NJHKI Internship Program

Examples of projects and tasks that Honors College students would engage in include: 

• Horizon Culture of Health School Program – Implementation and evaluation of nutrition and physical literacy curriculum for K-8th-grade students in schools across the state
• SNAP2Save – NJHKI is collaborating with the IFNH’s Center for Childhood Nutrition Research and SNAP2Save to distribute two hundred produce incentive cards to local New Brunswick families to be redeemed at local food stores. Data on the redemption rate of cards and purchasing practices are currently being collected.
• Forging Youth Resilience – NJHKI will be working with FYR, a national nonprofit organization with Local Clubs in cities across the country, to bring fitness, nutrition, and mentorship to youth who otherwise would not have access to these services. Its mission is to empower young people to build physical and mental strength for life by providing access to a network of community-based fitness programs and mentorship. 
• The Phoenix – NJHKI will be working with The Phoenix, a national nonprofit organization that supports substance abuse recovery through active living, to bring culinary nutrition lessons to children in Belmar, NJ. 
• Newsletters & Social Media – NJHKI Updates and practical information for those interested in child health

• Data-Driven Projects
  • Pre-post test data analysis
  • Survey results data analysis
  • Focus groups data analysis
• Research - IRB*
  • eIRB development
  • Consent/Assent Process
  • Research Abstract
  • Research Poster
  • Research Presentation
• Program Planning/Evaluation
  • Create strategic plan
  • Monitor program implementation
  • Review program implementation
  • Evaluate program implementation
• Academic Writing
  • Abstract writing
  • Literature review
• Marketing Plan/Social Media Campaigns
  • Creating new material
  • Revamping or creating program materials 
  • Video Series
  • Infographics

NJHKI builds upon the core values of the Rutgers New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health with a focus on health equity and community partnership. By uniting with local families and community partners to pinpoint child health needs and explore where they are unmet, the NJHKI can develop a task force to address those needs. NJHKI serves schools, local communities, and the Rutgers ecosystem by offering undergraduate research mentoring and experience, free culinary nutrition and fitness education, and community outreach opportunities. Using their outreach programs as sources for community engagement and research, they are meeting their goal to improve child health by conducting evidence-based research, education, and practice in nutrition and physical activity. Specifically, they have been able to 1) develop best practices and share lessons learned with others, 2) prepare manuscripts and presentations describing these exciting approaches to facilitate their dissemination, and 3) improve, create, and present future culinary nutrition and physical literacy education programs. 

Learn More About the Work of NJHKI:

• New Jersey Healthy Kids Initiative Teams with Franklin Police Department to Get Kids ‘FranklinFit’ (December 8, 2022)
• “Rutgers Culture of Health School Program Launches in-Person Component in Edison School District.” (March 30, 2022)  
• “NJHKI Celebrates National Nutrition Month® With Community Outreach Programs.” (March 9, 2022)   
• “Move It Monday to get NJ residents walking in October.” (October 1, 2020)
• “NJHKI Food Literacy Camp Goes Virtual and 3rd-5th Graders Get Cooking.” (August 7, 2020, August 9, 2020)  
• “Rutgers Culture of Health School Program Builds Nutrition and Fitness Literacy with Horizon Foundation Grant.” (July 7, 2020)  
• “Horizon Foundation Grant Supports Healthy Choices and Healthy Kids.” (June 29, 2020)  
• “NJHKI Steps Up During Lockdown, Assisting GBCS With Food Deliveries.” (June 8, 2020)  
• “NJ Healthy Kids Initiative Creates Online Resources for Partner Schools.” (April 16, 2020)   
• “The Kids Cook Monday! Promoting Healthier Kids and Families Through Cooking” (April 8, 2019)
• “Kids Cook Monday Campaign Comes to Culture of Health Academy at IFNH.” (March 4, 2019)