ACPM Policy Committee

Committee Charge
Composition of Committee
Assembly of Committee
Openness of Committee Meetings
Responsibilities of Committee
Committee Staff

Roster of ACPM Policy Committee Members
ACPM Policy Reports
ACPM Policy Committee Minutes

COMMITTEE CHARGE: The Committee shall plan and monitor ACPM's policy positions, which shall be developed to help promote preventive medicine practice and research in both the public and private sectors. By developing and monitoring legislative and regulatory matters pertinent to preventive medicine, the Committee will recommend to the Board of Regents appropriate policy and plans for the College and its members.

COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE: The American College of Preventive Medicine Policy Committee consists of ACPM members who are volunteers, representative of the preventive medicine community, and peers. The Committee structure includes a Chair, Vice Chair, and Subcommittee Chairs as needed. The Chair is appointed by the incoming President for a two-year term. The Chair may serve additional terms if agreed to by both the President and Chair. Committee members will be appointed by the Chair for a two-year term and may serve additional terms if agreed to by both the Chair and committee member. Subcommittees and their Chairs shall be appointed as needed by the Committee Chair.

ASSEMBLY OF COMMITTEE: The Committee convenes two times each year in conjunction with the fall American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting and the spring ACPM annual meeting. The Committee may also convene for the purpose of interim recommendations solicited by mail, fax, e-mail, conference call, or in person, as needed.

OPENNESS OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS: The meetings of the Committee at APHA and ACPM annual meetings are open to any ACPM member who wishes to observe. If it becomes necessary for the committee to vote on a policy, only Committee members may vote.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMITTEE:

The ACPM Policy Committee works in conjunction with ACPM staff to:

• Monitor legislative, regulatory, and other policy matters pertinent to preventive medicine.
• Develop ACPM policy as it relates to federal legislation and respond accordingly to legislation, executive orders, and regulations.
• Coordinate policy development with other ACPM Committees.
• Develop grassroots strategy to involve entire or targeted (geographical) areas of membership.
• Determine the goals/strategies for subcommittees and coordinate these with the overall mission of the College.
• Establish criteria to serve as guiding principles when responding to Congressional, governmental, association, and other requests to support legislation and policies (see below).
• Determine realistic policy goals and priorities based on a combination of the following external and internal criteria:
  
  External
  1. Mortality, morbidity, and economic burden on the population
  2. Potential favorable impact of preventive measures on the health and quality of life of the population
  3. Scientific validity of policy, if available
  
  Internal
  1. Extent to which an ACPM policy position will help to advance the mission and goals of ACPM
  2. Extent to which ACPM can make a unique contribution or has a special interest in the issue
  3. Potential for increasing visibility of ACPM and the preventive medicine specialty
  4. Potential costs and benefits to ACPM in human, financial, and political resources
  5. Prior analysis of ACPM policy compendium
  6. Potential to promote ACPM membership recruitment, involvement, and professional interests
  
• Determine strategies for accomplishing goals, assigning volunteer responsibilities, and ensuring progress toward a goal.

COMMITTEE STAFF: The Committee is staffed by a designee(s) of the ACPM Executive Director. This person(s) will work with the Chair to determine the committee membership and to finalize its responsibilities. Staff will be responsible for taking minutes, sending out committee notices, and making other logistical arrangements. Staff will also be responsible for monitoring federal and other policy pertinent to preventive medicine, and informing and consulting with the Chair and Committee members on an agenda and plan of action.

The Committee currently is staffed by Paul Bonta, Associate Director, Policy and Government Affairs. Paul can be reached via e-mail at pbonta@acpm.org.