The document provides information on upcoming professional development opportunities and events for Ohio SOPHE members. It summarizes the Ohio SOPHE board's goals for 2013 which include reaching out to students, increasing advocacy efforts, branding and marketing the chapter, partnering with other states, and increasing district activity. It also announces the upcoming SOPHE national conference in April and encourages members to get involved in Ohio SOPHE committees. Several upcoming local and regional conferences, workshops, and events are advertised, and it reminds members that 2013 dues payments are due.

1. Amy Bernard, PhD, MCHES
2013 Ohio SOPHE President
Hello OSOPHE members!
I can’t believe it is already March - although I
am thrilled that we’re not too far from
SPRING! Your Ohio SOPHE Board had a
wonderful board retreat on February 1
st
where we brainstormed a list of goals for
OSOPHE. Some of the highlights:
1) Reach Out to Ohio Health Education
Students. We would love to see more
involvement from students. Adding a
student liaison position to the Board last year
was definitely a step in the right direction
and we want to keep up the momentum by
making sure we are meeting students’ needs.
The HEI (Health Educator’s Institute)
Planning Committee will be exploring ways
that students can become more involved in
helping out at the conference and having
specific sessions at the conference to meet
students’ interests and needs. Additionally,
we plan to keep in more consistent contact
with faculty members at Ohio universities in
the hope that they will share information
about OSOPHE with their students.
2) Step –Up Advocacy Efforts. Our advocacy
committee has definitely hit the ground
running under the leadership of Amy
Thompson. We want to provide our
members with advocacy skills and alert them
to advocacy opportunities in Ohio.
3) Brand and Market Our Chapter. Thanks to
a great new marketing committee we are
working on branding our chapter so that all
of Ohio SOPHE’s media has consistent
wording and logos. Also, we are exploring
more ways to use our website and social
media to reach out to our membership.
4) Reach Out to Neighboring States. We are
very fortunate to have such an active SOPHE
Chapter here in Ohio. Not all states are that
lucky. SOPHE members in bordering states
have expressed interest in joining our
chapter. Additionally, we are exploring
opportunities to partner with other chapters
on some initiatives and educational
opportunities.
5) Increase District Activity. We know not
every Ohio SOPHE member (or potential
member) can travel to quarterly meetings or
the Health Educator’s Institute, so we are
exploring ways that the four districts in the
state can offer networking and educational
opportunities to serve their respective
members.
The Board members are very excited for a
productive 2013. The only way we can make
progress towards these goals is to work
together. It is truly amazing what can be
accomplished by teamwork – and I
encourage all of our members to get
involved! No matter what amount of time or
level of commitment you are ready for – we
are happy to have you and will find
something for you to do to become part of
the OSOPHE team!
Amy Bernard
Chapter President’s Message
Ohio Chapter Newsletter
Society for Public Health Education
March 2013
Healthier People through Health Education

2. Spring is just around the corner and with
that comes the National SOPHE annual
meeting. This is the first year for SOPHE
to transition to only one national
conference annually. The theme of this
year’s conference is The Magic of Health
Education: Vision, Imagination &
Transformation. It will be held on April
17-19, 2013, in Orlando, FL at the Hilton
Walt Disney World Resort. The
conference, which is SOPHE’s 64th
annual
meeting, will reflect and share the latest
research and best practices that health
and education professionals have
envisioned and implemented to
transform the health of society. This
meeting focuses on four timely
subthemes, including:
• Policy and Advocacy
• Transforming and Strengthening
the Foundations of our Field;
• The Future of Health Education
& Promotion; and
• School Health as an Essential
Element of Healthy
Communities.
More than 175 presentations will address
the opportunities and challenges in these
areas to transform the public’s health.
Ohio SOPHE will be represented by both
our Chapter President and National
Delegate. To learn more about the
conference, including detail on cost and
registration visit
http://www.sophe.org/2013meeting.cfm
There will be numerous individual sessions
that offer CHES and MCHES credits.
