Did You Know?
Did you know that the profession of music therapy and AMTA is represented in Washington, D.C. and around the country in a variety of professional coalitions and alliances? AMTA’s Government Relations Staff participate in the following groups on your behalf:
Events
Arts Advocacy Day
On April 4th and 5th, 2011 AMTA participated once again in Arts Advocacy Day as a national co-sponsor. This annual event in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Americans for the Arts, is the only national event that brings together a broad cross section of America’s cultural and civic organizations, along with hundreds of grassroots advocates from across the country. Attendees collaborate to communicate with Members of Congress the importance of strong public policies and public funding for the arts.
Preparation for this event actually begins in November when representatives from the co-sponsoring organizations form the Legislative Planning Committee (LPC). The LPC meets twice a month for 4 months to determine the Issue Briefs that will be the focus of discussions with Congress on Arts Advocacy Day. Although AMTA has been a co-sponsor for many years, we have been active members of the LPC for the past 3 years, assisting with development of an Arts in Healthcare Issue Brief. Each issue Brief developed by the LPC begins with specific "asks" of Congress, followed by talking points and supportive background information to assist advocates explain the rationale behind the requests.
AMTA led the Arts in Healthcare LPC subgroup this year, collaborating with representatives from The Society for the Arts in Healthcare, the National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations (NCCATA), the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA), the American Art Therapy Association, the National Association for Drama Therapy (NADT), and Americans for the Arts. In addition to creating the topic specific Issue Brief, each subgroup also develops a "Field at a Glance" document that provides more detailed information related to each area of focus.
Americans for the Arts organizes these documents, along with letters to Members of Congress from each co-sponsoring organization and supporting facts and figures, into an Arts Advocacy Day Handbook. These handbooks are then delivered to each Congressional office. This year, the Field at a Glance documents were made available online, allowing for the inclusion of more information and live links to research and media clips.
AMTA Director of Government Relations, Judy Simpson presented the Arts in Healthcare Issue Brief to the Congressional Arts Caucus on March 25th and also participated as part of a panel presentation during Arts Advocacy Day. Representation of music therapy during this national event is a great example of how AMTA works to increase awareness of the profession with Congress and with related organizations. For more information about Arts Advocacy Day, please visit, http://www.artsusa.org/events/2011/aad/default.asp
Brain Injury Awareness Day
On March 16, 2011, AMTA once again participated in the Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill. This marks AMTA’s 4th consecutive year of participation. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, co-chaired by Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and Representative Todd R. Platts (R-PA), hosts this annual event to educate Members of Congress and their staff on the full range of effects of brain injury, the challenges of recovery for those suffering from brain injury, and the services and supports available to them.
AMTA Government Relations Associate, Rebecca Smith and Director of Communications, Al Bumanis represented music therapy during the event. AMTA was one of 50 organizations exhibiting at the Awareness Fair, which highlights programs and providers that offer services and supports to those with brain injury. Participants included: Brain Injury Association of America, Defense Centers of Excellence (DCOE) for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), National Disability Rights Network; and National Rehabilitation Hospital – and many others.
This opportunity to participate in such a visible advocacy event is another excellent example of how AMTA works for you, participating in coalitions that raise awareness of music therapy and its benefits.
National Representation
AMTA has a relationship with a number of national organizations. You can learn more about AMTA’s involvement with each of these coalitions and how this helps you in your practice of music therapy. Click here to go to the Member Area for detailed information on each organization.
- American Psychiatric Association
- CDC National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) External Partners Group
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
- Consortium For Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)
- Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC)
- Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition
- Health Professions Network (HPN)
- Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid Coalition
- National Alliance of Pupil Services Organizations (NAPSO)
- National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations (NCCATA)
- National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education & Related Services
- National Medicare Education Partnership (NMEP)
- SupportMusic Coalition
- The Joint Commission
This representation helps to ensure that music therapy is "at the table" when important health and education policy decisions are implemented.