January 15, 2009

My name is Robert Hendren, D.O. I am the President of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. I have been practicing child and adolescent psychiatry for more than 30 years and have been a proud member of the AACAP since 1980. I am also a parent. In recent months, issues of transparency have come to the fore in child and adolescent psychiatry and in all of medicine. The 55-year old Academy has a history of working to improve transparency. At every level, we work to ensure that all children and adolescents living with mental illnesses receive treatment of the highest caliber.

The AACAP has been diligent about making the process of assessing Conflicts of Interest easier. I am proud of the AACAP’s policy of listing all funding in every Treasurer’s report, the amount, the company and the purpose. For many years we have enforced strict guidelines on pharmaceutical support, which define how and when donations can be made to the AACAP and under what conditions.

Parenting a child with a mental illness like depression, schizophrenia, autism, anorexia, bulimia, or ADHD can be incredibly difficult and sometimes frustrating. Families obtaining treatment for a child with mental illnesses should be applauded. Comprehensive treatment, tailored for the individual child is essential for best outcomes. Children’s mental illnesses are real, common, but treatable. I encourage families to advocate for their children and demand treatment of the highest quality.


Sincerely,

Robert Hendren, D.O.
President
rhendren@aacap.org

• Mission Statement
• Code of Ethics
• Principles of Practice
• Bylaws
• Leadership Disclosures
• Committee Disclosure of Affiliations Form
• Guidelines on Conflict of Interest for Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists
• Guidelines on Conflict of Interest for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Researchers 
  
• Operating Principles for Extramural Support of AACAP Meetings and Related Activities
• Treasurer’s Reports
• Continuing Medical Education and Transparency
• Accreditation with Commendation
• Annual Meeting Policy on Full Disclosure
• Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Practice Parameters
• Facts for Families
• Bill of Rights for Children with Mental Health Disorders and Their Families