61st Annual Meeting

October 18 - 25, 2014

Member Services Forum 6 (open to all AACAP members)

Beyond Advocacy Day: Bringing Advocacy Home

Access to mental health care for families and youth remains a challenge despite over two decades of dedicated efforts to address workforce shortage issues, lessen stigma, and achieve parity. Child and adolescent psychiatrists, working together with families, can have a positive affect on the decision making of legislators. Participants learn about initiating advocacy efforts at the local and state levels; learn the value of family members speaking directly about their personal challenges; hear from different states about advocacy efforts; and gain an understanding of the core principles of legislative advocacy and how to begin their own local advocacy efforts.