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Resolution Writing for the �AAP Annual Leadership Conference��Nicole Webb, MD, FAAP�District IX Representative �AAP Chapter Forum Management Committee�February 19, 2025

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Agenda

What is a resolution?

District IX resolutions in 2024

Road to writing a resolution

Examples

Timeline & Resources

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What is a resolution?

In the AAP, it is a motion to be considered for support by the Academy Chapter, Committee, Council and Section leaders at the Annual Leadership Conference

It should advocate for a particular aspect of child health or pediatric practice.

Resolutions are the most powerful mechanism for individual members to make their voices heard and raise the profile of issues with the AAP Board.

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Who can write resolutions?

  • Any AAP member can advise Academy leadership about what the AAP can do to address important child health issues
  • Who can write resolutions?
  • You (one author must be an FAAP)
  • Chapters
  • Committees, Councils, Sections
  • Districts

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What might resolutions encompass?

  • A request that the AAP develop a statement or act on an issue
  • A request that the AAP create a new program or activity or reconsider existing programs or activities
  • A request that the AAP change its operating procedures

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Key Points

Resolutions should pertain to something new or not previously addressed* in AAP policy or operations

Should relate to the AAP’s mission:

    • To attain optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
    • To accomplish this mission, the AAP shall support the professional needs of its members.

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What happens to resolutions?

  • Resolutions submitted to the AAP are voted on at the AAP Annual Leadership Conference each summer.
  • All adopted resolutions are referred to the appropriate AAP entity for a response (i.e. Committee on Medical Education…)
  • All responses are reviewed by the AAP Board of Directors before being sent to the CFMC representatives for dissemination to individual authors
  • Resolutions are advisory and not binding

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Agenda

What is a resolution?

District IX resolutions in 2024

Road to writing a resolution

Examples

Timeline & Resources

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2024 Resolutions from District IX

Number

Title

Status

2

Advocate for Naloxone Storage in Public Spaces and Promotion of Opioid and Drug Use Education

Adopted

4

The AAP Position on Banned Books

Adopted

8

Advocating for the Use of SEBTC to Reduce Childhood Food Insecurity

Adopted

9

Advocacy for Adequate and Timely Nirsevimab Administration to AI/AN Children in Their First and Second RSV Season

Adopted

14SA

Support for Coverage and Payment for Evidence-Based Services for All Children, Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities

Adopted as amended

16

Leaves of Absence in the Pediatric Workforce

Adopted

17

Applying for and Maintaining Hospital Privileges

Not adopted

20SB

Single Dose Antibiotic (Doxy-PEP) to Reduce Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Adopted as amended

21SB

Data Exchange for Adolescents Aged 12-17 Years

Adopted

25

Promoting Responsible Use of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in Pediatrics

Adopted

29

Screening and Education for Substance Use Disorder in Adolescents

Adopted

30

Screen and Educate to Reduce Cyberbullying

Adopted

31

Review of Wireless Radiation Safety in Children

Adopted

33

Shortages of ADHD Medications

Adopted

46

Encouraging Mentorship of American Indian and Alaska Native First Nations, Inuit and Metis Trainees in Pediatrics

Adopted as amended

47

AAP Financial Independence from Infant Formula Companies

Not adopted

51

Facilitating Poster Session Attendance at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition

Adopted

53

Create a Task Force for Gender Equity within the AAP

Adopted

55

Medicare Advantage: Risky for Pediatricians and All Seniors

Adopted as amended

56SC

Mobile App for Pediatric Review and Education Program (PREP) Questions

Adopted

58

Advocacy for Children and Adolescents Exposed to Military Conflict and Major Disaster Zones

Adopted as amended

59SC

Amending our AAP EDI Initiative

Referred to Committee

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2024 Top 10 Resolutions

Rank

Title

1

Supporting Providers in Areas Where EDI is Banned or in the Process of Being Banned

2

Advocacy for Children and Adolescents Exposed to Military Conflict and Major Disaster Zones

3

Formation of an AAP Innovation Center to Position the US to Lead the Transformation of Pediatric Health Care

4

Public Health-Informed Firearm Injury Prevention Curriculum for High School Students

5

Advocating for Child Safety Packaging and Labeling of Edible Cannabis Products

6

Encouraging Mentorship of American Indian and Alaska Native First Nations, Inuit and Metis Trainees in Pediatrics

7

Shortages of ADHD Medications

8

Create a Task Force for Gender Equity Within the AAP

9

The AAP Position on Banned Books

10

Support Newborn and Other Health Care Provided by Rural Pediatricians

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Agenda

What is a resolution?

