Details
Mar. 25, 2024 (8:30AM) - Mar. 25, 2025 (4:00PM)
35th Annual Legislation & Public Policy Advocacy Day
Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, Ohio
Thomas Worthington Room, lower level
Wednesday, March 25, 2025
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Workshop Location
Ohio Statehouse, Thomas Worthington Room, lower level, Columbus, Ohio
(The Statehouse is located in Downtown Columbus between S. High Street and Third Street and E. Broad Street and State Street.)
How to contact your legislator: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/members/district-maps
Agenda
| 8:30 am - 9:00 am | Registration |
NOTE: Please be on time so that you have the information you need to visit your legislator or aide! Allow plenty of time for parking and security check-in. (need ID)
| 9:00 am – 10:30 am | General Session |
| Speaker: Kay Mavko, MS, RDN, LD | |
| (CPEU 1.5, Level 2, PI 3.2.5, 4.2.1, 4.2.8) |
Briefing on state and regulatory issues including an update on Ohio's Dietitian Licensure Compact, Senate Bill 211. Additional information will be provided on what to do when making your visits.
- Increase understanding of the importance of the status of licensure across various Academy state affiliates
- Learn of the dietitian licensure compact and what it means for Ohio dietitians who want to practice in other states
- Brainstorm strategies and advocacy plans for district members to learn of the dietitian licensure compact
| 10:30 am – 11:30 am | Legislator Visits |
| Speakers: Pat McKnight, MS, RDN, LD, FADA, FAND, Cynthia Blocksom, MEd, RDN, LD, MCHES, FAND | |
| (CPEU 1, Level 2, PI 3.2.2, 3.2.5, 4.2.6) |
Your scheduled meetings to discuss issues with legislators or the legislator's aide in the Statehouse (Senators) and Vern Riffe Building (Representatives). Cynthia Blocksom and Pat McKnight will provide instructions on how to proceed.
- Identify effective messaging strategies to educate legislators on the importance role dietitians serve in consumer protection
- Increase confidence in communicating with legislators by participating in one-on-one meetings
- Exercise critical thinking and integration of information when meeting with legislators
| 11:30 am - 12:30 pm | Lunch on your own, report and discussion of visits with |
| legislators and aides |
| 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm | General Session |
| Speakers: Kendra Schmuck, RDN, LD, CDE, Pat McKnight, MS, RDN, LD, FADA, FAND, Laura Poland RDN, LD | |
| (CPEU 2, Level 2, Performance Indicators: 3.2.5, 4.2.1, 14.3.7) |
Federal Legislative Issues, Nutrition Payment, ANDPAC/OANDPAC, Q&A, Summary and Evaluations
- Learn up-to-date information on Federal legislative issues affecting dietetics and how nutrition professionals are implementing federal policies related to nutrition in the state of Ohio
- Increase awareness of nutrition payment and reimbursement models at state and federal levels
- Identify additional need for education and advocating of targeted legislators to support policies and of the need for and impact of PAC funds for advocating nutrition issues with legislators and other policy makers.
| 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm | Additional Legislator meetings and Statehouse Tour |
| Speakers: Pat McKnight, MS, RDN, LD, FADA, FAND, Cynthia Blocksom, MEd, RDN, LD, MCHES, FAND | |
| (CPEU 1.5, Level 2, Performance Indicators: 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.2.5) |
- Recognize the need for common goals and negotiations among legislators during hearings and other legislative sessions
- Observe and participate in the delivery of effective communication among legislators
- Engage in the observation of legislative and regulatory activities at the state level
Speakers
Cynthia Blocksom, MEd, RDN, LD, MCHES, FAND teaches at the University of Cincinnati while devoting an extensive amount of time to advocating for the dietetic profession. She is currently the State Policy Co-Chair for OAND while also serving as the Cincinnati district’s Policy and Reimbursement Co-chair. (GCAND). Cynthia has also been instrumental on the committee which resulted in the introduction of Dietitian Licensure Compact legislation in Ohio. She is passionate about how public policy affects the health and safety of the public.
Kay Mavko, MS, RDN, LD is a long-time Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics member from Dublin, Ohio who has worked in adult and pediatric nutrition as a clinical dietitian, dietitian manager, and consultant, and then became the Director of the Ohio Board of Dietetics for over 13 years. Now retired from full-time employment, Kay currently is involved in public policy work in Ohio as the State Regulatory Specialist for the OAND and helps monitor the State Medical Board of Ohio activities related to dietitian licensure.
Pat McKnight, MS, RDN, LD, FADA, FAND has served as OAND, State Policy Chair for more than 20 years. She is Professor Emeritus at Mt. Carmel College of Nursing in Columbus. She is a 50 year member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Kendra Schmuck, RDN, LD, CDE is a registered dietitian nutritionist and a licensed dietitian who is certified as a diabetes educator. She has completed certification of training in Adult Weight Management & Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management. She has a Bachelor of Science in dietetics with an emphasis in food service management from Bowling Green State University. She did her dietetic internship through Idaho State University. She has worked as a diabetes educator, outpatient medical nutrition therapist, clinical medical nutrition therapist and in health promotion. She is currently employed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base as the Chief of Clinical Dietetics. In her spare time, she is the public policy coordinator of the Ohio Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Public Policy Chair for the Dayton Dietetic Association.
Workshop Fees (does not include lunch)
Attendance is free but you must register. Please register by March 15th in order to receive pre-meeting instructions for scheduling a meeting with your legislator(s).
