Our executive committee has been brainstorming all year on ways to strategize and respond to the ongoing onslaught of our institutions by federal policies which threaten the core of evidence-based medical practice, our ability to practice as independent professionals, our patients’ access to care, as well as the stability of our patients, their families and communities. We have spoken up against these fallacies which worsen the landscape for our youth and their families especially those from marginalized communities. We have sent letters to our elected leaders asking them for leadership that is accountable and rooted in evidence. We are developing resource documents for our colleagues, patients and their families which will be available on our website and social media accounts. More importantly, we are forging an alliance that is based on hope – the hope that together, we are stronger and able to rise above the divisiveness, fearmongering, stigma and shame that accompany these fallacies…

Hope (as a verb) according to the dictionary is defined as desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment and with confidence. Hope as a verb requires confidence! As child and adolescent psychiatrists navigating these troubling times for us and our own families as well as for our patients and their families, we must keep hope alive. We must stay confident in our capacity to stay afloat despite the challenges. We must do this to avoid burning out and to keep up the fight. Our 9 million plus youth in California is counting on us and as such, we must not relent. We must learn to utilize the same anti-bullying tools that we empower our young patients with even as we fight back against the bullies of scientifically based medical (psychiatric) practice…

Get involved through our current committees; Government Affairs and Advocacy (GAA) and Committee on Anti-Racism and Equity (CARE) or consider getting a new committee off the ground.

It is my hope that you can join us next month for the Fall Advocacy Day scheduled for Saturday November 15, 2025, at the Spice Affairs restaurant in Beverly Hills between 9am and 3pm. It is an opportunity to join our community of child and adolescent psychiatrists as well as our allies in advocating for youth mental health in California. You may register here.

CALACAP President

SYASL was contacted due to its extensive lobbying on behalf of what was then the California Mental Health Directors Association (now the California Behavioral Health Directors Association) on a variety of issues, but especially work done relative to the Children’s System of Care and AB 3632 services for children. After an extensive search and interview process, it was determined that SYASL would be the best fit for Cal-ACAP. SYASL is passionate about, and proud of, the work it has done for Cal-ACAP and hopes to continue improving children’s behavioral health services in California for patients, families, child psychiatrists, and their practices.

This year, CALACAP reviewed 73 bills and took a position on 49 bills. These bills touched on many of CALACAP’s priority policy issues, including reforming prior authorization, protecting kids from ICE on school campuses, regulating the use of AI in healthcare, implementing safeguards on AI chatbots, ensuring legal protections for gender affirming care, and more.

Unfortunately, both of our sponsored bills—SB 363 (Wiener)v and SB 531 (Rubio)—became “two-year” bills this session, meaning they were paused for now but can continue through the process next year. SB 363, which holds health plans accountable for high rates of overturned health care denials, stalled late in the process after substantial feedback from DHCS, DMHC, and CDI required additional negotiations. SB 531, aimed at ensuring all California students receive mental health education, did not advance out of its first policy committee due to the Senate Education Committee’s newly adopted policy prohibiting new curriculum mandates. This Fall, we are regrouping with our cosponsors to refine our strategy and continue advancing efforts to give students the tools they need to manage mental health challenges.

This year, Drs. Avila, Bowers Wu, and Sung participated in a packed day of speed advocacy training on CALACAP co-sponsored bills AB 2711, SB 363 (Weiner), SB 306 (Becker), AB 384 Connolly), AB 510 (Addis), AB 539 (Schiavo) and AB 512 (Harabedian). These bills were primarily trying to pass legislation for mental health education in public schools, greater transparency in insurance claim denials, and prior authorization reform. We teamed up for a total of 6 in-person meetings with staffers working with Senators and Assembly members in the California Secretary of State Building.

CALACAP maintains a Public Letters section on its website. This is where the organization publishes formal letters, position statements, and responses on key mental health, child welfare, and policy issues.

Check out CALACAP’s Public Letters — official statements, policy responses, and advocate letters on pressing issues facing youth psychiatry in California.

By William Arroyo, M.D. SCSCAP Delegate

The SCSCAP annual newsletter was published in April featuring 14 articles written by various members including more than 5 child and adolescent fellows from various training programs; it consisted of more than 30 pages, our lengthiest newsletter yet. 

Our Diversity & Culture Committee under the leadership of Nithya Ravindran, MD organized a volunteer event, Mental Health Awareness Day (CHAK DE SOCAL), in Artesia on May 10^th.   SCSCAP partnered with Sahaas for Cause, a non-profit organization founded by South Asian Americans to advocate on behalf of their community.  This was our inaugural Service Day event.

The results of our election in July are as follows: Anish Dube, MD – President; Elizabeth Dohrmann, MD - President-elect; Rishi Parikh, MD - Vice President; Sneha Venkatraman, MD – Treasurer; and Mahta Baghoolizadeh, MD – Secretary.

