Dear SDBP Friends and Colleagues,
I’m writing to update you on the ongoing work of the SDBP Board of Directors, including actions taken by the Board at our recent spring meeting.
As we are all aware, the past several months have been extremely challenging for many of us. The Board is committed to continuing our advocacy for our members and for programs and services that are critically important to the health and well-being of children and families affected by developmental and behavioral challenges. We are also moving forward with initiatives that I have highlighted in prior messages, including our new strategic plan and efforts to continue to maximize the value of SDBP membership for all of our interdisciplinary members. The following are some highlights from the Spring Board meeting, along with plans for SDBP Connects sessions on some of the most important initiatives:
SDBP Communications and Advocacy
The Society commissioned the Institute for Exceptional Care, led by Mai Pham (the speaker at last year’s Annual Meeting), to advise us on the most effective, feasible and impactful ways to leverage our resources to advocate for our members and the children and families we serve. The Board approved a new SDBP Communications Strategy that we will be rapidly implementing in the coming weeks. We will also schedule an SDBP Communications and Advocacy Connects session to roll out this plan, which has the following key features:
- “Fact Sheets” covering key issues such as conditions we treat (e.g. ADHD, ASD) and key services and programs (e.g., Medicaid and Special Education). The Fact Sheets will be SDBP-branded, concise, single page documents that will include a QR code linked to additional sources of accurate information and resources.
- We will be working with the Committees, Sections and SIGS to build a library of Fact Sheets that can be accessed by members to use for advocacy with their institutions (e.g., working through institutional government affairs offices) or individually. We will also use the Fact Sheets as the foundation for rapid response by the Society as new challenges arise in the coming months.
- Fact Sheets will be regularly updated and available on our Members Only website.
The Board has heard from many members and Committees/Sections/SIGS about the need to improve both internal and external communications, both for the ongoing work of the Society and also to increase our visibility and impact on issues of concern to our members. We have therefore approved a plan to hire a professional SDBP Communications staff person to work as a permanent member of our professional staff. The position details are being developed and will be shared with the membership soon. This new member of our team will coordinate the communication activities of our volunteer members and leaders.
SDBP Strategic Plan
As you know from prior communications, the Board engaged in a months-long effort to solicit ideas to operationalize our Strategic Plan—relying on members and leaders of our Committees/Sections/SIGS, working with the Board, to identify priority strategies and tactics for the Society to implement over the next several years. The Board has approved a set of priority strategic goals and tactics that we will discuss in detail at an upcoming SDBP Strategic Plan Connects session.
Annual Meeting
We have heard from members who are concerned about their ability to attend the fall meeting in San Diego. Unfortunately, it would be cost-prohibitive to offer a virtual attendance option for the meeting—but we will make every effort to engage members who are not able to be in San Diego, including archiving meeting materials and continuing to expand our virtual offerings (including the Winter Meeting and the new SDBP Grand Rounds).
I also want to let you know that we are planning some specific activities to honor the legacy of our dear friend and colleague Benard Dreyer at the San Diego meeting.
Adding Value to SDBP Membership
Beginning last fall, I and the Board have engaged our members to identify ways in which we can add value to SDBP membership. I would like to highlight several new initiatives:
SDBP Grand Rounds
This new, virtual offering got off to an outstanding start with a session on psycho-pharmacology presented by Chris McDougle. Stay tuned for an upcoming session on the medical evaluation of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and other topics aimed at our advanced, subspecialized members to support their work with complex care in our field.
SDBP Billing and Coding Resource
The Board is working with expert members of the Society to develop a permanent SDBP Billing and Coding Resource tailored to the clinical care provided by our interdisciplinary members. The goal is for this resource to be updated regularly and organized in a sustainable manner, given the importance of this issue to our members.
Proposed Bylaws Change: Trainee/Recent Graduate Board of Directors Representative
The Board will be proposing to add a new, non-voting member (representative) of the Board to be chosen from among the current members of the Trainee/Recent Graduate Section. The incumbent of this new position would bring new perspectives to the Board while developing leadership experience for the future of the Society. This position will require a change to our Bylaws. Stay tuned for a communication about the proposed Bylaw change.
As always, I am amazed and grateful for the outstanding work that you are doing every day to support children and families, and for your incredible volunteer efforts that sustain the mission of SDBP. I would be happy to hear your questions and concerns and look forward to the two SDBP Connects sessions (one on the SDBP Communications and Advocacy Plan and a second on the SDBP Strategic Plan Implementation) in the coming weeks.
Respectfully,
Bill Barbaresi
william.barbaresi@childrens.harvard.edu
