SOMSRFT Current & Past Child Advocacy Campaigns

Within the AAP Section on Medical Students, Residents and Fellowship Trainees, there is an advocacy subcommittee. Each year we pick an advocacy issue to focus on.

2008-2009 Advocacy Campaign
This year’s campaign will focus on tobacco prevention and control. We have created a CD-ROM that was distributed to all residency program delegates at this year’s NCE complete with tobacco control resources to use during morning report and in your community. Click here to access the introduction letter, along with links to all of the resources.

2007-2008 Advocacy Campaign
At the 2007 NCE, we provided each residency program delegate with a CD copy of this year’s advocacy campaign. The Resident Section Executive Committee decided to focus on access to mental health for children and educating their fellow residents on the resources available. If you would like to get involved, just follow these simple steps:

1. Read the AAP Mental Health Brief to better understand pediatric mental health issues.
2. Present the Pediatric Mental Health Power point at your residency programs AM or PM report to teach fellow residents about advocacy opportunities.
3. Start a letter writing campaign at you program for the federal Mental Heath Parity Act (either print & send the form letters or provide like to AAP form letter web site).
4. Discuss the mental health Chapter Action Kit as a resource for residents.
5. Help sign-up interested residents to become Key Contacts in the Federal Advocacy Action Network (FAAN).

Additional resources:

• Current AAP Mental Health Initiatives
• Advocacy at different levels

2006-2007 Advocacy Campaign
In 2006, we provided residents a tool kit on how to become an effective advocate along with a presentation on the Deficit Reduction Act. The goal is to provide residents not only with a skill set but then to utilize it on an important issue to prevent detrimental changes in their respective states healthcare system.

As presented at the 2006 NCE

• Legislative Advocacy (Power Point)
• Medicaid and the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 (Power Point)
  

2005-2006 Advocacy Campaign
In 2005, the advocacy project was a Soft Drink Letter Campaign, and this May, the American Beverage Association announced all major beverage manufactures would begin to remove soda from public schools. They agreed to follow the guidelines from The Alliance for a Healthier Generation. "Under the terms of the agreement, the beverage industry will work to spread these standards to 75% of the nation's schools prior to the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year. The industry will strive to fully implement these guidelines prior to the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, provided schools and school districts are willing to amend existing contracts. " If you'd like to continue on with this campaign, feel free to use the letters below depending on your audience.

• AAP Chapter Soft Drink Letter
• Superintendent Soft Drink Letter