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Spring House of Delegate's Meeting April 29-30, 2006
Mega Issues:
Adequate and Safe U.S. Food and Water Supply
How do dietetic professional and ADA apply what we have learned over the past year about ensuring a safe and adequate food and water supply in the event of a disaster in the US?
- Almost every state in the U.S. has been, or is at risk for being, affected by a disaster that could impact the food and water supply.
- Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said he was "still not comfortable" about the safety of the US food supply.
- In the 2006 budget proposed by President Bush, the "Food and Drug Administration request is almost 4% over the prior budget, to about $2 billion. Much of the increase would expand food security and avian flu programs."
- Government shortfalls place restraints on programs, setting some social programs up to be inadequate.
- In a number of disasters, emergency preparedness was something that individuals left to chance, and, in many cases, the impact was devastating.
What we know
- Access to safe food and water is critical to the health of a population.
- Government is paying more attention to nutrition, health and food safety.
- The ADA position paper on Food and Water Safety addresses collaboration among dietetic professionals and others to ensure the safety of the food and water supply by educating, promoting technologic innovation and applications, and supporting further research.
- Dietetics professionals, by their training and scope of practice, are in a unique position to take a global approach to the provision of a safe food supply.
- The topic of disasters has been discussed in several Journal and DPG newsletters.
- FDA, CDC and USDA Web sites contain information on disasters that have implications for dietetics professionals. Additional information can be accessed on the Homeland Security website www.dhs.gov.
Concerns For Disaster Preparedness:
The following concerns were expressed by members participating in the electronic dialogue and by delegates affected by major disasters.
- Adequate training of dietetics professionals
- Roles and use of dietetics professionals pre/during/post disaster
- Power shortages
- Unintentional contamination (human or natural causes)
- Inoperable energy and water plants
Refer to "Suggested Ideas for Action - Food and Water Supply" list
(www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/governance_8030_ENU_HTML.htm).
This list is based on the Spring of 2005 electronic dialogue regarding this topic.
Strategic Direction for the Profession
Where should ADA focus to add value for members and the profession? How do strategic efforts initiated over the past 3 years support the profession and what will be needed going forward?
What We Know
- The American Dietetic Association and House of Delegates, with input from members, need to
- Identify the direction in which the profession and Association need to move.
- Understand current member benefits, including products and services, and
- Assess the impact of the previous Association dues increases in 2003 and 2004 on the achievement of the strategic plan
- ADA Vision: members are the most valued source of food and nutrition services.
- In order to guide the organization on the appropriate path for the profession, the HOD identifies and prioritizes trends and recommends policy and strategic direction for the Association (ADA Bylaws Article VIII, Section 1).
ADA Strategic Goals
Strategic Goals:
- Build an aligned, engaged and diverse membership
- Influence key food, nutrition and health initiatives
- Impact the research agenda and facilitate research supporting the dietetics profession
- Increase demand for and utilization of services provided by members
- Empower members to compete successfully in a rapidly changing environment
- Proactively focus on emerging areas of food and nutrition
Impact of the dues increases of 2003 and 2004 on the achievement of the strategic plan.
- In 2002, the HOD determined that a dues increase was needed to ensure the continuing viability of the organization and its ability to support the profession.
- The impact of dues increases is difficult to measure; membership trends, overall ADA financials, membership satisfaction, and demand and utilization of the dietetics professional can all be affected.
- Dues increases, improved investment reserves, and organizational efficiencies have dramatically changed the course of the Association's financials allowing the Board of Directors to invest in new programs.
- ADA's membership was declining from 1998 through early 2005. ADA has already surpassed last year's member numbers which are likely to continue to grow
- The membership turnaround may be related to enhancements in member benefits, products and services, coupled with no dues increase for 2005-06.
What We Need To Know
Please share your thoughts with your Delegate on what should happen over the next 3-5 years to continue moving the profession forward.
A complete copy of the Backgrounder on this topic can be accessed from :
www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/governance_8030_ENU_HTML.htm.
Commission of Dietetic Registration - Professional Development Portfolios
NCCA (the National Commission for Certifying Agencies), the organization that accredits CDR's certifying programs, includes a requirement that certifying bodies have a credible and defensible recertification process. These requirements, coupled with the recognition that knowledge and technology in healthcare are advancing more and more rapidly, led CDR to implement the Portfolio process in 2001, to enhance and encourage lifelong learning and adult education.
One of CDR's primary missions is one of public protection – to ensure that those with the RD and DTR certifications have the knowledge and skills needed to practice dietetics safely and effectively. This should be true not just when the professional completes education and internship requirements, but also later, as time passes and technology and knowledge develop. Research shows that learning is more effective for practitioners that target their continuing education to their own, professional circumstances. An effective recertification process enhances not only the individual practitioner,but the profession of dietetics in general.
- The PDP process is designed to enhance, rather than restrict your professional career path.
- The PDP process provides for flexibility of learning – credit is given for most CPE activity types in the previous system, and new categories have been added, including Professional Reading, Professional Leadership, Research and Sponsored Independent Learning.
- The PDP process does not require participants to be employed.
- Other health-related professions have implemented or are planning to implement recertification systems that go beyond simple tallying of CPE (Continuing Professional Education) hours (e.g., Occupational Therapists).
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