April 2024

In this Issue:

  • Last Few Days to Take WCAAP's Annual Member Survey!
  • Equitable Care Question of the Month
  • Vax Corner
  • BIPOC Birth Workforce Disparities in Eastern and Central WA
  • Dr. Doug Eisert Awarded WRHA Leadership Award
  • WCAAP News & Information
  • 2024 Advocacy Report
  • Where in the State is WCAAP?
  • Register Now for WCAAP's Addiction Treatment in Pediatrics ECHO
  • WA-CHIP Immunization Learning Collaborative: Cohort 6
  • Noteworthy
  • Assist a WCAAP Practicum Project with a Short Survey
  • WA DOH Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers
  • IDD Autism Resource Navigation ECHO Back in Session
  • Resources
  • FAST-Parenting Teens Live Training Summer 2024
  • Do You Have Naloxone? Order it for Free!
  • Free CME Webinar: Cultural Humility and Collectivist vs Individualist Cultures
  • New AAP Vaping and Smoking Cessation Tool
  • Register Now for the WA HPV Roundtable
  • Registration is Now Open for 19th Annual Pediatric Bioethics Conference
  • Who's Who at WCAAP

We Need Your Input! Remember to take WCAAP's Annual Member Survey


As WCAAP strategizes for the year ahead, we need to hear from as many of you as possible before our survey closes in a few days. This short (about 10 minutes), anonymous survey will help us collectively make decisions about how best to serve you, our members, and our communities throughout Washington​. 

 

We are hoping to collect responses from over 120 members (~10% of our membership) and are very close to our goal—if you haven't taken the survey yet, please do so today as we will close the survey on Sunday, April 14th. You can click the green button below to take the survey. Thank you so much!

Take the Survey

Equitable Care Question of the Month


You see a 4-year-old in a rural clinic for follow-up after an emergency room (ER) visit. The appointment was added to your full schedule. The child has a history of Autism requiring substantial support and has emerging language abilities.


They were seen in the ER 2 days ago for fever, runny nose, and irritability. The examination was difficult, and the caregiver was told that the child probably had an ear infection. This is the 2nd ear infection they’ve had in the last 3 months, and the ER said they would refer to otolaryngology (ENT) for tympanostomy tube placement.

Read More and Submit Your Answer

April Vax Corner

Updated & Customizable Immunization Schedule


An editable template is now available that lets you customize the tiles and vaccine key to your clinic’s preferred immunization schedule; you can even add your logo and change the colors of the font/tiles if you wish.


Available in English, Spanish, or bilingual, choose your choice of combination vaccines, two or three-dose rotavirus vaccine, and Men B wording. (Note: this example uses Vaxelis and two-dose rotavirus). Be sure to check for accuracy and compliance with CDC/ACIP schedule (this is your responsibility–the images below are just examples), and don’t forget to update the poster creation date.


Click on the image above or on the button below to open and choose “Use template for new design” to begin editing your own flyer. Once open, scroll to see editable versions in English-only, Spanish-only, and combined English and Spanish.


This is also available on the WCAAP Resource page at: wcaap.org/resources/vaccines

Editable Immunization Schedule

BIPOC Birth Workforce Disparities in Eastern and Central Washington: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them

Dua Malkawi, MD, MPH, Principal Public Health Researcher, Global Perinatal Services



In June 2023, Global Perinatal Services (GPS) organization, with financial support from Perigee Fund, conducted a needs assessment focusing on the perspectives of clinical and non-clinical birth workers serving in Eastern and Central Washington State. This assessment aimed to illuminate the challenges, experiences, and needs of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) birth workers in the region. The ultimate goal was to advance equitable, inclusive, and culturally tailored perinatal care and to improve maternal and child health outcomes among BIPOC communities in the region.

