Why I joined {Linky party}

Is anyone else’s Facebook feed filled with posts from other speech language pathologists?  I love being able to connect with my colleagues in other states and countries online.  It is interesting to read about the joys, successes and real concerns of other SLPs and SLPAs through the myriad of different Facebook groups.

About a year ago, I was speaking to a colleague who works at a different therapy clinic.  We were discussing concerns with reimbursement, insurances and changes in our field as well as sharing some success stories about some of the clients we’ve worked with.  When we were leaving, she said, “Wouldn’t in be great if there was some kind of group where we could get together to discuss these issues?”

Turns out there is-it’s called your state association.

I have a confession to make: I haven’t always been a member of my state association.  There were a variety of reasons:

• I wasn’t interested in attending the sessions at the annual convention.
• It seemed like just one more expense that needed to be paid.  After state licensing, my educational license and ASHA, it just seemed to be too much to handle
• They weren’t doing anything for me.  I felt like they weren’t addressing my needs-which at the time was unreasonable productivity requirements at my job.
• I thought that they weren’t interested in my issues or concerns.
• I just forgot to renew my membership.

Reasons to me probably excuses to everyone else.  One year, Jill Kuzma was speaking at our convention and I knew that I wanted to go-so I joined to get a discount.  Her presentation was fantastic-but what was really interesting was the legislative update.  Turns out there was a lot going on that I didn’t even realize.  Here are a few issues from this year.

• Encroachment Issues:  Our field is so awesome that other professionals keep trying to get into it.  Music therapy providers have added communication to their scope of practice and are applying for licensure in my state.  If it passes, they would be allowed to bill 92507 which is a stand alone code for speech therapy.  ABA providers continue to list communication as their scope of practice and are working to become the gate keepers for children with autism.  If this passes, they would decide what treatments each child would get.
• Paperwork reduction act-tired of too much paperwork in the schools?  There is a bill to help you out-but do you want legislatures to determine what makes the most sense?  Or do you think school based speech language pathologists might have some good insight into what would really be paperwork reduction.
• SLP shortages:  These are regional-there are some areas that there are too many speech language pathologists and other areas where there are not enough.  Our Department of Education grants temporary licenses to fill these positions.  Our association is working with them to make sure they are granted to people who are qualified.  They are also working on licensing SLPAs to fill these positions vs. less qualified individuals.

Someone called our state association, the “guardians of the licensure” and I think it’s true.  One of the best reasons to join is to make sure that someone is paying attention to the legislature-the bills that are coming through and identifying those that could be a threat to our profession.  I don’t have time to read my daily newspaper let alone pour through these documents.  Do you know what issues are threatening your job/position or job security in your state?  Check with your state association.  You might be surprised at what they are doing.

Do you get frustrated that your state association doesn’t do something that you think it should?  The state association is made up of individuals.  Speech language pathologists who are working full time-in the schools, hospitals, nursing homes and private clinics.  They have families and other commitments too.  It’s made up of dedicated professionals who volunteer their time to better their profession.  The best way to change an organization is by joining and volunteering your time, expertise and ideas.  But even if you don’t have time, still join.  Your monetary contribution helps to protect your scope of practice and your licensure.  MSHA has a great forum that members can go to collaborate-very similar to the Facebook groups but with less chance of parents or other non professionals being members.

Do you belong to a state association?  I’d love to hear your reasons by linking up below.  Not a member?  I’d love it if you would take some time to write down what would make you join.