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May 1, 2005
For each of the 2005 Focused Initiatives, a work plan that includes the strategies to be completed in 2005 was developed. During the 1st quarter of the year, the strategy implementation teams initiated activities necessary to complete the strategies by the dates indicated. In some instances, little or no action has been taken on strategies to be initiated or completed later in the year. (View the 2005 work plan of each Focused Initiative.)
The following report highlights some of the actions that were initiated/completed during the first quarter and includes information on the status of all strategies included in a work plan at the end of the 1st quarter.
FOCUSED INITIATIVE: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES (2005-2007)
1st Quarter Highlights
- Developed a Knowledge-Attitudes-Practice (KAP) survey related to evidence-based practice to be fielded in the 2nd quarter to collect data/information to guide the development of educational products/activities and serve as a baseline set of data to use in evaluating the impact of the Focused Initiative activities.
- Established an Advisory Committee on Evidence-Based Practice to provide guidance on core issues related to evidence-based practice, (e.g. use of terminology, levels of evidence, etc.). The initial meeting of the Advisory Committee will be held during the 2nd quarter.
- Established the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice charged to conduct evidence reviews, develop and conduct educational activities related to evidence-based practice, and assist in accessing evidence for review.
- Initiated contacts with international organizations involved in evidence-based practice activities in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada to obtain and share information.
1st Quarter Status of All Strategies
There are 14 strategies in the work plan on evidence-based practice.
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Quarter
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Not Initiated
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25% complete
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50% complete
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75% complete
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100% complete
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1st
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4
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7
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1
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2
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FOCUSED INITIATIVE: DOCTORAL (Ph.D.) SHORTAGE (2004-2006)
1st Quarter Highlights
- Continued development of the Higher Education System database to gather, maintain, access, and analyze data/information from academic programs. The on-line survey layout and hierarchy of the system have been developed. Initial prototypes are scheduled for preview during the 2nd quarter.
- Established the Students Preparing for Academic and Research Careers (SPARC) award program to promote Ph.D. career development. Announcement of the program was made in March. The application period is open until May 16th.
- Requested that the House Subcommittee Chairman reauthorizing the Higher Education Act include speech-language pathology and audiology as a shortage specialty in schools as one of the designated areas of national need eligible for stipends, and additional assistance.
- Provided information related to academic programs via the Access Academics and Research e-newsletter. The February issue included information on IDEA “04 and it impact on academic preparation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. The April issue is on audiology education.
1st Quarter Status of All Strategies
There are 16 strategies in the work plan on the doctoral (Ph.D.) shortage. Of the 16, 1 has been 75% completed; 3 have been 50% completed; 10 have been 25% completed; and 2 were not initiated during the 1st quarter.
FOCUSED INITIATIVE: HEALTH CARE REIMBURSEMENT (2003-2005)
1st Quarter Highlights
- Conducted workshops on how to advocate/negotiate for private health plan coverage for speech-language pathology and audiology services in New York, Georgia, and Wisconsin.
- Implemented an enhanced state legislative bill tracking system that provides daily alerts for bills introduced in states related to audiology and speech-language pathology. State Associations are then contacted to make sure they are aware of pending legislation.
- Held two conference calls with the State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs) representatives to discuss issues related to advocating for health plans that include coverage for speech-language pathology and audiology services. Currently, there are 43 states that have one or more STAR representatives.
- Prepared information for use in contacts with manufacturers, suppliers, vendors, consumer organizations, state and local public health agencies, companies that advertise in The ASHA Leader, companies that exhibit at the ASHA Convention, and American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHF) donors to promote health plan coverage for speech-language pathology and audiology services.
1st Quarter Status of All Strategies
There are 26 strategies in the work plan on health care reimbursement. Of the 26, 1 has been 75% completed; 4 have been 50% completed; 12 have been 25% completed; and 9 were not initiated during the 1st quarter.
FOCUSED INITIATIVE: PERSONNEL ISSUES (2005-2007)
1st Quarter Highlights
- Identified six factors that would indicate a state’s vulnerability to lowering its personnel standards for employment in the schools from a master’s to a bachelor’s degree—1) high rate of vacancies reported by the popular press or documented with data collected by state associations; 2) previous (within the past 5 years) state legislative or regulatory efforts to lower standards; 3) existence in the state of emergency or provisional teaching certificates for speech-language pathologists; 4) existence in the state of bachelor’s-level assistants (who could be upgraded to a teaching credential); 5) a high frequency of rural school districts; and 6) a low number (0 or 1) of master’s level higher education programs in the state. Thirty-one (31) states demonstrated one or more of the negative factors. Eleven states were identified as having the greatest vulnerability. Based on interviews with state association leaders, Idaho, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia were selected as the most vulnerable. ASHA is working with these states to prevent any lowering of standards.
- Held a meeting with representatives from 20 national and local professional, administrative, and parent organizations (e.g. NEA, NASDSE, AOTA, APTA, Montgomery County, MD Board of Education, NASSP, among others) to define the vacancy problem, discuss the root causes of persistent vacancies, and identify possible solutions. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for May 19th.
- Revised the Graduate Program Guide Survey and the CAPCSD Undergraduate Program Survey which are part of the Higher Education System for data collection, to collect data on the number of students entering graduate programs in communications sciences and disorders, the number of students graduating and the number of graduates employed in and out of state by various employment settings. Data from the Higher Education System for data collection are expected by the 4th quarter. Data also will be collected from graduate programs to identify barriers to increasing the number of graduates and to identify innovative educational models that promote graduate level education in communication sciences and disorders for individuals employed in the schools without a Master’s degree.
- Initiated development of various products and talking points related to the need for qualified personnel, recruitment and retention, and advocacy activities that will be made available to members via the ASHA Web-site and used in states that are vulnerable to lowering their personnel standards for speech-language pathologists and audiologists employed in the schools.
1st Quarter Status of All Strategies
There are 42 strategies in the work plan on personnel issues. Of the 42, 11 have been 100% completed;4 have been 50% completed; 15 have been 25% completed; and 12 were not initiated during the 1st quarter.
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