Read the Assessment

"Over and over, Dr Eisert proved himself to be a gentle, wise, and innovative leader with incredible intuition about how to best support his teammates in their day to day work to improve vaccination rates and improve the health of Wenatchee’s youth.” - Sherri Zorn

Dr. Doug Eisert Awarded the WRHA Leah Layne Memorial Health Leadership Award

Sarah Rafton, MSW and Sherri Zorn, MD, FAAP


Each year, the Washington Rural Health Association (WRHA) honors individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to rural health care. This year, WCAAP member, Doug Eisert, MD, FAAP was awarded the Leah Layne Memorial Health Leadership award for his significant impact on child and adolescent vaccine coverage in the Wenatchee Valley, exemplifying prevention and public health, and preventing cancer, and stood out for his leadership in two WCAAP immunization learning collaboratives to increase vaccination rates for children and adolescents (WA-CHIP) and increase HPV vaccination at ages 9-10 (HPV@9).


This award honors the late Leah Layne, a long-time campaigner and activist for rural health. This award is based on demonstrated leadership skills, someone who best exemplifies Leah’s spirit, vision, foresight, and dedication in the field of rural health.

Read More About Dr. Eisert

The 2024 Washington State legislative session was a banner year for the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics as members and partners raised our collective voice to advocate for the health and well-being of children and families. As such, we are pleased to publish our 2024 Advocacy Report to celebrate our accomplishments in Olympia earlier this year.

Read WCAAP's 2024 Advocacy Report

WCAAP President, Dr. Beth Ebel, with WA 46th District Representative Gerry Pollet.

WCAAP member, Dr. Bob Hilt, alongside Governor Inslee at a recent bill signing.

Where in the State is WCAAP?

Colleen McCarty, MPH, Program Manager


In recent weeks, I have had the pleasure of travelling around the state to connect with community partners, host several events, and present on WCAAP projects. My whirlwind of travel included over 1,000 miles driven, countless podcasts, one flat tire, and two 40-minute flights. As a few of our statewide projects come to a close in the coming months, I will share more with you about their learnings and impact on youth and families in upcoming issues of Developments. For now, I am happy to share a few highlights of my travels and our reach in the past month:

Find WCAAP Across WA

Register Now for AAP Addiction Treatment in Pediatric Settings ECHO


WCAAP is recruiting healthcare professionals to be a part of the AAP Addiction Treatment in Pediatric Settings ECHO. This ECHO serves as a forum for pediatric health care professionals to increase knowledge and capacity regarding the treatment of substance use disorders in the medical home setting, with a focus on opioid use disorder. ECHO sessions will take place from 12-1pm PT on:

  • May 21
  • June 11
  • June 25
  • July 9
  • July 23
  • August 13
  • August 27, and
  • September 10.

Professional credits are available. Click here or on the image above to view the flyer and register via the button below. Please contact cmccarty@wcaap.org with any questions.

Register for the ECHO Here

WA-CHIP Immunization Learning Collaborative: Cohort 6

Marina Martinez, Program Manager


Our sixth cohort of the WA-CHIP Immunization Learning Collaborative kicked off last month with nine clinics. This unique cohort has over half of the enrolled clinics are family practice clinics and half have 50% or more patients on Medicaid and/or are in a high social vulnerability area. We have the opportunity to increase childhood and adolescent immunization rates that have fallen and remain low due to COVID-19 and look forward to reaching a large number of marginalized patients.

Read More About Cohort 6

Noteworthy

Assist a WCAAP Practicum Project with a Short Survey: Better Identify Hospital-Based Pediatric Care


The Washington Chapter of the AAP is working to better identify how hospital-based pediatric care is provided across Washington. We are gathering information to better understand where clinicians in Washington refer children who need hospitalization and why. In this brief survey, we ask about local hospitals, services available, where you choose to refer your patients when services are not available, and how you make those decisions. 


The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and responses are completely anonymous. Ultimately, data from this work will be used to help identify areas and communities with limited pediatric acute-care resources within their communities to support advocacy work and disaster preparedness. Thank you for your time!

Take the Survey

WA DOH Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers

Washington Department of Health’s Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers (IQIP) receives requests for examples of a vaccination policy that clinics share with their patients expressing strong support for vaccinations. The IQIP program is looking for examples to share with other clinics/organizations. If you have a vaccination policy that you would like to share or have any questions please email Chrystal Averette. This is an example of a vaccination policy from the Immunization Action Coalition.


