PSHA Grassroots Advocacy Program (GAP)

We wanted to pass along an update to you. On Tuesday evening, Senate Bill 1352 was formally introduced by Sen. Gordner. The entire bill can be found at:  http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=1352

Over 110 PSHA members wrote letters to Senate Gordner urging him to reconsider introducing the bill. Your voice has been heard loud and clear by the PSHA Executive Board! Through your support, we are determined to get a bill passed that includes licensure for all speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

In order to continue our momentum, the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association is creating a Grassroots Advocacy Program (GAP) to support professional and consumer awareness of legislative issues. 

The GAP will be utilized to support our ongoing effort to update the licensure law in Pennsylvania.  Additionally, the GAP will help us respond to other legislative issues that may impact professionals and consumers in audiology and speech-language pathology.

Initial goals of the GAP include: 

• Develop a database of PA speech-language pathologists, audiologists, students and stakeholders who are interested in joining the GAP

• Develop sample letters / emails that members of GAP can use to contact legislators / media

• Create a “Legislative” event that would educate legislators (or their aides) about legislation

• Educate Stakeholders

• Continue communication with the GAP through newsletters, virtual meetings, webinars, etc.

• Recognize those taking action in GAP (*each person that participates in a GAP activity will be entered to win one of five free registrations to the 2012 PSHA Convention. All of the members who wrote Sen. Gordner will be included!)

It is our hope that the GAP will give professionals, students and consumers in Pennsylvania a stronger legislative voice. 

If you would like to learn more about becoming involved in the GAP, please email Craig Coleman (PSHA President-Elect) at craig.coleman@chp.edu and you will be contacted by one of the members of the GAP Leadership Committee with more information.

We look forward to working with each of you to build a strong advocacy program for Pennsylvania!

GAP Leadership Committee
Karen Stein, PSHA President
Craig Coleman, PSHA President-Elect
Ralph Belsterling, PSHA Past-President
Kathy Helfrich-Miller, PSHA VP, Government Affairs
Gregory Del Duca, Mary Weidner, Ellen Estomin, & Sharon Gretz (GAP Leadership)

Weekly Updates

January 9, 2012 - Volume 1, Number 1