CHES/MCHES/CPH fees are included in the
registration! An all-inclusive package!
Many people join Ohio SOPHE to meet
other health educators, network, and
participate in professional development
opportunities. One of the best ways to
meet others and get linked into the
organization is through volunteering to
assist with a committee. Ohio SOPHE
committees are smaller groups of
members that collectively work toward a
purpose or function of the organization.
It is a great way to maximize your
membership and help Ohio SOPHE grow.
Here are two ways to get involved:
Technology committee
The technology committee meets
quarterly by teleconference and could
use a hand with: 1) quarterly updating
the "Featured Member" section on the
website 2) a Job Bank Coordinator.
Presently we are sending new job
postings through the listserv and posting
them on the website, but our goal is to
have someone who actively searches for
employment opportunities, perhaps
regularly checks other job banks and RSS
feed for open jobs. 3) Photo
Guru/Historian - Help with soliciting and
organizing electronic Ohio SOPHE photos,
Flickr account has been started 4) Last
but not least - A technology committee
co-chair is welcome! Learn how to
maintain and update the website!
Contact Mary to learn more
mary.chace@wright.edu
HEI Planning Committee
The Health Educator’s Institute is the
annual professional development
conference of Ohio SOPHE. The planning
committee is a larger group, 10 to 15
individuals, who plan everything from
topics, speakers, meals, entertainment,
and wellness activities for the October
event. Planning meetings occur via a
monthly conference call, starting in
February. HEI is a great way to get more
involved in health education and attend
a professional conference right in the
state of Ohio, from Megan Amaya, HEI
chairperson and Ohio SOPHE future
president. If you want to make a
difference in this year’s conference
agenda or HEI in general, contact Megan
to learn more! amaya.13@osu.edu
Volunteer Opportunities
National Delegate’s
Report
Are you going to go the 64th
National SOPHE Conference? Let
Heather Vilvens know! Contact her
at <hvilvens.bhsa@gmail.com>.

3. The Coordinated School Health (CSH)
Workshop Series provides professional
development for teachers,
administrators, and other school
employees committed to improving the
health, academic success, and well-being
of students. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) CSH
process is used to guide schools in the
development of wellness initiatives,
aimed at addressing the connection
between health and academic
performance. Schools that invest staff
time in attending the workshop series
are able to move forward with school-
specific wellness objectives more
efficiently and effectively.
The CSH Workshop series has been a
product of the CSH Coalition, conducted
through the Lorain County General
Health District (LCGHD) Creating Healthy
Communities Program to meet the local
need for resources, networking and
planning. The resources provided
develop the attitudes, knowledge and
skills needed to increase the degree of
importance placed on school health and
support the sustainability of school-
based wellness efforts. The workshop
series fills a gap in professional
development for schools at the local
level regarding low-cost/no-cost school-
based environmental system changes.
This workshop series has taken place for
the past 13 years, since 2000.
The LCGHD has invested in the CDC CSH
process because schools are community
hubs that influence the next generation's
lifestyle choices. Improving student
health attributes to an increase in
students' capacity to learn, reduction in
absenteeism, and improvement in
physical fitness and mental alertness.
Although Wellington Exempted Village
Schools, Clearview Local School District
and the Constellation Schools serve
different populations with both rural and
urban areas, socio-economic diversity,
and disparities in terms of access to
resources, each have received benefits
by attending the annual workshop series.
• The Clearview School District increased
sales of reimbursable school lunches by
32% as a result of eliminating all a la
carte candy/snacks.
• Westwood Elementary in Wellington
leveraged several funding sources to
start a school garden and school-based
community walking path.
• The tri-county Constellation Schools
updated their mission statement and
school improvement plans to include
wellness.
