Barbara G. Wells, Pharm.D., FASHP, FCCP
The CPNP Foundation’s 2015 Annual Giving Campaign kicks-off with this issue of Kaleidoscope. There are so many ways that we can all contribute to creating a better future for our patients and for psychiatric and neurologic pharmacy. I am asking each CPNP member to make a generous contribution to the CPNP Foundation Annual Fund at this time.
Your Foundation has embraced a bold agenda as spelled out in our strategic plan. The Foundation envisions a world in which individuals with psychiatric and neurologic disorders receive optimal treatment, live free of stigma, and achieve their full potential. Our mission focuses on the needs of individuals living with psychiatric and neurologic disorders, their families, and health professionals in general practice settings to further evidence-based treatment. Our core goals center on advancing best treatments and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the Foundation in all of its work. Additionally, the Foundation has committed to provide registration/travel grants for 20 students to help them attend the 2016 Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs.
The Foundation continues to build upon their previous accomplishments which included, to name only a few, establishing the CMM Network which evolved into the Patient Care Practice Management Community, collaborating with the National Alliance on Mental Illness to identify the strengths and weakness of the relationship between patients with psychiatric disorders and their community pharmacists, supporting educational sessions and other events at the CPNP annual meetings, establishing the Defining the Future Grant Program to support research of Students and Residents, implementing the Kaleidoscope quarterly newsletter, and providing travel grants for 15 students to attend the 2014 and 2015 CPNP annual meetings.
In 2015/2016, the Foundation will develop a guide for individuals with psychiatric and neurologic disorders and their families describing the care that should be expected from their community pharmacist and also complete development of the Mental Health Pharmacy Directory, an online searchable database of pharmacies in the community which focus on the needs of patients with psychiatric illness. In addition, for pharmacists in general practice settings, the Foundation will promote best practice guidelines for serving individuals living with psychiatric and neurologic disorders as well as tools and resources designed to improve their communication skills, competence, and ability to reduce stigma. Very importantly, the Foundation will conduct research in collaboration with Dr. Vincent Giannetti and his research team at Duquesne University School of Pharmacy to help us to better understand and address the stigma our patients are confronted with in community pharmacy settings. We anxiously anticipate going online with a new website with social media interconnectivity in the fall.
Clearly, the Foundation has a bold agenda for the coming year. It is readily apparent that the commitment of CPNP members to serve our patients is unwavering, and I believe the Foundation is a reflection of the dedication of the membership. I ask that you step up to support the important work of the Foundation by giving generously. Make your contribution now, so your gift will be recorded for the current fiscal year and will support the work of the Foundation throughout 2016. On behalf of the entire Foundation Board, thank you in advance for your generosity.