OUR NEWEST ADVENTURE

  Having recently retired from the U.S. Senate staff after 38+ years, I have been quite interested in the experiences of colleagues who have also embarked upon a similar journey.  Responding to the suggestion made by Gene Shapiro that: "If you possibly can, never retire!" long time State Association advocateMike Sullivan proffered: "To each his own.  I have a very different take on retiring meaning having productive goals to accomplish.  For me it's meant a whole new horizon of productivity in direct community service (volunteering)!"  Over the years, we have come to appreciate that for organizations such as our state associations to be truly effective, they must develop a community presence and a sense of mission beyond that defined by ongoing day-to-day struggles.  Those who are members and those who wish to be of assistance (i.e., legislators and administration officials) must believe that ultimately society will be well served by their success.  For we should not forget that this is why they originally decided to become public servants.

            I still recall the 2005 "Heads Up Kentucky!" presentation at the annual Practice Directorate State Leadership conference.  It was meaningful and very impressive.  The Obama Administration has crystallized for the nation the current public health epidemic of obesity, with its economic, social, and health care costs.  For children this is a particularly serious problem as it ultimately will affect the quality and longevity of their adult lives.  Almost 10% of infants and toddlers carry excessive weight for their length and slightly more than 20% of children between the ages of two and five already are overweight or obese, according to the Institute of Medicine.  A wide range of environmental factors (including psychological factors) influence a child's risk for obesity in the first years of life.  Over the past 20 years, Americans have reduced their physical activity and the Institute of Medicinealso found a decrease in sleep duration across infancy, childhood, and adolescence.  Both factors (as well as diet) are increasingly viewed a risk factors for obesity at all ages.

            The HHS FY' 2013 budget highlights that health centers (FQCHCs) will serve 20.9 million patients this year with 38% being uninsured.  Envisioned under President Johnson's Great Society era, for decades these centers have truly been our nation's ultimate "safety net" for millions of Americans.  Today there are over 1,100 Centers with 8,100+ service delivery sites.  Behavioral health is becoming increasingly important, especially as society considers the all important psychosocial-economic-cultural gradient of "quality care."  The President's vision provides a high priority on ensuring access to quality primary care for all Americans.  With so many exciting opportunities for psychology to meaningfully contribute, we would rhetorically ask:  Do our State Associations appreciate the critical importance to their very survival of providing proactive leadership in involving their members in these two far reaching agendas?  Aloha,

 

Pat DeLeon, former APA President – Division 31 – March, 2012