2021 Annual Educational Conference (AEC) and Exhibition Three-Part Virtual Series

项目总结/文摘

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. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, shelter-in-place orders, and the cancellation of local conferences, meetings, and events, environmental health (EH) professionals are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain access to continuing education and training. In response, NEHA’s 2021 Annual Educational Conference (AEC) & Exhibition Three-Part Virtual Series being held on April 20–21, June 1–2, and July 14–15 aims to fill this need. This conference is designed to train, educate, and advance EH professionals, as well as bring people together to build a network of EH colleagues, exchange information, and discover new and practical solutions to food safety issues during a pandemic. The AEC Three-Part Virtual Series will address new research findings and practical approaches to food safety during a crisis with the goal to build capacity for attendees to apply new knowledge, skills, and abilities in their organizations and agencies. The AEC meets the needs of those who have a specialty, such as food safety, and generalists who provide a broader scope of EH services. EH professionals have been on the frontline of an unprecedented pandemic. COVID-19 brought with it changes to roles and increased responsibilities. The 2021 AEC will bring together EH professionals to share experiences, research, expertise, and best practices as we work together for a safer and healthier tomorrow. NEHA requests funding assistance to develop, administer, and conduct this three-part virtual series. NEHA anticipates an estimated cost of $600,000 for the 2021 AEC Virtual Series and is requesting assistance in the amount of $50,000. NEHA requests funding to assist with virtual platform associated costs and audio/visual costs to provide high quality education and training to meet the needs of EH professionals. The vision of FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs 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 NEHA’s mission to “build, sustain, and empower an effective environmental health workforce.” Both missions are embodied in the proposed virtual educational series.