Impact of Nutrition and Exercise on Behavioral Health for Paraprofessionals

Course Code: REL-BHC-0-UAINEBH

Hours: 1

Type: Online Course

Content Expiration Date: 9/30/2026

Learning Objectives:
Recall how nutrients and physical activity affect physical and behavioral health.
Describe the potential impact of a behavioral health disorder on a person’s food choices, eating behaviors, and activity level.
Name strategies for improving healthy food choices and activity levels among clients with behavioral health disorders.

Outline:
Section 1: Introduction

About This Course

Learning Objectives

Section 2: Behavioral Health, Nutrition, and Activity Level

The Body’s Need for Nutrients

The Body’s Need for Activity

How Nutrition Affects Behavioral Health

How Behavioral Health Impacts Nutrition and Activity

Review

Summary

Section 3: Strategies to Increase Nutritional Status and Activity Level

Helping Clients Build a Healthy Lifestyle

Ask Questions

Monitor Medications

Consider the Impact of Physical Health Conditions

Offer Resources

Mei

Work Through Ambivalence and Resistance

Consider Motivation

Change the Client’s Point of View

Change Up the Conversation

Involve Support Systems

Dwayne

Review

Summary

Section 4: Conclusion

Summary

Course Contributors

Resources

References

Staff Writer: Kimberly Cobb, MS

Mrs. Cobb is a Lead SME Writer/Trainer at Relias. Her primary writing responsibilities are in the content areas of public safety and behavioral health. Mrs. Cobb is also the onboarding trainer for new staff joining the Relias Content Department. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Correctional and Juvenile Justice Studies and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She has over 25 years of experience working in criminal and juvenile justice. Her work includes direct service, research, publication development, and training and technical assistance development and delivery.

Instructor: Stephanie L. Furness-Kraft, LCSW, CCTP

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Professional Writing from The College of New Jersey and a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University. She is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and has particular interest in resilience and secondary traumatic stress among behavioral health providers. The majority of Stephanie’s work has included behavioral health counseling and medical case management. Stephanie served as part of the National Health Service Corps from 2016-2018, providing outpatient counseling to underserved populations including military service members and their families. Stephanie has designed and delivered training on many topics such as LGBTQIA+ sensitivity, youth suicide prevention, and how to provide in-community services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Direct Support Professionals; in the following settings: Health and Human Services.

Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.

Relias Learning has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias Learning will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias Learning at support@reliaslearning.com.

Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.