Our Annual Meeting took place at UCLA Luskin Conference Center on August 23rd.  We were honored to have Denise Shervington, MD, present Learning from Disaster: Lessons for Altadena from New Orleans and Japan.

The SCSCAP initiative in support of URiM’s has selected the four recipients for this year.  The award winners ($750 per awardee) are: Ke'Asia Craig (USC CAP Fellow), Miles Reyes (Charles Drew U PGY-2), Maria Shibatsuju (Loma Linda CAP Fellow), and Dustin Wong (Kaiser Fontana CAP Fellow).  Awardees will use award to support their expenses related to attendance to the AACAP annual meeting.  They have also committed to writing an article for the upcoming annual newsletter.

By Divya Krishnamoorthy, MD, FAPA

Springing into Action

SDACAP sprang into action this April with our 10th Annual Critical Issues in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CICAMH) conference. This year’s theme, “Reinstalling Hope & Connection in Youth Mental Health,” drew an impressive turnout-250 in-person and 150 virtual attendees, reflecting the community’s growing commitment to youth well-being.

Following the conference, SDACAP was invited to collaborate with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) California Chapter 3 on the Strategic Behavioral Health Initiative (SBHI), a countywide effort to strengthen behavioral health systems for children and adolescents. Our President-Elect, Dr. Alonso Cardenas, is representing SDACAP in this important partnership.

In May, members gathered for the Annual Meeting, combining a relaxed social evening with the presentation of the 2024 Annual Financial Report. Key discussions centered on allocating funds toward initiatives that advance SDACAP’s mission of advocacy, education, and professional support for its members.

We concluded the second quarter in June with practical and forward-looking conversations about FDIC protection of assets and planning for upcoming events.

Fall Highlights

The hybrid We Can’t Wait/Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Conference, held September 18–19, saw strong participation from professionals across disciplines. This year’s theme, “The Power of Presence: Building a Supportive Environment,” brought together an inspiring mix of nationally and locally recognized experts to share insights on fostering connection and resilience in early childhood.

SDACAP also welcomed the new UCSD Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows with a lively mixer, reinforcing our commitment to mentoring and supporting the next generation of child psychiatrists. SDACAP continues to champion early career engagement through sponsorship of memberships, conference participation, and award nominations ensuring our fellows feel valued, connected, and empowered within the SDACAP community.

SDACAP continues to build momentum, collaboration, and connection anchored in our shared mission to support the mental health of children, adolescents, and families across San Diego County.

By Veronica Searles Quick, MD, NCROCAP President

Welcome to Our New Executive Committee Member
We are thrilled to welcome Member in Training Rosa Ahn-Horst, MD, MPH, to the NCROCAP Executive Committee! Dr. Ahn-Horst is a current CAP fellow at Stanford University, and we are excited to have her expertise and perspective on our leadership team. Welcome aboard, Dr. Ahn-Horst!

Advocacy in Action
In August, NCROCAP hosted an Advocacy Update led by Lizzie Cootsona from SYASL and CALACAP President Dr. Ijeoma Ijeaku. The discussion covered NCROCAP co-sponsored bills, opportunities for members to get involved in advocacy efforts, and key legislative highlights as the session entered its final weeks.

Looking Ahead
Planning is underway for our Spring Annual Meeting, along with continued efforts to enhance and optimize the NCROCAP website. We’re also preparing additional member events this winter—stay tuned for more details coming soon!

By Rishi Parikh, MD, MPH, Editor, CALACAP Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to Issue 2 of the CALACAP Newsletter! It’s been inspiring to see how warmly our inaugural edition was received and how many of you have shared feedback, ideas, and enthusiasm for this new platform to connect our community.

In this issue, we’re excited to introduce a new feature, Public Statements Section, which highlights CALACAP’s voice and leadership in responding to key issues affecting children’s mental health in California. This section reflects our ongoing commitment to transparency, advocacy, and timely engagement with matters that shape the well-being of our youth and families.

We also look forward to connecting in person at the CALACAP Reception at the AACAP Annual Meeting in Chicago on Thursday, October 23rd, from 5:00–7:00 PM. This event is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, build new relationships, and celebrate the collaborative spirit that drives our shared mission. Finally, please mark your calendars for Fall Advocacy Day on November 15th. This cornerstone event is where our collective voice can make a powerful impact in shaping policies and systems that support child and adolescent mental health across the state.

As always, thank you for your commitment, your compassion, and your advocacy. CALACAP continues to grow stronger through your participation and leadership, and I’m deeply grateful to be part of this community of dedicated physicians and advocates.

Warmly,
Rishi Parikh MD, MPH
Editor, CALACAP Newsletter