All three schools have conducted school
health indexes, developed school health
teams in at least one of the school
buildings within their district. Ideas,
resources and technical assistance for
these initiatives were received through
the CSH Workshop Series and the Lorain
County CSH Coalition that are conducted
through the LCGHD.
Submitted by: Sara Warner, Northwest Ohio
District Representative
What if you could prevent even one
family from hearing the words “you have
cancer”?
This year, you can join the movement to
help create a world with less cancer and
more birthdays by enrolling in the
American Cancer Society’s research
study called Cancer Prevention Study-3
(CPS-3). Join the movement for less
cancer and more birthdays. Volunteer for
CPS-3!
Who can join the study?
The study is open to anyone in the
United States and Puerto Rico who is
willing to commit to the study long-term
which means completing periodic follow
up surveys at home for the next 20-30
years, is between 30 and 65 years old,
and has never been diagnosed with
cancer (not including basal or squamous
cell skin cancer)
Coordinated School Health Workshop Series being
conducted by the Lorain County General Health
District. Photograph submitted by Sara Warner,
Northwest Ohio District Representative.
How can you participate?
The enrollment process involves two
steps. One step takes place at a local
enrollment event, where you will be
asked to read and sign an informed
consent form, complete a brief written
survey, provide a waist circumference
measurement and a small blood sample
(similar to a doctor’s visit - 7 teaspoons
total). The blood sample will be taken by
a certified, trained phlebotomist.
The other step takes place at home,
where you will complete a more detailed
survey. This survey will ask information
on lifestyle, behavioral, and other
factors related to your health.
Periodically, you will receive a survey at
home to update that information.
To schedule your appointment
www.ColumbusCPS3.org
Submitted by: Kherry Delorenzo, Health
Promotions Coordinator at American Cancer
Society
Public Health Success Story
Cancer Prevention Study–3

4. CHES Preparation Webinars
Session 1: Competencies 1-3
Session 2: Competencies 4-7
When: March 14, 2013 & March 28, 2013
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CST
For more information and to register:
https://www.wepay.com/events/march-
webinar-registration
Disability Awareness: A Call to Build
Community Partners - Tuesday, March 19,
3:30 to 5:00 pm.
Indu and Raj Soin Medical Center Pavilion
Room, Beavercreek, Ohio
Keynote Speaker: Julie Williams, PsyD.,
ABPP, CRC is an associate professor at
Wright State University. Dr. Williams
explores societal beliefs about disability and
introduces a new paradigm of disability that
locates enablement within the interaction of
the person and the environment.
CHES Credits: An application has been
submitted for Category I Continuing
Education Contact Hours (CECH) to award
Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES)
up to 1.5.
2013 Public Policy Institute Agenda -
Thursday, March 28, 9:00 am to 3:30
pm.
Columbus Public Health Auditorium, 240
Parsons Ave., Columbus, Ohio
The 2013 Policy Institute will be presented
by the Columbus Public Health and the
Ohio Public Health Association at
Columbus. This year’s theme is Public
Health’s Return on Investment: Making
the Case for Value in Ohio. Registration
begins at 8:30 am. You may register online
at
http://www.ohiopha.org/tabs/events/even
tdetails.aspx?EventId=854. If you work for
an agency that is an Ohio Public Health
Association organizational member, you
may be eligible for an additional 10%
discount for your registration. To find out -
contact ohiopha@gmail.com.
National Consortium for Building Health
Academic Communities – Wednesday,
April 24, 8:00 am to 10:00 am.
Blackwell Inn, The Ohio State University,
Columbus, Ohio
The Ohio State University invites you to help
create the National Consortium for Building
Healthy Academic Communities on April 24,
2013. We envision a group of academic
institutions across the country—large and
small, public and private—dedicated to
crafting a framework together to
comprehensively enhance the health and
wellness of students, faculty and staff. For
information about registration visit:
http://healthyacademics.org/registration. If
you have any questions, please contact
Megan Amaya, Director of Health Promotion
and Wellness, for more information
at healthyacademics@osu.edu
Ohio Public Health Combined Conference –
May 20-22.
