First things first: We need members! Please help us by maintaining your Chapter membership and encouraging your colleagues to join. More members means a stronger voice for children and pediatric health care providers in Olympia as well as giving the WCAAP a greater ability to support current and future member opportunities. Note – you do not have to be a national AAP member to join WCAAP, and you do not need to be a physician – we welcome allied health and advanced practice providers as well as clinic staff/parent/family/community advocates as affiliate members!

The WCAAP Board of Trustees meets in person 3 times per year and via Zoom in between. We welcome interested members to attend so you can learn more about our Board’s function and about the Chapter’s work. This is a great way to help decide if you may be interested pursuing a leadership position with the Chapter. If interested, let us reserve you a spot at our next meeting.

The WCAAP offers an array of tools to help you voice concerns for child health care and issues that affect your day-to-day practice. We make it easy for you to reach out to your legislators to share your expertise.

Pediatrics experts across the state lead many educational and research efforts. Look over our list of key contacts and committees and send us an inquiry to see how you can pitch in or start a project of your own in your area of interest.

To ensure a voice for children and pediatric health care providers statewide, we connect area pediatricians with their district legislators. We help members establish and foster relationships with their local representatives, which helps to ensure WCAAP priorities are heard in Olympia. This does not need to be major time commitment, and you will be given advice and support by others already involved. For more information or become a liaison for the chapter, let us know.

WCAAP sponsors an annual event to educate members about our political system and connect them to their own state legislators. Past events have included meetings with the Governor’s Office and conversations with leaders from both political parties. Advocacy Days are typically held in early February each year. 

There are many research projects that pediatric offices can participate in. If interested, the WCAAP can help facilitate you and your office’s participation. To learn more, visit the PROS website.

The WCAAP supports its members and their ideas. Let us know if you have some by contacting the Membership & Engagement committee. We are working to create and foster member interest groups and welcome suggestions. Do you have a great idea? Please let us know.