My ADA

IMC in Action: Health Disparities — From Issue to Mega Issue

Step in Process

Specific Step for Example

Member(s) submit issue via: HOD meeting The following issues were submitted to the Issues Management Committee during the Spring 2006 House of Delegates meeting in Chicago.

Issue: Health disparities.
What you want to happen: ADA to add to the national debate! CACHHS has made it a priority.

Issue: Health disparities — input on the profession, the nation and our mission and vision (from practice to reimbursement).
What you want to happen:

address as a mega issue

include in ADA goals

Issue acknowledged Emails sent to both members indicated receipt of issue(s).

IMC Discuss and Triage Issues Management Committee discussed the issue and determined that it merited being forwarded to the House Leadership Team for consideration.

Send to HLT as Potential Mega Issue The Issues Management Committee would like the House Leadership Team to consider health disparity as a potential Mega Issue.

Response to IMC from HLT The HLT informed the IMC that the following was added to the Mega Issues List as a potential House of Delegates dialogue session:
“Health disparities: input on the profession, the nation and our mission and vision (from practice to reimbursement).”

Response Provided to Member IMC communicated to members that the issue was forwarded to the HLT and requested that further information regarding the issue be sent to HLT from the member.

Issue Closed IMC's role in the issue is closed; however, the issue continued to be addressed by the Association.

Further Action Member submitting issue provided more information regarding the issue to HLT.

Further Action As HLT has reflected and discussed the issue, they acknowledge that health disparities are a global issue. However, the issues stateside are so great, that by broadening the perspective to include international concerns would cause the dialogue to become unmanageable in the time available.

Further Action The House of Delegates conduced a Mega Issue Dialogue session on Health Disparities at the Fall 2007 HOD Meeting.

Continued Action Fall 2007 HOD Meeting MOTION — Health Disparities

The House of Delegates conducted a dialogue on health disparities on September 29, 2007. The purpose of the dialogue was to identify strategies for creating sufficient awareness so that dietetics practitioners understand the scope of the problem and have the tools they need to assist in the elimination of health disparities. As a result of this first step to address health disparities, the following needs were identified:

Acknowledge that awareness is only the first step towards actions to eliminate health disparities

Increase support in the workplace for addressing the issue

Incorporate the issue into dietetics education and continuing professional education opportunities

Enhance dietetics practitioners’ awareness of the issue on a local and national level

Encourage members to increase their cultural encounters in the workplace and community in order to enhance their ability to work effectively with racial and ethnically diverse populations.

Increase dietetics practitioners’ understanding of efforts to eliminate health disparities by other professions in order to foster empowerment

Encourage collaboration with other professionals at the local and national level

Balance volunteerism (pro bono) with appropriate compensation for services

Promote the message that health is a fundamental human right and not a privilege.
Therefore, be it resolved that the House of Delegates requests the establishment of an HOD Leadership Team Workgroup to develop a toolkit of strategies and messages addressing the identified barriers. Members will utilize this toolkit to develop personal plans that will enhance awareness and lead to action in eliminating health disparities. ADA organizational units (ADA Board of Directors, CADE, CDR, DPGs, MIGs, affiliates and Association committees) will examine and consider the barriers, strategies, messages related to health disparities for incorporation into future programs of work. The House of Delegates will pursue further dialogue on other aspects of the issue no later than fall 2009.
Originator: HOD Leadership Team

Status: Approved on November 6, 2007.

Continuing Action Proposed ADA Strategic Plan:

Goal: ADA Improves the Health of Americans
One strategy included to achieve this goal: Strengthen cultural competence to address health disparities

Continuing Action HOD Leadership Team Workgroup continues work and development of ADA Web site with resources regarding health disparities.
last updated 03/20/2008

Print Version

Step in Process	Specific Step for Example
Member(s) submit issue via: HOD meeting	The following issues were submitted to the Issues Management Committee during the Spring 2006 House of Delegates meeting in Chicago. Issue: Health disparities. What you want to happen: ADA to add to the national debate! CACHHS has made it a priority. Issue: Health disparities — input on the profession, the nation and our mission and vision (from practice to reimbursement). What you want to happen: address as a mega issue include in ADA goals
Issue acknowledged	Emails sent to both members indicated receipt of issue(s).
IMC Discuss and Triage	Issues Management Committee discussed the issue and determined that it merited being forwarded to the House Leadership Team for consideration.
Send to HLT as Potential Mega Issue	The Issues Management Committee would like the House Leadership Team to consider health disparity as a potential Mega Issue.
Response to IMC from HLT	The HLT informed the IMC that the following was added to the Mega Issues List as a potential House of Delegates dialogue session: “Health disparities: input on the profession, the nation and our mission and vision (from practice to reimbursement).”
Response Provided to Member	IMC communicated to members that the issue was forwarded to the HLT and requested that further information regarding the issue be sent to HLT from the member.
Issue Closed	IMC's role in the issue is closed; however, the issue continued to be addressed by the Association.
Further Action	Member submitting issue provided more information regarding the issue to HLT.
Further Action	As HLT has reflected and discussed the issue, they acknowledge that health disparities are a global issue. However, the issues stateside are so great, that by broadening the perspective to include international concerns would cause the dialogue to become unmanageable in the time available.
Further Action	The House of Delegates conduced a Mega Issue Dialogue session on Health Disparities at the Fall 2007 HOD Meeting.
Continued Action	Fall 2007 HOD Meeting MOTION — Health Disparities The House of Delegates conducted a dialogue on health disparities on September 29, 2007. The purpose of the dialogue was to identify strategies for creating sufficient awareness so that dietetics practitioners understand the scope of the problem and have the tools they need to assist in the elimination of health disparities. As a result of this first step to address health disparities, the following needs were identified: Acknowledge that awareness is only the first step towards actions to eliminate health disparities Increase support in the workplace for addressing the issue Incorporate the issue into dietetics education and continuing professional education opportunities Enhance dietetics practitioners’ awareness of the issue on a local and national level Encourage members to increase their cultural encounters in the workplace and community in order to enhance their ability to work effectively with racial and ethnically diverse populations. Increase dietetics practitioners’ understanding of efforts to eliminate health disparities by other professions in order to foster empowerment Encourage collaboration with other professionals at the local and national level Balance volunteerism (pro bono) with appropriate compensation for services Promote the message that health is a fundamental human right and not a privilege. Therefore, be it resolved that the House of Delegates requests the establishment of an HOD Leadership Team Workgroup to develop a toolkit of strategies and messages addressing the identified barriers. Members will utilize this toolkit to develop personal plans that will enhance awareness and lead to action in eliminating health disparities. ADA organizational units (ADA Board of Directors, CADE, CDR, DPGs, MIGs, affiliates and Association committees) will examine and consider the barriers, strategies, messages related to health disparities for incorporation into future programs of work. The House of Delegates will pursue further dialogue on other aspects of the issue no later than fall 2009. Originator: HOD Leadership Team Status: Approved on November 6, 2007.
Continuing Action	Proposed ADA Strategic Plan: Goal: ADA Improves the Health of Americans One strategy included to achieve this goal: Strengthen cultural competence to address health disparities
Continuing Action	HOD Leadership Team Workgroup continues work and development of ADA Web site with resources regarding health disparities.