The annual HENOD conference was held on March 25, 2004, at the beautiful MBNA Deerfield Golf and Tennis Club in Newark. Participants – well over a hundred – included health educators, nurses, dietitians, social workers and allied health professionals.
This year, the conference committee, headed by Mel Anderson, decided to provide a skill-based program. One-hundred and
sixteen attendees learned tips about dealing with clients who are resistant to change. The presenters were North Carolina-based speakers Betsy LaForge, M.P.H., R.D., and Dr. Sam Weir . The conference, entitled "Increasing Motivation for Health Behavior Change," contained didactic sessions and role playing.
The speakers reviewed how to use motivational interviewing techniques and brief negotiation when working with clients.
At the end of the conference, participants left with tools to help them assess clients' readiness to change, as well as to elicit clients'
internal motivation for change.
Overall, the evaluations were very positive, and the conference planning committee did an excellent job. Conference Chair Mel Anderson received the President's Award from outgoing HENOD President P. Michael Peterson for her efforts in developing this conference and her other outstanding work for HENOD.
Two other awards were also presented at the conference. Dr. Allan Waterfield from the University of Delaware received HENOD's Achievement Award; and Ginny Corrigan received the Advocacy Award.
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