Project Grant R13FD007995

AEC CONFERENCE SUPPORT 5 YEAR - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION (NEHA), A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, IS PLEASED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING ASSISTANCE UNDER THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) SUPPORT FOR CONFERENCES AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS (R13 CLINICAL TRIAL NOT ALLOWED), FOA NUMBER: PAR- 19-306. THE NEHA ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE (AEC) & EXHIBITION WAS FIRST HELD ON JUNE 25, 1937, AND THERE HAVE SINCE BEEN 85 AECS CONVENED IN NORTH AMERICA, INCLUDING HAWAII, ALASKA, RHODE ISLAND, AND CANADA. THE AEC IS DESIGNED TO TRAIN, EDUCATE, AND ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS BY PROVIDING THE MEANS TO BUILD A NETWORK OF COLLEAGUES, EXCHANGE INFORMATION, AND DISCOVER NEW, BEST, AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO FOOD SAFETY AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE AEC BRINGS TOGETHER OVER 1,400 STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, TERRITORIAL, AND FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FROM HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCIES, AS WELL AS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ACADEMIA, THE UNIFORMED SERVICES, AND INTERNATIONAL JURISDICTIONS. THE AEC PROVIDES A MEANS TO TRANSLATE FIELD-BASED RESEARCH INTO ACTION ON RETAIL FOOD SAFETY, PROGRAM STANDARDS CONFORMANCE, FOODBORNE OUTBREAK PREVENTION, DATA AND TECHNOLOGY, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND MUCH MORE. LIKE MANY OTHERS, NEHA TRANSITIONED TO A HYBRID FORMAT IN RECENT YEARS OUT OF NECESSITY, YET WE HAVE CONTINUED THE VIRTUAL COMPONENT BECAUSE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO SMALL, RURAL AND FRONTIER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT ARE OTHERWISE UNABLE TO TRAVEL. THE VISION OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS WITHIN FDA IS THAT "ALL FOOD IS SAFE...AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH IS ADVANCED AND PROTECTED," AS WELL AS ITS MISSION TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AND ENHANCE PUBLIC HEALTH BY MAXIMIZING COMPLIANCE AND MINIMIZING RISK, ALIGNS WITH OUR MISSION TO BUILD, SUSTAIN, AND EMPOWER AN EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE. BOTH MISSIONS ARE EMBODIED IN THE AEC. WE REQUEST FUNDING ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP, ADMINISTER, AND CONDUCT THE AEC. NEHA ANTICIPATES AN ANNUAL ESTIMATED COST OF $750,000-$850,000 PER YEAR OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS AND REQUESTS FUNDING TO OFF-SET THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM AND AUDIO/VISUAL COSTS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION TO MEET THE CURRENT AND EVOLVING NEEDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN ATTEND IN PERSON AND THOSE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY.