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The reality exists that many inner-city poor put their children and themselves at-risk for diabetes and heart disease because they do not make good nutritional choices. In collaboration with the Graduate School of Social Work at Dominican University and certified nutritionists from Diabetes Educators Chicago American Association of Diabetes Educators (DECAADE), CAHF has developed and implemented Project Newtrition, an educational program that is being piloted with seven member agencies.

The goal of Project Newtrition is to provide education for the food pantry user on better, healthier choices when using food stamps. By providing educational literature to clients during food distribution days, clients will have the resources to make wise, healthy food purchases, and food preparation decisions.

Project Newtrition has been expanded to provide health screenings at member agencies including blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure tests for willing participants. Knowledge of screening outcomes is the first step to affecting change.

Interns from the Graduate School of Social Work at Dominican University and interns from the University of Illinois-Chicago, College of Applied Health Sciences graduate program have joined the effort and are recruiting volunteer nurses and nursing interns to conduct blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure screenings.