Doubletree Hotel - Columbus, OH
Theme: When All The Rules Change - We're
Still Public Health
Keynote Speaker: Paul Wallace, M.D.,
Member of Board on Population Health and
Public Health Practice at Institute of
Medicine will speak on the integration of
public health and clinical care.
CHES/MCHES Credits: There will be
numerous individual sessions that offer CHES
and MCHES credits.
Relay For Life of Austintown
June 7, 2013
Austintown Fitch High School
4560 Falcon Drive
Austintown, OH 44515
Enrollment Hours: 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Relay For Life of Sandusky
June 14, 2013
Strobel Field
2118 Camp Street
Sandusky, OH 44870
Enrollment Hours: 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Public Health Education Principles –
September through November
Center for Public Health Practice in the
College of Public Health at The Ohio State
University.
Theme: Participants included individuals who
found themselves with responsibilities for
health education, but who lacked formal
training in the discipline. Using the 7 Areas of
Responsibility as a framework, content
addressed the basic skills of an entry-level
health education specialist. The 2012 series
was a 9-week experience consisting of
distance-based and in-person training. Some
of the topics covered were community health
assessment, program planning, and program
evaluation and health behavior theories.
Eleven individuals from all over the state
completed the series. Contact Meredith
Cameron at mcameron@cph.osu.edu or 614-
292-2942 for information about the 2013
series.
Kylie Jones and Jody Shriver from the Zanesville-
Muskingham County Health Department
participated in the Principles Series.
Professional Development Opportunities

5. National Conferences
March, 2013
13
th
Annual American Academy of Health
Behavior Conference
Eldorado Hotel and Spa, Santa Fe, NM
March 17-19, 2013
http://www.aahb.wildapricot.org
April, 2013
SOPHE 64
th
Annual Meeting
Hilton Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL
April 17 -19, 2013
http://www.sophe.org/2013meeting.cfm
July, 2013
National Wellness Conference
University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, WI
July 15-18, 2013
http://www.nationalwellness.org/?NWC2
013
How time flies! It is already March! Have you paid your 2013 dues? No?
Keep calm, there is still time!
It has never been easier to renew your membership!
• Visit the website (www.ohiosophe.org)
• Click on the tab called Join Ohio SOPHE at top right-hand side of the page
• Complete the membership application.
• Individuals have the option to pay with a credit card, cash, check or purchase order.
• NOTE: If you are planning to pay with a purchase order, please have the number
ready when you process your membership.
If you have any problems with the website, please contact Mary Chace at
mary.chace@wright.edu
$
KEEP
CALM
AND
PAY YOUR
DUES
Ohio SOPHE MEMBERSHIP DUES
Check the Ohio SOPHE
Calendar for additional
items:
www.ohiosophe.org
Dan Davis has been President & CEO of the National Parkinson
Foundation Central & Southeast Ohio since March, 2006. Dan has an
MBA with a focus in nonprofit from Franklin University and received his
undergraduate degree in Community Health Education from Youngstown
State University. He is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and
Licensed Social Worker (LSW). In addition to serving on the Chapter
Leadership Council for the National Parkinson Foundation, Dan is the Vice
President of the Ohio Parkinson Foundation, Assistant State Director for
Parkinson’s Action Network, South East Ohio District Representative for
the Ohio Society of Professional Health Educators and is a volunteer
Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Dan and his wife, Carrie, live in Hilliard,
OH. In his free time, Dan enjoys working in his garden, studies the art of
stained glass and has joined a running group.
Why join OhioSOPHE?
“In the beginning, I joined OhioSOPHE as a means to gain CEUs for my
certification. I have come to recognize that there is so much more to
OhioSOPHE, such as networking with others, gaining information about
important health matters for not only the state of Ohio but nationally,
and the opportunity to increase my skills and knowledge in the core
competencies for health educators.”
