President's Message
Glynnis LaRosa, RN, MPH, CPHQ
December 2011
It has been a very busy and productive eight months since I started my ASTDN Presidency in May 2011. I am proud and honored to serve as your President and I will continue to work hard for all ASTDN members for the remainder of my term. ASTDN is fortunate to have a strong and committed leadership team as well as many talented members who are chairing committees or workgroups to advance public health nursing across the country. Words cannot adequately express my gratitude to the members that have stepped forward to serve our nation's public health nursing practice organization. It has truly been a Team effort.
I would like to provide an update on my Presidential goals that were outlined in my first Presidential Message in May 2011.
Increasing organizational funding opportunities.
Our Executive Director, Karen O'Brien continues to work with the ASTDN Resource Development workgroup to submit grant applications. Most recently an RWJF grant was submitted with ACHNE. We will be hearing in January if the proposal will advance to the next phase of the review process. We are very hopeful. If you become aware of any grants or funding opportunities that you feel ASTDN may be able to apply for please email Karen O'Brien at karen.obrien@astdn.org
Fostering existing and establishing new public health partnerships & collaborations.
Your ASTDN Executive Committee members continue to participate on several national meeting calls to represent and be the voice of public health nursing. These meetings include but are not limited to the Quad Council, American Red Cross - National Nursing Committee, The Nursing Community, and NACCHO Workforce Development Committee, ASTHO Health Equity workgroup as well as the ASTHO Affiliate and ASTHO Government Relations meetings.
ASTDN members are also leading and/or participating in several other key PHN projects and initiatives such as Dr. Joy Reed who is the vice chair of the PHN Scope and Standards of Practice workgroup; ASTDN members Michelle Cravetz, Dr. Susan Swider and David Reyes and Dr. Joyce Krothe worked on creating PHN competencies that will that go along with the Council on Linkages competencies.
ASTDN Public Health Nurse Leaders have been asked to attend forums and national meetings two recent examples include: ANA Immunization Standing Orders Summit that Lisette Osborne, ASTDN President Elect attended in November 2011. Karen O'Brien and I were invited to attend the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Network of Public Health Institutes "Forum on the Future Public Health Nursing" on February 8, 2012.
Enhancing communication by collaborating with Glenda Kelly and the Communications Committee.
Several enhancements have been made to the ASTDN website with the assistance of Glenda Kelly, Communications Coordinator, Janet DeVeny – Edwards, ASTDN's Administrative Assistant, John McDaniel, ASTDN's webmaster. A "Members Only" section was added to the ASTDN website in October. There is a now tab on the Home page so you can "Shop ASTDN" that enables access to purchase items on-line. Items currently available are PHN and ASTDN Public Health Nurse Leader pins and a pewter nursing coaster.
Expanding ASTDN membership.
Bobbie Bagley, Membership Committee Chairperson is working hard to ensure that all states and territories have an ASTDN member. Prior to the Members only section of the website being instituted some members did renew their membership. We have two new regional representatives Barbara Dingfelder from CT is the new Northeast regional representative and LuAnne McNichols from MN is the new North Central Regional representative. ASTDN would like to have an active PHN leadership voice in every state and territory across the country. If you have not renewed please do so you can stay active with your PHN organization.
Pursuing and offering PHN Leadership educational opportunities.
Two Nurse Family Partnership webinars will be held on Thursday, January 5th and Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 12:00-1:30 EST. The online "GO TO Webinar" registration information was sent out via the ASTDN list serve on Friday, 12/16/11. We hope you can join us for these sessions.
In March-April 2012 ASTDN will be hosting a PHN educational webinar on the PHN certification exam in an effort to increase awareness of the exam and hopefully see an increased number of PHNs sitting for this exam annually.
Other educational sessions and webinars are sent out via the list serve as we become aware of them. If you have educational offerings that you feel would be of interest to public health nurses please email Glenda Kelly, ASTDN Communications Coordinator.
Please do consider sharing your expertise with your PHN organization by joining a committee or workgroup, by becoming a regional representative; or running for an Executive Committee position, elections will be held in the spring 2012.
As always I am available to you via email Glynnis.LaRosa@state.ma.us or by phone at 617-983-6569.
I wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year!
