2006 Focused Initiatives

Focused Initiative: Personnel Issues in Healthcare and Education

First Quarter Progress Report (January-March)

For each of the 2006 Focused Initiatives, a work plan that includes the strategies to be completed in 2006 was developed. During the 1^st quarter of the year, the strategy implementation teams initiated activities necessary to complete the strategies by the dates indicated. View the 2006 work plan for each Focused Initiative. The following report highlights some of the actions that were initiated during the 1^st quarter and includes information on the status of all strategies included in the work plan at the end of the 1^st quarter. 

1st Quarter Highlights

• Data and information related to the underlying factors/root causes that lead to personnel shortages/persistent vacancies in education and healthcare are being compiles.
• Met with legislative staff of the Visiting Nurses Association to discuss personnel shortages and participated in a national conference call on personnel shortages.
• Met with leaders of the National Easter Seals and made a presentation on personnel shortages in speech-language pathology at the National Easter Seals Training Conference.
• Work continues with targeted states AZ, ID, NH, TN, TX, and VA focused on developing strategies for dealing with personnel issues.
• Met with the leadership of state associations from PA, RI, and VA to discuss developing an action plan to address personnel shortages in the state.
• Initiated planning for the Fall Forum on Solving Shortages in Speech-Language Pathology to be held September 28-30, 2006.
• Announcements of grant opportunities to provide financial support to state speech-language-hearing associations to meet challenges related to reducing personnel qualifications have been sent to state association presidents.
• Twelve states were contacted regarding the possibility of forming a state advisory group compiled of related service providers, consumer groups and parent networks, and decision maker to work on issues related to the shortage of qualified personnel. Nevada and Texas have held advisory group meetings.
• The National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services held a meeting with representatives of 15 organizations and agencies to discuss how to develop a community-based recruitment campaign to attract a more diverse population for a career in special education.
• ASHA's School Finance Committee (SFC) is developing a presentation for the 2006 Schools Conference on understanding and accessing funding including local funds from grants and businesses.
• Three articles to promote the role/contributions of speech-language pathologists in healthcare have been sent to publications of the National Association for Home Care, American Health Care Association, and Hospitals and Health Networks (H&HN) Online.
• Discussions have been held with the staff and leadership of APTA and AOTA on developing legislation to create a new category for rehabilitation professionals under HRSA funding.

There are 25 strategies in the Personnel Issues in Healthcare and Education work plan. Following is the status for the 1^st quarter.