Cerebral Palsy Foundation Highlights - August 2023

Hi from Cerebral Palsy Foundation! ??? Now that summer is?behind us, and school has begun,?be sure to check out all of our great back to school educational information?on CPResource.org to help get the school year off on the right foot - whether your student is K-12, or you’re wanting to make the most of your college experience.?

September is shaping up to be?a very busy month for all of us, as we continue to improve the lives of people with cerebral palsy across the lifespan. We’re excited to share some of the highlights and upcoming events.

-Team CPF

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation Achieves Historic Advocacy Success!

We have great news to share with the cerebral palsy community!? Did you know the Cerebral Palsy Foundation works year round on a variety of advocacy initiatives at US Federal level encouraging the US Congress to invest in cerebral palsy research funding across the lifespan at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).?

As a result of our efforts and work with key legislators, we are happy to announce legislation passed establishing Cerebral Palsy research surveillance at the CDC and establishing $5MM in cerebral palsy funding for the first time. ?

Our advocacy efforts, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, helped secure a CDC funding increase of $5 million to add four additional research sites. The four sites selected to begin Cerebral Palsy research work within the Autism & Developmental Disability Monitoring Network are:

• University of Utah (UT)
• Regents of the University of Minnesota (MN)
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center (TN)
• Washington University in St. Louis (MO)

??This research will focus on the following objectives:

• Assess a state’s capacity for conducting Cerebral Palsy surveillance
• Pilot surveillance methods for reporting prevalence and early identification of Cerebral Palsy among children?
• Report preliminary findings of piloting Cerebral Palsy surveillance and develop recommendations for inclusion of Cerebral Palsy in surveillance year 2024 activities
• Implement CP surveillance methodology for surveillance year 2024

We are proud of our advocacy leadership that is driving forward much needed federal government support and investment in cerebral palsy research improving lives across the lifespan.? Our work continues? educating and increasing public health awareness among policy makers, stakeholders, other organizations and the cerebral palsy community.

To keep up with our advocacy and policy work, as well as success milestones, please visit our advocacy website at www.gogreen4cp.org.

World CP Day is Almost Here

World Cerebral Palsy Day is on October 6th. Cerebral palsy affects over 17 million people worldwide, and a global day of awareness is important to drive positive change.? Each year we design a new shirt and share it with all of you. Order your World CP Day shirt today to ensure you get it in time for World CP Day!

Cerebral Palsy Foundation Presenting at AACPDM

CPF team members will be at the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) annual meeting next month in Chicago presenting on a variety of topics and filming educational content with leading clinicians and researchers.?

Topics we’re presenting this year include:

• Improving Healthcare for Adults with Cerebral Palsy
• A Global Perspective on Technology Use in Rehabilitation
• Partnering with Patients and Families in Research, QI, Education, & Health Care Delivery
• State Level Success Models from Early CP Detection, Clinical Care and Lifespan Issues

We encourage families and caregivers who live in the Chicago area to attend the Community Forum, a free, all day event on September 10th with an excellent line up of topics and speakers including Stem Cell Update, Smart Wheelchairs, Transitions to Adulthood, Psychotropic Medications and Movement Disorders, and more!?

Collaboration with professional research societies and healthcare provider organizations is important for a variety of reasons including moving the field forward, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring the needs and viewpoints of the cerebral palsy community are well represented.

Announcing the Cerebral Palsy Foundation Early Career Mentorship Program

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation is excited to announce our new mentorship program designed to encourage and support early career professionals with cerebral palsy in the healthcare, social work or research fields. ??????

If you:

?Have cerebral palsy

?Are in the healthcare, social work or research fields

?Have less than 5 years of experience

We encourage you to apply!?The Cerebral Palsy Foundation?Early Career Mentorship Program for People with Cerebral Palsy is an initiative developed by the Cerebral Palsy Foundation to support people with cerebral palsy who are in the early stages of their healthcare, social work and/or research careers. Eligible applicants include but are not limited to, physicians, therapists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, researchers and research trainees. The first year of the program is open to U.S. residents only.

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Successful program applicants will receive:

1. Membership in a relevant professional society for two years with regular membership benefits?
2. Registration fee for one approved annual conference
3. Reimbursement of approved transportation, lodging, and per diem meal expenses to attend an approved annual conference in their professional field
4. Mentorship will be customized to individual needs including one-on-one mentorship from two mentors, including regular check-ins
5. When offered, networking opportunities with other program participants
6. Professional development activities provided by the Cerebral Palsy Foundation
7. Successful applicants will be profiled on CPF digital channels including websites, social media, and other events

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