IDD Autism Resource Navigation ECHO is Back in Regular Session

Please join your amazing colleagues from across the state on Wednesday, April 17 8:30-10 am PST as we continue sharing evidence-based resources, information, and support, while participating in lively discussions, and building connections with those who provide resource navigation support for the IDD Autism community, in any professional capacity. We will continue Case Presentations, Learning Burst/Didactic Presentations, and the Resource Spotlight of the month! You can expect new topics, content, and resources.

 

We encourage you to invite your colleagues who might be interested in joining this popular ECHO by simply forwarding the link below to register. If for any reason they are unable to register, we welcome their participation on April 17th and will provide additional information on how to register at the session. Click the button below for more information. Follow the instructions to join the "IDD Autism Resource Navigation ECHO." QUESTIONS? Contact Kate or Katrina at: echoiddd@uw.edu

Register Here

Resources

FAST-Parenting Teens Live Training

Tuesday, August 13 · 9 - 11am PDT Online


In this 2-hour training we will discuss case examples, watch demonstrations, and participate in role plays to learn strategies for teaching FAST-P to caregivers on communication, dealing with teen emotions, improving family relationships, problem-solving around common issues, such as homework and screen time. Attendees will be eligible to receive up to 4 CE credits from the National Association of Social Workers: (2 from the video training and 2 from the live training)


To participate, you must be a mental health practitioner working with children and families in Washington State. Prior to the live training, you are expected to watch the pre-recorded 2-hour FAST-P training on the website at www.seattlechildrens.org/FAST under the "Training Videos" tab.


Please register for the waitlist even if this training is full. If demand on the waitlist is high enough, we will schedule additional training dates sooner.

Register for FAST-P Here

Do you have Naloxone (a.k.a. Narcan) in your first aid kit?


Did you know that individuals who reside in Washington State can order Naloxone for FREE & have it mailed directly at no cost to them? Just click the link below that applies to you & complete the brief form!


This medication is given when an opioid overdose happens or has possibly happened. It can reverse an overdose & provide crucial time for emergency medical responders to arrive to render further aid.

Order Free Narcan Here

Free CME Webinar: Cultural Humility and Collectivist vs Individualist Cultures

Please join WA DOH for a live webinar on Cultural Humility, and Collectivist vs. Individualist cultures featuring Makinie Fortino, LMFT. This promises to be an enlightening and insightful session that will equip attendees with valuable tools and perspectives to better serve diverse a wider variety of communities.

 

Please note that there will be two sessions offering the same content, so attendees can choose the session that best suits their schedule; however, the webinar is not being recorded. *This live session will be offering up to 1.5 total hours of AAFP credit (pending) and may qualify for Health Equity Continuing Education credit.

 

Opportunities to Attend (please use the link to register):


This webinar is tailored for healthcare providers, clinic staff, community health workers (CHWs), health advocates and educators, social workers, counselors, and all professions committed to supporting the needs of BIPOC communities.


If you have any questions or require further information, please don't hesitate to contact pch-hs@doh.wa.gov.


New Vaping and Smoking Cessation Tool
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is excited to announce a clinical decision resource:  Youth Tobacco Cessation Progressive Web App (PWA) The PWA is intended to assist physicians and other clinicians in supporting youth tobacco cessation by delivering the Ask-Counsel-Treat model in a tool designed for use within a clinical encounter. Designed for multi-system use, the PWA can be utilized on a computer, tablet, or as an offline mobile app. The PWA leads clinicians through the main A-C-T steps of:
ASK: Screen for tobacco use with all youth, during every clinical encounter.
COUNSEL: Advise all youth who use tobacco to quit and have them set a quit date within two weeks.
TREAT: Link youth to behavioral treatment extenders and prescribe pharmacologic support when indicated.
The PWA also provides links to product descriptions, AAP policy and clinical report, behavioral support options, and detailed information on pharmacologic support. Visit aap.org/HelpKidsQuit to view and use the PWA.
Register Now for the Washington HPV Roundtable
May 10, 2024, from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm PST.
Once registered, you will receive additional information shortly with the finalized agenda and more information about the meeting. Please feel free to contact Sahla Suman T E, BDS, MPH at Sahla.Suman@doh.wa.gov with any questions.
Register for the HPV Roundtable

Registration Open for 19th Annual Pediatric Bioethics ConferenceAbstracts Due by May 10! 

