Focused Initiatives 2005

Second Quarter Progress Report
(April - June)

see also: First Quarter Progress Report

For each of the 2005 Focused Initiatives National Office teams developed a work plan that included the strategies to be completed in 2005. During the 2nd quarter of the year, the strategy implementation teams continued work on activities necessary to complete the strategies by the dates indicated. The following report highlights some of the actions that were initiated/completed during the 2nd quarter and includes information on the status of all strategies included in each work plan at the end of the 2nd quarter. Information related to ASHA’s Focused Initiatives  can be found on the ASHA Web-site.

FOCUSED INITIATIVE: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES (2005-2007)

2nd Quarter Highlights

1. Completed a Knowledge-Attitudes-Practice (KAP) survey related to evidence-based practice to collect data/information to guide the development of educational products/activities. The findings have been shared with relevant National Office Staff.
2. The Advisory Committee on Evidence-Based Practice (ACEBP), established to provide guidance on core issues related to evidence-based practice (e.g. use of terminology, levels of evidence, etc.), met and a)has developed a set of procedures for conducting evidence reviews, b) is adapting a system of levels of evidence for use by ASHA, c) has proposed revisions to the process and format for developing ASHA practice policy documents, and d)has developed procedures for prioritization of clinical topics recommended for evidence review.
3. The National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) has redesigned the evidence-based practice section (members only) of the ASHA Web-site that includes links to Web-based clinical trial registries. 
4. Information on evidence-based practice was provided by N-CEP and other National Office staff at the ASHA Schools Conference, two state associations with nine more scheduled, Division on Fluency and Fluency Disorders Leadership Conference, and N-CEP published an article in the NSSLHA Newsletter.
5. A National Office work team has been established to develop a communication sciences and disorders research list that can be used in discussion with the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Education to promote research funding for these priorities.
6. N-CEP staff is developing an international registry of clinical practice guidelines that are relevant to communication sciences and disorders.

2nd Quarter Status of All Strategies

There are 14 strategies in the work plan on evidence-based practice.

FOCUSED INITIATIVE: PhD SHORTAGE IN HIGHER EDUCATION (2004-2006)

2nd Quarter Highlights 

1. The Higher Education System database to gather, maintain, access, and analyze data/information from academic programs is about 50% complete. Three prototypes have been reviewed and complex design issues resolved. A multi-faceted communication and marketing plan has been developed.
2. Twenty-one applications were received for the Students Preparing for Academic and Research Careers (SPARC) award program to promote PhD career development.   Awards to be made in July.
3. H.R. 670 was introduced and included a provision to provide loan forgiveness of up to $17,500 for speech-language pathologists who have worked in Title I schools for five years. Similar legislation is being pursued in the Senate. H.R. 609 the 2005 Higher Education Act reauthorization under the existing Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAAN) program provides that any school-based speech-language pathologist with a new loan and five-years of service would qualify for $5000 of loan forgiveness.
4. New faculty has been identified as the initial target audience for participation in a mentoring program to assist new faculty in pursuit of their teaching-research careers. A focus group with nine faculty in CSD was held to obtain ideas for the mentoring program.
5. Provided information related to academic programs via the Access Academics and Research e-newsletter. The June issue was on Evidence-Based Practice.
6. Continued development of content for the ASHA Web-site related to highlighting academic and research careers and recruitment of students to become PhD teacher-scholars.

2nd Quarter Status of All Strategies

There are 16 strategies in the work plan on the PhD shortage in higher education.

FOCUSED INITIATIVE: HEALTH CARE REIMBURSEMENT (2003-2005)

2nd Quarter Highlights

1. Conducted workshop on how to advocate/negotiate for private health plan coverage for speech-language pathology and audiology services in Alaska. Workshops planned for Tennessee and Massachusetts. 
2. Received applications from state associations participating in the State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs) program to receive a grant to advocate for comprehensive health insurance coverage of speech-language pathology and audiology services in their state. Applications are being reviewed and awards will be made during the 3^rd quarter.
3. Programmed a second state legislative bill tracking system that provides daily alerts for bills introduced in states related to audiology and speech-language pathology and health insurance. State associations are then contacted to make sure they are aware of pending legislation.  
4. Prepared coverage data/information collection templates for use in tracking coverage and reimbursement policies of health plans. The templates will sent to consumers, ASHA members, and others asking them to complete the template for their health plan.
5. Initiated contacts with other professional organizations (e.g., APTA, CEC) to promote coverage of speech-language pathology and audiology programs and services in health benefit packages related to their profession.
6. Continued development of 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.  
7. Compiled information on medical, societal, and quality of life issues that exist with a communication disorder for use in a fact sheet that can be used to promote coverage of speech-language pathology services in private health plans.

2nd Quarter Status of All Strategies

There are 26 strategies in the work plan on health care reimbursement.

NOTE: Three strategies were not initiated pending employment of a new Director of Public Relations to start work on July 18, 2005. Two are scheduled to be initiated in the 3^rd quarter and have completion dates of December 31, 2005.

FOCUSED INITIATIVE: PERSONNEL ISSUES (2005-2007)

2^nd Quarter Highlights

1. Completed development of a survey to collect data/information on current and projected vacancies and the root causes of persistent vacancies. The survey will be piloted in three state departments of education.
2. Established a National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services.  More than 20 national, state, and local organizations are represented on the Coalition. The mission of the Coalition is to sustain a discussion among all stakeholders on the need for and value of special education, related services, and early intervention; and to identify, disseminate, and support implementation of national, state, and local strategies to remedy personnel shortages and persistent vacancies for the benefit of all children and youth. 
3. Identified ten target states to organize grassroots consumer/parent networks and an advisory group of related service providers within the state to advocate for the use of qualified personnel and maintain the master’s degree requirement for school-based speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
4. Conducted a meeting of the ASHA SEALS at the 2005 Schools Conference to discuss personnel issues and provided suggestions on ways the SEALS can be involved in advocating for qualified personnel in their states.
5. Identified five urban and rural school districts that have been successful in using qualified personnel to provide speech-language pathology and audiology services with a minimum of personnel vacancies to serve as models for other school districts.
6. Drafted action plans with the three most vulnerable states for reducing personnel standards (ID, TN, TX) that include strategies to deal with persistent vacancies without reducing state certification/licensure requirements. The plans are under review by the states.
7. Continued development of various products and talking points related to the need for qualified personnel, recruitment and retention, and advocacy activities that have been 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.  
8. Posted information on the ASHA Web-site related to the Medicaid requirement that qualified personnel be used to provide speech-language pathology and audiology services for Medicaid eligible students in schools.

2nd Quarter Status of All Strategies

There are 38 strategies in the work plan on personnel issues.

NOTE:  Two strategies were not initiated because they involve activities that are to be initiated on an “as needed” basis and the activity has not been needed. Two are scheduled to be initiated in the 3^rd quarter and have completion dates of December 31, 2005.