The mission of Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter is to provide a safe haven, high-quality care and hope for the future to children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Established in 1993, NWACS is a private, non-profit organization. Our 32-bed, state-of-the-art residential Shelter provides 24-hour emergency care for children throughout Arkansas who are victims of abandonment, abuse or neglect. Building on three decades of experience working with children and trauma, in 2020 our work expanded with the opening of Hope Academy, the first trauma-centered open enrollment charter school in the state of Arkansas. Our work centers around positive trauma-informed practices and takes a comprehensive, whole child approach to care and education; creating a stable, safe and loving environment in which the hundreds of children who walk through our doors each year can begin to heal.

OUR VALUES: Compassion: Recognize and meet the needs of children with respect, sensitivity and unconditional love Excellence: Set the standard for high-quality service to children by performing above the expected Integrity: Strive with our words and actions to be worthy of the trust placed in us

THE POSITION: Our facility includes a cafeteria with a full commercial-grade kitchen that prepares meals for both the kids in residence and those attending the charter school. Resident youth are provided three meals a day, seven days a week, while students enrolled in the charter school are provided breakfast and lunch each day school is in session. Food is sourced from local food vendors (SGC/Tankersley) as well as through donations from individual and corporate sponsors. Many children in the foster system see increased weight gain after being brought into care. The cause of this can be traced to several key factors: the scarcity of high-quality nutritional food, a high percentage of kids on medications that can affect weight, and the absence of consistent physical activity.

JOB DETAILS ● Job Type Contract, temporary NTE 6 Months ● Schedule - variable ● Compensation 1099 Contractor ● Location Bentonville, AR

OBJECTIVES ● The Nutrition Consultant will be responsible for achieving the following: ● Provide NWACS with a comprehensive six-month meal plan. ● Increase the variety and healthiness of proteins in meals. ● Reduce the reliance on processed foods. ● Formulate a plan to best utilize partner agency food banks and vendor partners. ● Ensure meal plans can stay within established budgetary requirements. ● Coordinate with physical education (PE) contactor to ensure nutritional program supports PE curriculum. ● Team with the agriculture intern to develop a yearly plan for our gardens and greenhouse. ● Ensure meal plans meet current published nutritional guidelines. ● Develop a nutrition-related training plan for staff.

SCOPE OF WORK ● Assess the current nutritional plan to include all meals and snacks. ● Identify and mitigate nutritional challenges for kids on medication(s) that can impact weight. ● Review health records of kids in care to determine the requirement of specialized nutritional plans. ● Provide training for Case Managers and the Food Service team to assist them in developing alternative meal and snack options for youth with special dietary needs. ● Work with the education team to ensure that relevant nutrition activities are part of the classroom curriculum. ● Provide input, as needed, regarding the ordering of classroom materials and supplies relating to the nutritional curriculum. ● Collaborate with PE contractor and Agricultural intern to develop a cohesive and comprehensive fitness plan and garden plan. ● Provide feedback and input, as needed, regarding the ordering of food and the preparation of meals/snacks with the Food Service team. ● Review and/or develop on-site kitchen, classroom, and after-hours monitoring reports to evaluate if nutritional goals are being achieved.

Minimum Qualifications Proof of past work similar to this scope of work. Previous experience developing nutritional plans, particularly plans for adolescent youth. Professional references for reviewing. Professional credentials and educational training. Detailed and itemized project cost.

Working Conditions and Environment/Physical Demands The demands described are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. ● Tasks may involve walking, standing, climbing, bending, kneeling, crouching, and lifting for long periods of time. ● Ability to lift up to 50 pounds. ● Must pass all criminal history and child maltreatment background checks. ● Must submit to pre-employment a drug screen as well as random drug screens when directed.

● Valid driver's license, proof of personal automobile insurance, and acceptable driving record required to drive shelter vehicles for shelter business. ● Must maintain confidentiality and privacy regarding all Children’s Shelter residents' information in accordance with NWACS policy and all applicable Federal and state laws/regulations. ● Attend and participate in mandatory training, staff meetings, and all other events, as required. ● Set, maintain and communicate appropriate personal and professional boundaries. ● Complete all required documentation in a timely manner per NWACS procedures.

This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it. Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs.

Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. NWACS offers excellent benefits and a competitive salary based on experience. For consideration, qualified candidates must submit a cover letter and detailed resume.