Excellence in Policy Initiatives and Advocacy Award

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Excellence in Policy Initiatives and Advocacy Award recognizes a member who has had significant involvement and achievement in policy initiatives and advocacy for the nutrition and dietetics profession. The recipient has served as a policy leader within the Academy and its organizational groups; been actively engaged in grassroots and political activities at the federal, state, and/or local levels; and successfully worked with government representatives to secure the enactment of legislative and regulatory policies that promote health and reduce the burden of chronic disease through nutrition services and intervention.

Qualifications

1. A member of the Academy for a minimum of 5 years.
2. Has demonstrated significant involvement and achievement in policy initiatives and advocacy for the nutrition and dietetics profession.
3. Has served as a policy leader within the Academy and/or its organizational groups (DPGs, MIGs, Affiliates).
4. Has been actively engaged in grassroots and political activities at the federal, state, and/or local levels.
5. Has successfully worked with government representatives to secure the enactment of legislative and regulatory policies that promote health and reduce the burden of chronic disease through nutrition services and intervention.
6. Has promoted policy initiatives and advocacy work through the profession and the public.

Scoring Criteria

1. Involvement and achievement in policy initiatives and advocacy for the nutrition and dietetics profession (70 points total)
   • Has participated in grassroots and political activities at federal, state and/or local levels (15 points)
   • Has served as a policy leader within the Academy and/or its organizational groups (DPGs, MIGs, Affiliates) (15 points)
   • Has actively engaged in grassroots and political activities at the federal, state, and/or local levels (15 points)
   • Has successfully worked with government representatives to secure the enactment of legislative and regulatory policies that promote health and reduce the burden of chronic disease through nutrition services and intervention (15 points)
   • Has established ongoing relationships with member(s) of Congress and/or their staff (either new, developing, or established) (10 points)
2. Promotion of policy initiatives and advocacy work through the Academy, profession and public (30 points total)
   • Has motivated and supported colleagues to participate in the Academy's advocacy work (10 points)
   • Has taken action and encouraged others to participate in action alerts, ANDPAC, and other grassroots activities (10 points)
   • Has collaborated with other organizations, entities, and individual advocates to further Academy health policy priorities and positions (10 points)