District IX resolutions in 2024

Road to writing a resolution

Examples

Timeline & Resources

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Getting Started

Review past resolutions (AAP member login required): https://collaborate.aap.org/alf/Pages/home.aspx �

If your topic is supported currently, you want to ensure that you frame your resolution in a way that highlights what makes it new and different.

Make sure your resolution is new (i.e. not already explicitly supported by AAP policy or operations)

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Resolution Template

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Understanding Components

The “Whereas” clauses lay the foundation for the “Resolved” clauses

The “Resolved” clauses should be succinct and represent the goal or request of the resolution

The “Resolved” clauses should be able to stand alone

It is the “Resolved” clauses that the members vote on

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Min 1 whereas, max 4

Max 2 resolved

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New for 2025

  • Online submission form
  • Limiting background information (to 500 words)
  • Limiting lead authors to two
  • Limiting the number of references to five
  • Verifying references
  • Limiting the number of sponsoring entities to one
  • Late resolution deadline is before leadership conference (7/17/25)

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Agenda

What is a resolution?

District IX resolutions in 2024

Road to writing a resolution

Examples

Timeline & Resources

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Example 1: Top 10 Resolution 2024

Clear, succinct title

3 clear “Whereas” supporting the “Resolved”

1 clear “Resolved” which can stand alone and is within the AAP’s scope

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Example 2: Top 10 Resolution 2024

Clear, succinct title

3 clear “Whereas”, each with relevant data or persuasive arguments

2 “Resolved”, each of which has clear asks, is within the scope of the AAP’s work, and could stand on its own without the “Whereas”

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Example 3: Poorly Written Resolution

Vague title

Too many “Whereas”, each with speculative rather than concrete, factual information

“Resolved” are completely out of the scope of the AAP (could perhaps advocate to ACGME to reconsider)

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A note about scope…

  • Many unsuccessful resolutions fail due to scope concerns
  • The AAP works closely with many other organizations (ACGME, CMS, DHHS, CDC, NIH, etc…) but cannot directly mandate the work of those organizations.
  • Resolutions asking to directly change policy or operations of other organizations are, by definition, implausible.
  • Better to ask that the AAP collaborate, advocate, partner, educate, inform than require or mandate.

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Agenda

What is a resolution?

District IX resolutions in 2024

Road to writing a resolution

Examples

Timeline & Resources

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What happens after you submit?

Resolutions become property of the AAP and can no longer be edited by the author(s)

Resolutions are reviewed by AAP staff and relevant background information is added

Resolutions are reviewed by the CFMC (Chapter Forum Management Committee) and divided into 3 categories:

    • Practice and Operations
    • Advocacy and Healthcare Finance
    • Academy Governance and Operations

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Resolution Timeline for 2025

  • March 1, 2025: Suggested deadline for chapter sponsorship
  • March 15, 2025: Deadline for district sponsorship
  • March 24, 2025: District IX meeting to discuss resolutions
  • April 1, 2025: Deadline to submit resolution (11:59PM CT)**
    • Individual authors MUST submit their resolutions themselves
  • July 17, 2025: Late resolution deadline
  • 7/9/25, 7/15/25, 7/17/25: Virtual Reference Committees (all 7PM CT)
  • July 31 – August 3, 2025: Annual Leadership Conference

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Virtual Reference Committees

  • Resolutions are assigned to 1 of 3 Virtual Reference Committees (VRC) by topic
  • At each VRC, they will be presented by the committee chair (CFMC member)
  • Resolution lead authors are invited to provide testimony; they may designate an alternate if unavailable
  • Other VRC attendees who may provide testimony (for or against): Chapter, Section, Council, and Committee leadership
  • VRC members will make note of themes in testimony provided for each resolution

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Late Resolutions

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https://collaborate.aap.org/Pages/AAP-Collaborate.aspx (AAP login required)

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Wrap Up

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Thank you