New Member
Focus

6. February
Heart disease is the leading cause of death
among women. Over 400,000 deaths among
American women are caused by cardiovascular
disease and approximately 42.9 million women
currently live with some form of the disease.
The American Heart Association’s Go Red For
Women annually celebrates National Wear Red
Day on the first day of February to raise
awareness about heart disease. Some women
and volunteers celebrate Go Red by wearing
Red every day during February to raise
awareness about heart disease, staying
healthy, and increase participation.
Several of our members also celebrated the
National Heart Education Month by going Red!
This Go Red Day photo was submitted by Mary
Zahler, Your Health Matters Wellness Manager
at Akron Children's Hospital.
For more information about Go Red and
National Wear Red Day, visit
GoRedForWomen.org
March
SOPHE is once again proud to join the
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics during
March to celebrate the National Nutrition
Month!
All month long, SOPHE’s website will feature
links to the Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics’ educational resources and
materials and open access to the latest, peer-
reviewed nutrition articles from its two peer-
reviewed journals – Health Promotion
Practice and Health Education and Behavior. If
you are not a member already, click here to
register for free access through April 1, 2013.
Additional resources and materials such as
those from ChooseMyPlate, SOPHE Youth
and School Health, and Let’s Move
Campaign can be accessed here
.
Health Education in the News

7. The Ohio Chapter of Society for Public Health Education is a Chapter of Excellence. This
prestigious recognition is given by national SOPHE and the Ohio Chapter has been recognized
for the past three years. We’d like to continue to grow and improve – but we need the input of
our members. Two of the Ohio Chapter goals for the year are to increase student
engagement and increase visibility and participation at the district level. Please send
feedback to the any of the below board members!
Amy Bernard
President
bernara@ucmail.uc.edu
Jennifer Morel
Past President
JEMorel@columbus.gov
Kate Robb
Secretary
KMRobb@columbus.gov
Holly Raffle
Treasurer
raffle@ohio.edu
Megan Amaya
President-Elect
mamaya@con.ohio-state.edu
Kiana Trabue
Membership Chair
ktrabue@cincinnatiymca.org
Amy Thompson
Advocacy co-chair
Amy.Thompson4@utoledo.edu
Kristen Frame
Advocacy co-chair
KFrame@mhalc.org
Sara Abdollahian Warner
Northeast District Rep
sabdollahian@loraincountyhealth.com
Audra Jordan
Northwest District Rep
audrabjordan@gmail.com
Marietta Orlowski
Southwest District Rep
marietta.orlowski@wright.edu
Dan Davis
Southeast District Rep
ddavis@centralohioparkinson.org
Mary Chace
Technology Committee Chair
mary.chace@wright.edu
Sarah Krygowski
Scholarship Committee Chair
skrygowski@gmail.com
Sheronda Whitner
Marketing Chair
swhitner405@gmail.com
Ann Mehl
OSOPHE Public Health Advisory Board
Rep
ajmehl@gmail.com
Rob Braun
Professional Chair and Ohio Combined
Public Health Conference Liaison
rbraun@otterbein.edu
Heather Vilvens
National Delegate
hvilvens.bhsa@gmail.com
Ruth Dudding
Continuing Education Chair
rdudding@health.athens.oh.us
Jenni Steckowski
Student Liaison
steckowski.1@osu.edu
Bonnie Kirsch
Ohio Pubic Health Partnership Liaison
Kirsten Hildreth
OSOPHE Public Health Future
Committee Rep
Calling Ohio SOPHE Members!
We need your
contribution!
The Ohio SOPHE
newsletter is written
quarterly. Please
send your success
stories, photographs,
suggestions, and
submissions to your
district representative.
Your story might be
featured in the
newsletter!
This volume was edited by Roopsi Joshi-Narayan, Graduate Research Assistant, Wright State University.