State Leadership Conference Overview
Bringing Psychology to the Table: State Leadership in Health Care Reform
Passage of national health care reform under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has set the clock ticking toward 2014, when many of the Act’s major components will go into effect. It is anticipated that as many as 32 million previously uninsured Americans will be eligible for coverage at that time. This will create opportunities for psychologists to strengthen our roles in the health care system, but only if we are prepared. States will be at the forefront of implementing health care reform through Medicaid redesign, health insurance exchanges and accountable care organizations (ACOs). It is crucial that our State, Provincial and Territorial Associations (SPTAs) and psychologist leaders are at the table as these major elements of reform are brought to fruition. The theme for the 29th annual State Leadership Conference (SLC), Bringing Psychology to the Table: State Leadership in Health Care Reform, was chosen to underscore this critical challenge for psychology.
Opening Session
We’re pleased to welcome Alan Weil, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy, as our opening session keynote speaker. Mr. Weil received his bachelor's degree in economics and political science from the University of California at Berkeley, a master in public policy degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and a JD from Harvard Law School. A passionate and engaging speaker, he is considered one of the leading authorities in the country on how national health care reform will be implemented at the state level.
Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards
The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program highlights one of the many areas in which the power of advocacy stems from psychology's involvement in larger systems. Designed to educate the employer community about the link between well-being and performance, the program recognizes those organizations that create an environment where both employees and the organization can thrive. David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, assistant executive director for marketing and business development at the American Psychological Association, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event. The keynote address will be delivered by Dan Heath, senior fellow at Duke University's CASE center, which supports entrepreneurs who are fighting for social good. He is the co-author of The New York Times bestsellers Switch and Made to Stick, and a columnist for Fast Company magazine. The ceremony will be followed by a reception.
Conference Programming
A two-part series on how SPTAs can prepare for health care reform headlines an outstanding lineup of programming. Additionally, the Featured Presentation, chaired by APA President Suzanne Bennett Johnson, PhD, and the Div. 31 (Division of State, Provincial and Territorial Affairs) sponsored workshop will focus on different aspects of psychology’s role in integrated care–a critical component of health care reform. Other programs include sessions on electronic health records, telepsychology guidelines, Medicaid and student advocacy efforts. As always, there will be workshops to address specific needs of early career psychologists, along with a look at innovative practice models.
Focus on the Political Landscape
As an advocacy training event, SLC has traditionally focused on the political landscape. This year’s conference will be no exception. For our Sunday morning plenary session, "The Politics of Health Care," Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist Eugene Robinson, associate editor of the Washington Post will engage the SLC audience with his take on "Who's Up, Who's Down and What’s Really Going On."
On Sunday evening, the Association for the Advancement of Psychology (AAP), which runs our national psychology PAC, hosts a reception in honor of Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD).
Association Management
Strong advocacy requires strong associations. Each year at SLC the Council of Executives of State, Provincial and Territorial Psychological Associations (CESPPA) works with the APA Practice Organization (APAPO) to bring cutting edge programming on association management issues to SPTA leadership. This year’s CESPPA plenary session will feature Mary Byers, CAE, co-author of Race for Relevance: 5 Radical Changes for Associations, a candid, straightforward and realistic look at the out-of-date practices in association management. She will then provide an opportunity for more detailed discussion with association leaders in a follow-up workshop. CESPPA is also sponsoring a workshop in conjunction with the APA Practice Directorate's Public Relations staff on writing effective Op/Ed pieces and letters to the editor.
State Leadership Conference Committee of State Leaders
The Committee of State Leaders (CSL) serves as an advisory group to CAPP to provide feedback about State, Provincial, and Territorial Association (SPTA) concerns and needs, to respond to special projects at the request of CAPP, to provide advisory input to the State Leadership Conference planners, and to assist SPTA leaders to become more involved in APA governance.
Nominations are being accepted for Member-at-Large Positions (2 vacant positions) and for Federal Advocacy Coordinators (FAC) (1 vacant position). Learn more about the nomination process and who is eligible.
SLC Banquet
Monday night’s banquet, a favorite of many SLC veterans, welcomes US Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY). The banquet offers a motivational sendoff to your Congressional visits on Tuesday.
Visits to Capitol Hill
Visits to Congress on Tuesday will be a fitting conclusion to our four-day-long focus on building a leadership culture. This annual culmination of SLC programming and networking is a vivid reminder that we must take active leadership roles in the advocacy efforts that will protect and strengthen psychology’s reach. The mandatory Hill Briefing sessions on Sunday afternoon will prepare you for this exciting experience.
We have designed SLC around a variety of program formats—large and small group sessions, workshops and networking sessions—to maximize the practical information you will take back home. For this reason, we encourage each delegation to send one representative to each of the concurrent sessions wherever possible, so that you will be able to pool and share all of the information afterward.
As always, SLC will be a busy time, so if you would like time to sightsee, we recommend coming in early or staying on in Washington after the conference concludes. Please feel free to contact Dr. Dan Abrahamson or Susan Lazaroff at (800) 374-2723 or (202) 336-5864 with any questions.
