Frequently Asked Questions
National Center for Nutrition Leadership (the Center)

Question
What is a Certificate Program?

Answer
A Certificate Program is a set of courses specifically designed for Senior Nutrition Programs by the National Center for Nutrition Leadership (the Center). The Certificate Program courses are offered in areas of study that correspond to the five MOWAA Member Sections:

• Leadership
• Nutrition
• Development
• Volunteer Management
• Communication

Question
What is the benefit to earning a Center Certificate?

Answer
Earning a Certificate in one of the five MOWAA Member Sections will:

• Provide you with affordable  instruction specifically tailored to your needs as Senior Nutrition Programs;
• Give you further knowledge, additional skills and expertise;
• Strengthen your proficiency and knowledge about current trends and best practices in your field;
• Afford you a significant competitive advantage, help you improve your personal career goals and enable you to become a role model;
• Provide you with the tools to operate more efficiently, including raising and saving more money;
• Give you the skills to build capacity in your program and to meet the challenges you face now and in the future.

Question
Where are Certificate Program Courses Offered?

Answer
Certificate Program courses are offered at the Center in Alexandria, VA, at MOWAA Annual Conferences, through webinars and periodically in other locations across the country. Course offerings will be announced on the MOWAA website (at www.mowaa.org), through the Section newsletters and by e-mail to Members.

• Food Safety and Sanitation: From Prep to Table (Required: 1 credit)

• Using MOW Volunteers to Deliver Health Messages (Elective: 1 credit)

• Designing Food Delivery Systems (Elective: 1 credit)

• Wellness Interventions for Older Adults at Senior Centers (Elective: 1 credit)

• Hunger and Food Insecurity Among Older Adults (Intensive: 3 credits)

• Decision Making and Problem Solving (Required: 1 credit)

• Emotional Intelligence: The Key to Succession Management – Parts I and II (Intensive: 3 credits)

• Risk Management – Protecting Your Program’s Mission (Elective: 1 credit)

• Financial Vulnerability and Fraud in Non-Profits (Intensive: 3 credits)

• Capital Campaigns: Knowing When You Are Ready (Elective: 1 credit)

• Seeing Your Organization Through Donors’ Eyes (Required: 1 credit)

• X Factors of Sustainability (Elective: 1 credit)

• Direct Mail Is Working - and You Should Be Doing It! (Elective: 1 credit)

• Grant Writing (Required:1 credit)

• Best Practices for Engaging and Equipping New Board Members for Effective Board Service (Required: 1 credit)

• The Dreaded Donor Gap (Elective: 1 credit)

• Recruiting the Next Generation of Volunteers (Elective: 1 credit)

• Fundraising and Volunteers (Elective: 1 credit)

• Reaching the Volunteers of the Future (Elective: 1 credit)

• Volunteer Performance and Evaluation (Required: 1 credit)

• Productive Cooperation Between Your Staff and Volunteers Will Benefit Your Clients (Intensive: 3 credits)

• Developing a Public Awareness Campaign (Elective: 1 credit)

• Communication and Listening Skills (Required: 1 credit)

• Effective Public Speaking (Required: 1 credit)

• Online Writing: Crafting Web and E-News Content to Engage Your Supporters (Intensive: 3 credits)

Question
What are the requirements to earn a Certificate?

Answer
You need 10 credits, roughly 15 hours, to obtain a Certificate in:

Nutrition • Development • Volunteer Management • Communications

You need 14 credits, roughly 21 hours, to obtain a Certificate in:

• Leadership

Question
What type of courses do I need to take to earn a full Certificate?

Answer

The Certificate curriculum consists of a combination of Required Courses, Elective Courses and Intensive Workshops. Credits needed are distributed as follows:

Question
What type of courses do I need to take to earn a full Certificate?

Answer
The credits consist of a combination of Required Courses, Elective Courses and Intensive Workshops. Credits needed are distributed as follows:

• Required Workshops — 4 credits (6 hrs. of training)
• Elective Workshops — 3 credits (4.5 hrs. of training)
• Intensive Workshops — 3 credits (3.5 hrs. of training)
• Four General Survey Courses (Leadership Certificate only)

Question
How quickly can I earn a Certificate?

Answer
You set the pace for your own course of study. You can complete all required courses in one week at the Center or complete your requirements within a 4-year period.

The Center offers 2 study options:
Option 1 — 2- to 3-days Session: Fast track cycle
Complete all required courses in a 2- or 3-day session at the Center in Alexandria, VA, or through regional multi-day sessions.

Option 2 — 4 Years: If time is not important, but economic factors are.
Complete the one-credit courses in 4 years in a number of sessions at the MOWAA Annual Conferences, through webinars, regional courses and/or at the Center in Alexandria, VA.
Complete the Intensive courses live, either at the Center, in regional training, or at the MOWAA Annual Conferences.

Question
How do I apply for the Certificate Program and start earning credits?

Answer
By filling out an Application for Admission to the Certificate Program Form and paying a one-time non-refundable application fee of $25.

Question
Can non-MOWAA Members participate in Certificate courses also?

Answer
Yes. Non-MOWAA Members can participate in all Certificate courses, including webinars and courses at the MOWAA Annual Conferences. However, the tuition fees are higher for non-Members. See below.

Question
How much do Certificate Program courses or Fast-Track Sessions cost?

Question
Can I attend Certificate courses in different Sections (e.g. Nutrition, Leadership, Development, Volunteer Management and Communications)?

Answer
Yes. You can attend courses in different Sections. Once your one-time application and fee are processed, MOWAA will keep track of the credits you earn in each of the five Sections for a future Certificate.

For any further questions, please contact Magda Hageman-Apol, Director of the National Center for Nutrition Leadership at magda@mowaa.org or by phone at 703-548-5558.