Join the 19th Annual Seattle Children’s Pediatric Bioethics Conference this year from July 18th - 20th. July 19th & July 20th will be the Thinking Big, Responding Ethically: Big Data and AI in Pediatrics, hosted by the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care. July 18th will be the second nursing ethics conference, Nursing Ethics: Today’s Realities and Tomorrow’s Challenges, hosted by Seattle Children’s Center for Pediatric Nursing Research. The registration conference fee includes CME credit or certificate of attendance. To learn more, view the agenda, and to register, visit the Pediatric Bioethics Conference website here.

Who's Who at WCAAP

We've had a lot of new staff join the WCAAP! Below is an updated staff directory (with photos!) our respective roles, and email addresses.

Sarah Rafton, MSW

srafton@wcaap.org

Executive Director Organizational strategy, community partnerships and operations

Board and Executive Committee, multiple WCAAP committees

Kailani Amine, MHA

kamine@wcaap.org

Director

Grant Oversight, Contract Management

Early Childhood Programs

Early Childhood Committee



Sarah Nau, MSW

snau@wcaap.org

Communications Director

Internal and external communications, media relations and PR requests, Legislative and Membership Committee



Elexis Jackson

ejackson@wcaap.org

Administrative Coordinator

Operational and Board support, GATHER, Equity Committee and Legislative, Membership, and Transformation Committee support


Ali Goodyear, MPH

agoodyear@wcaap.org

Program Manager

Community Health Worker Learning Collaborative

Marina Martinez

mmartinez@wcaap.org

Program Manager

WA-CHIP

Immunization Learning Collaborative

Vaccine Committee


Colleen McCarty, MPH

cmccarty@wcaap.org

Program Manager

Parent Involvement

Champions for Youth

Local Health Jurisdiction Programs



DeAnna Dudley Pittenger, BSN, RN-CPN

ddudley@wcaap.org

Program Manager

Special Projects HPV Immunization Learning Collaborative

Leslie Graham, MSW, LICSW

lgraham@wcaap.org

Program Manager

Special Projects

Behavioral Health Learning Network

Community Health Worker Learning Collaborative


Michelle Tolman, MPH

mtolman@wcaap.org

Data Manager

Amber Ulvenes

aulvenes@wcaap.org

Legislative Liaison

Facebook  Instagram  Linkedin  Youtube
Get Involved!

Join us! Committees are a great way to meet other members and get involved with Chapter work. Watch this space for upcoming meeting dates and times for Chapter committees and interest groups. Most committees meet by phone or via Zoom for one hour, and we welcome anyone who is interested.


Legislative Affairs Committee

Next meeting May 7, 2024, 7:00-8:00am

Meets weekly via Zoom during the legislative session

Meets monthly via Zoom during the interim + ad hoc as needed

Contact Elexis Jackson for meeting info.

Contact Crystal Shen to learn more about the committee. 


Equitable Care Committee

Next meeting April 23, 2024, 12:15-1:15pm

Meets monthly via Zoom

Contact Elexis Jackson for meeting info and to learn more about the committee.

If interested in joining, please fill out this application.


Early Childhood Committee 

Next meeting June 5, 2024, 7:00 - 8:00am

Meets every other month via Zoom

Contact Kailani Amine for meeting info.

Contact Mary Ann Woodruff or Emily Ferrell to learn about the committee.


First Year Families Committee

Next Meeting April 19, 2024, 1:00-2:00pm

Meets monthly via Zoom

Contact Kailani Amine for meeting details and Committee information.


Vaccine Committee

Next Meeting April 19, 2024, 7:00-8:00am

Meets monthly via Zoom

Contact Marina Martinez for meeting info.

Contact Frank Bell or Maria Huang to learn about the committee. 



Champions for Youth Committee

Next Meeting: April 17, 2024, 8:00-9:00am

Meets monthly via Zoom

Contact Colleen McCarty for meeting details and Committee information.


Membership Engagement Committee 

Contact Sarah Nau for meeting info.

Contact Amanda Monnahan or Cora Breuner to learn about the committee.  


Health Care Transformation Committee 

Next Meeting May 24, 2024 7:30-8:30am

Meets monthly via Zoom

Contact Elexis Jackson for meeting info.

Contact Rick Levine or Sarah Rafton to learn about the committee.