Working Groups
Over the past several years, the AACP board has organized its work into 3 primary areas:
Policy and Advocacy
Connection and Collaboration
Education and Mentorship
-
The AACP organizes its work into three distinct working groups with distinct, but complementary areas of focus that all tie in to the mission and vision of the association. Our working groups are:
Policy & Advocacy
Connection & Collaboration
Education and Mentorship
-
All working groups are led by AACP Board members. Working group membership is expected by AACP board members and is open to the AACP membership at large.
Current AACP members are encouraged to attend working group meetings!
-
There is a process and effort towards engaging membership in plank work – both with ongoing projects as well as encouraging members to initiate and suggest projects
Plank 1: Policy and Advocacy
The work of Plank 1 involves identifying, prioritizing and developing appropriate responses to current issues that impact the health, mental health, recovery, and resilience of the people, families and communities we serve, and the systems in which we work and live.
Examples include:
Developing position papers and policy statements
Providing opportunities for members to discuss policy and advocacy issues that are important to them (e.g, Policy and Advocacy forums)
Developing and endorsing legislative or other policy initiatives
Writing and disseminating articles and editorials for scholarly, news and other outlets on priority topics
Identifying and working with appropriate partners to broaden the impact of shared policy and advocacy efforts through formal liaison processes (e.g, APA) or otherwise.
Interested in joining? Become an AACP member and login to your account to get more information about meeting details!
Plank 2: Connection and Collaboration
The work of Plank 2 involves engaging and supporting our colleagues working in community psychiatry. Its goal is to develop and sustain a strong and thriving “community of community psychiatry.” Examples of the work of plank 2 include:
Maintaining and promoting opportunities for members to interact easily and efficiently with one another, e.g., through a listserve or other means (e.g., social media)
Developing opportunities for members to develop and strengthen relationships with one another through hosting meetings (in person and/or virtual).
Developing mentorship methods and opportunities
Promoting AACP in an effort to engage those working in community psychiatry who may benefit from being involved in the organization
Partnering with other organizations and stakeholder groups to broaden the reach of our engagement and community building efforts
Interested in joining? Become an AACP member and login to your account to get more information about meeting details!
Plank 3: Education & Mentorship
The work of the Education and Mentorship Plank involves compiling, creating, and promoting community psychiatry educational resources and professional development opportunities for medical students, residents, fellows, psychiatrists, and allied mental health professionals. Its goal is to empower mental health professionals and trainees with the resources and support to practice high-quality community psychiatry.
Developing, centralizing, and updating educational and curricular materials that promote high-quality community psychiatry. This includes the AACP model curriculum, AACP Trainee Resource Page, and specialized curriculum for allied mental health professionals.
Establishing and maintaining a mentorship program that brings together trainees and early career psychiatrists with established community psychiatrists to promote the professional, personal, and academic development of both mentors and mentees.
Promoting and supporting the recognition of public and community psychiatry skills through the AACP Board Certification Exam in Community and Public Psychiatry
Maintain a close relationship among Public, Community, and Rural Psychiatry fellowship directors, fellows, and those interested in fellowship training.