Community Advocacy Panel

The Community Advocacy Panel application portal has now closed.

Further updates regarding the panel will be posted on this webpage.

The Opioid Abatement Council is required by law to "allow for comment and input from community stakeholders, local governments, state and local public health officials, public health advocates, law enforcement and judiciary representatives, opioid remediation service providers, and other parties interested and actively involved in addressing the opioid crisis and its abatement."  T.C.A. § 33-11-105.
 
  • Our Work

During the March 18, 2024, OAC meeting several family members of individuals who passed away due to opioid use disorder spoke during public comment about their loved one’s living experiences.

During the June 18, 2024, OAC meeting, the Council approved the motion giving the Executive Director the authority to begin developing a process for a Community Advocacy Panel.

In response, the Council Office developed a Proposal, which provides an overview of the purpose, structure, and operational functions and timeline required for the successful implementation of the Panel.

CAP_1

This photo was taken during the March 18th, 2024, OAC meeting. There were several family members of individuals who passed away due to opioid use disorder speaking during public comment about their loved one’s living experiences.

  • Panel Members

Panel members will develop a consensus from input received from the community and report ideas on possible solutions, which will improve transparency, establish accountability, and inform the OAC decisions for the implementation of funding programs, strategies, expenditures, and all other actions designed to prevent and address the effects of the opioid epidemic.

(List of all Panel members with biography and terms listed COMING SOON)

Panel Member Term of Service

The term of service for Panel members will be two (2) years. If a member is appointed to serve the remainder of a term vacated by a previous member, they will serve out that term and be eligible for reappointment to a full term.

  • Panel Composition

The Panel will consist of 16 members, including two representatives from each of Tennessee's seven regions with an additional two members who will serve as Chair and Co-Chair.

The map below shows the seven (7) regions in which the fourteen (14) Community Advocacy Panel regional members will represent and be selected:

TDMHSAS_Regional_Council_Map

Panel Meetings

Panel members will meet quarterly, primarily in virtual formats, to ensure broad participation. The meetings will focus on identifying regional needs, consolidating community feedback, and providing actionable recommendations to the OAC.

Although the Panel’s proposals will be for advocacy, their input is expected to play a significant role in shaping state strategies for combating the opioid epidemic.

All meetings will be open to the public and meeting dates and times will be published on this webpage.

OAC Program Director

The OAC Program Director has been designated to design, implement, and lead the operations of the Community Advocacy Panel. 

Chair and Co-Chair

Key Responsibilities of Chair and Co-Chair:

• Set the agenda
• Lead Panel meetings
• Seek to ensure information received is accurate, timely and sufficient to keep other Panel members informed
• Facilitate open and constructive communication
• Liaising and interfacing with the Opioid Abatement Council’s Program Director
• In the absence of the Panel Chair, the Panel Co-Chair will be responsible for executing the key responsibilities and all other duties determined by the Council and Council Office.

Community Advocacy Panel Regional Members

The Community Advocacy Panel regional members are those members who will be selected by the Council to serve as non-voting representatives of their region. The two (2) Community Advocacy Panel regional members from each of the state’s seven (7) regions will be tasked with becoming familiar with the needs of their region, engaging with the community, and providing feedback that will assist in providing resolutions to region and statewide needs.

The Community Advocacy Panel will have the following positions:

• Chair
• Co-Chair
• Secretary
• Co-Secretary

The Chair and Co-Chair will be selected from the pool of applicants, while secretary and co-secretary positions will be nominated and selected based on the operational guidelines. The Secretary will be tasked with the writing of the Panel meeting minutes and relaying any communication the Panel approves to be presented to the Council.

In the absence of the Secretary, the Panel Co-Secretary will be responsible for executing the key responsibilities and all other duties determined by the Council and Council Office.

The OAC Office will review and compile a slate of candidates to serve on the Community Advocacy Panel which represents all seven (7) regions. At the next called Opioid Abatement Council meeting, the OAC Program Director will present the slate to the Council for review, discussion, and approval.

After the Council votes to appoint or approve the sixteen (16) Panel members,14 Regional Representatives and one Chair and Co-Chair, the OAC Program Director will send a letter to Panel members confirming their selection.

All Panel members will be required to sign the documents listed below and agree to the following:

• Must sign a Conflict-of-Interest Statement
• Must sign a Code of Ethics Statement
• Must attend at least three (3) virtual PANEL meetings annually to maintain appointment

When and where does the Panel meet?

The Community Advocacy Panel will meet at least once quarterly via a virtual format on the date and time decided by Panel members in conjunction with the OAC Program Director. 

Although the Panel meetings will not be subject to the Open Meetings Act, for transparency purposes the meetings will be open to the public and meeting dates will be published in advance.