Description
Spring 2010 SODBP Newsletter
Notes from the Chair
By Michelle M. Macias, MD, FAAP
Best wishes to all Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SODBP) members for a healthy and happy 2010, and Happy 50th Anniversary to the SODBP!
This is the first newsletter compiled by Dr. Michael Reiff, our new editor. He has outdone himself in bringing us a first-rate issue that I know you will find educational and informative.
One of SODBP’s major tasks of the spring is to develop and submit developmental and behavioral topics for the 2011 National Conference and Exhibition general program under the leadership of Nate Blum, our Educational Program Chair. Our educational activities have a significant influence in advancing developmental and behavioral pediatrics. We rely on our membership to submit innovative topics that you would like to hear. It is up to you to let us know what developmental/behavioral topics are important to the practicing pediatrician, whether generalist or subspecialist. Put your thinking caps on and send your ideas to Nate Blum (blum@chop.edu) or myself (maciasm@musc.edu).
After 5 years of hard work, the Task Force on Mental Health (TFOMH), (ably chaired by SODBP member Jane Meschan Foy, Lynn Wegner served as the SODBP representative, and many other SODBP members participated) will soon release their major products. The supplement to Pediatrics on mental health will be published in June or July 2010. The supplement will include algorithms to guide primary care clinicians in identifying and addressing mental health concerns, and strategies to prepare communities and practices for enhancing pediatric mental health care. The mental health toolkit will be published in July. Its title is “Addressing Mental Health in Primary Care: A Clinician's Toolkit.”
Behavioral/mental health issues in children and adolescents are underdetected and undertreated. Access to mental health care is a significant problem across our country. The TFOMH goal has been to develop and implement recommendations geared toward prevention of behavioral/mental health problems, and to improve early detection and treatment of these problems in children and adolescents. Pediatricians already manage the care of common developmental and behavioral concerns and promote positive parenting and ‘optimal’ family mental health. This model can be extended to care of mental health issues, and the TFOMH has worked diligently to provide practicing pediatricians with practical tools to do this. Our subspecialist, our generalist, and our affiliate members all play a vital role in using and circulating the TFOMH materials. So, once again, it is up to our membership to go forth and disseminate!
During our 50th year we should reflect on who we are and what our mission is. We are one of the largest Sections in the AAP, with over half our constituency identifying themselves as generalists. We have an increasing number of Affiliate members, who add to our diversity and practicality for all professionals working with children and adolescents with developmental and behavioral problems. Some of the activities of the Section include:
- Section scientific program at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition (NCE), held annually in the fall. This is a full day education session for members.
- Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Online (http://www.dbpeds.org).
- Sponsorship of general education sessions at the NCE and other AAP conferences.
- Active participation in AAP Practical Pediatrics and other CME conferences.
- Liaison with related AAP committees such as the Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health; the Council on Children with Disabilities; the Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care; and the Committee on Coding and Nomenclature.
- Leadership participation in AAP councils.
- Review and development of policy statements and parent education materials.
- Media interviews on child health topics.
- Promotion of professional practice including quality improvement and coding and payment
As the SODBP Chairperson, I invite you to tour our Web site and encourage you to contact me or Linda Paul, our Section Manager (lpaul@aap.org) with your ideas or suggestions.
Remember, the 50th anniversary membership blitz is on! Please invite your pediatric colleagues to join the SODBP!
My best,
Michelle
Notes from the Editor
Michael I. Reiff, MD, FAAP
Minneapolis, MN
Developmental and Behavioral News will be initiating a new column containing reader comments and letters to the editor. All members of the Section on Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics are eligible and encouraged to write in. Comments and letters should be limited to 2 or 3 paragraphs. We hope that this will open the newsletter to more dialogue among members, and that comments will help shape newsletter content. Please email comments or letters to reiff001@umn.edu.
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Publication date: May 6, 2010
Revise date: May 6, 2010
TextID: 658
