Take Your Membership Further
Looking for a richer experience with ACRC Membership? Consider joining a Committee or Affinity Group. Committees are focused on shaping the direction of ACRC. Affinity Groups focus on specialized information sharing to further their knowledge in a given area.
Committees
past meeting notes in our Member Portal
Public Policy
ACRC’s public policy committee keeps watch on public policy issues and initiatives and leads collective advocacy.
On issues ranging from the global crisis in youth mental health, implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act, to shoring up our critical workforce, the committee strives to be at the table when these discussions are happening, as a voice to ensure children and families have access to high quality and culturally responsive care across the continuum of services.
This committee is also responsible for producing ACRC’s position papers. Through extensive engagement and research, committee members dive into topics of concern and provide policy briefs on best practices.
Meet our Public Policy Committee Chair, Kevin Roach!
Program
ACRC’s program committee makes recommendations about ongoing training and webinar topics and produces our renowned annual conference. Both the annual conference and the yearly direct care summit draw attendees from around the world to dive into clinical excellence and best practices. This committee brings cutting edge presentations and presenters to the stage; they also enjoy picking our future conference cities and fun social events!
Meet our Program Committee Chair, Michael Semel!
And our co-chair, Sharnell Myles!
Youth & Family
The goal of this committee is to engage, encourage and enhance the youth and family voice within ACRC by participating in board decisions, membership, conferences, and other committees. It also seeks to broaden the awareness and perspective of the youth and family voice within member agencies through outreach, education, and affiliation.
Meet our Youth & Family Committee Chair, Celeste Walley!
And our Co-Chair, Kyle Reece!
Research
ACRC’s research committee vets potential research projects and develops internal research. Recent initiatives have included EHRs (electronic health records) and serving CSEC (commercially sexually exploited) youth. The committee members may have research experience or just an interest in the topic.
Meet our Research Committee Chair, April Wall-Parker!
And our Co-Chair, Chris Delap!
Membership
As a membership organization, it is important to keep our membership diverse and connected. This committee seeks ways to promote networking, engagement and educational opportunities; as well as ensuring new members are welcomed and integrated into their new network of colleagues.
Meet our Membership Committee Chair, Jon Jelley!
And our Co-Chair, Nicole Hauser!
Equity
ACRC’s Equity Committee advances principles and practices of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the work of the Association and recommends best practices for our membership and the field at large.
Meet our Equity Committee Chair, Donelle Hauser!
And our co-chair, Cheryl Richards!
Affinity Groups
Affinity Groups meet monthly, quarterly, or as needed.
Notes from past all meetings are available in the Member Portal (must log in to view).
Transition Aged Youth
It’s worrisome to think of the young people in our care transitioning to adulthood, perhaps without the supports many other emerging adults are provided. How are we preparing them for this inevitable next step? Strategies and questions are welcome in this TAY affinity group.
PRTF Programs
The challenges of administering care in a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility are unique. Our colleagues running PRTFs look forward to connecting with their colleagues to discuss their own barriers and successes in the past and going forward in an ever-changing climate.
Replacing Coercive Interventions
Let’s continue to create cultures of care! Join ACRC members in ongoing conversations around replacing coercive strategies with trauma responsive interventions. While all organizations are further along the path to reducing and eliminating restraints, removing point and level systems, and utilizing seclusion tactics/rooms, we can all walk together on the journey to replace these often deeply imbedded responses and structures with interventions informed by brain science and the voices of experience.
Crisis Stabilization
As the number of young people experiencing mental health crises continues to rise, what works in crisis stabilization? What does best practice look like in safe, child-friendly, short-term stabilizing environments that keep young people out of offices, hotels, and emergency rooms?
Immigration
This affinity group consists of individuals interested in immigration-related issues as they apply to the children and families they serve, including providers serving unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. Meet your colleagues who are experiencing many of the same barriers, questions, and positive outcomes in this realm.
Residential Directors
Most organizations that provide residential interventions employ a solo residential director. This nuanced role has few peers with the same level of responsibility. Join ACRC’s new affinity group to connect and engage with residential directors from across the country and the world.
Autism / TBI
Young people with an Autism or Traumatic Brain Injury diagnosis, pared with a behavior disorder, bring their own unique set of challenges to your residential program. Meet with your colleagues to discuss challenges and successes you have experienced with this population and discuss best practices and innovation going forward.
Recreation Therapy
Many ACRC members utilize recreation staff as education, exercise, and therapeutic interventions for the young people in their programs. As these roles are specialized and unique, forming connections with other professionals in these roles can be extremely beneficial. Explore and share innovations in this field, job descriptions, successes and challenges with your colleagues.