Welcome to the AACP Website!
For those of you who are not familiar with the AACP, we have been around now for about twenty years and we have grown from a small group of psychiatrists working in community mental health centers to an organization with over 700 members. We have become one of the most dynamic and productive organizations in the mental health sphere, and perhaps in all of human services. As you explore our site, this will begin to become apparent to you, and if you decide to join us in our efforts with your membership, the full richness of the organization will gradually unfold before you.
Although we have accomplished much in the past twenty years, we hope to do
more in the years ahead. It is a critical time for mental health care and
our communities. We hope to strengthen our ability to effectively advocate
for quality care for everyone who suffers from mental health or substance
use problems. This is a somewhat daunting commitment in the face of
dwindling sources of revenue for human services, but it is a challenge that
we must rise to. We have developed a strategic plan that has propelled us
into a new stage of development.
The plan was guided by new, more concise, mission and vision statements that can be viewed easily by moving your mouse and clicking! Some of the major aspects of the plan include taking on a leadership role in revitalizing the Institute for Psychiatric Services to re-establish it as the preeminent meeting for clinicians of all disciplines working in the community and the development of our website and the Community Mental Health Journal to invigorate and involve the membership. We will continue to make great efforts to establish a sound financial base that allows us greater independence and security.
We will further democratize the organization by
extending our efforts to enlist the active participation of our membership
in our committees and work groups. To accomplish this, we have streamlined
our committee structure and function. We are expanding our use of “virtual”
meeting options so that members can participate without traveling across the
country, and we will adhere to scheduled meeting times more closely to
accommodate those who are able to attend in person.
The key to achieving these goals is and active and diverse membership that
is invested in the values that the AACP has represented. Please join us in
our mission to inspire, empower and equip community psychiatrists to promote
quality care that improves the well being of individuals and communities.
Enjoy your visit and come back soon!
Wes Sowers, MD
President, AACP
Summer, 2006