates nutrition as a key discipline in early intervention services for handicapped infants (up to age 3) and their families.
• Effective early intervention requires a comprehensive, case-managed range of services tailored to individual needs.
• Nutrition is crucial for the growth, development, and overall responsiveness of infants in early intervention programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the extent to which entry-level dietitian education addresses the nutrition needs of handicapped infants.
• To identify essential competencies for registered dietitians working within interdisciplinary early intervention teams.
• To emphasize the role of dietitians in Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs).

Main Methods:

• Survey of entry-level dietetic education programs (Plan IV/V, Coordinated Programs in Dietetics, internships) selected from the 1988 American Dietetic Association Directory.
• Convened a working group of nine nutritionists with expertise in dietetic education and the nutrition care of handicapped children.
• Recommended competencies for entry-level registered dietitians to effectively serve on interdisciplinary teams.

Main Results:

• Findings indicated that the nutrition care of handicapped infants is significantly underexposed in the didactic and experiential components of most entry-level dietitian training programs.
• A consensus was reached on essential competencies required for registered dietitians to effectively participate in early intervention services.
• The study identified a gap between the requirements of PL 99-457 and the preparedness of entry-level dietitians.

Conclusions:

• Current entry-level dietitian education requires enhancement to adequately prepare professionals for critical roles in early intervention for handicapped infants.
• Registered dietitians play a vital role in ensuring optimal nutrition within the framework of Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs).
• Developing specific competencies will enable registered dietitians to become integral members of interdisciplinary teams, improving outcomes for infants and their families.