Abstract Submission Guidelines

Goals of the Scientific Conference

The 2011 scientific conference will highlight innovative strategies that explore and address the issue of service disparities in the delivery of behavioral healthcare focusing on a broad range of research examining

• 'state of the art' interventions developed to close the gap in disparities,
• how disparities are addressed in a broad array of settings, including homes, schools, and workplaces,
• patient-provider interactions as they contribute to or ameliorate disparities,
• community based participatory research on service disparities,
• the role of cultural competence in addressing disparities,
• improvements in the measurement of service disparities and impacts, and
• healthcare financing, legislation, and policy changes as they influence service disparities.

This multidisciplinary scientific conference effort seeks to 1) develop a collaborative research agenda to improve behavioral health services delivery to people across the life span, and 2) engage and partner researchers and other key stakeholders such as consumers, family members, providers, policy makers and communities to contribute to and implement this agenda. An additional goal is to create 'new' research teams comprised of people from different arenas who have not worked together previously. This conference provides a unique venue for behavioral health services researchers — from drug abuse, alcohol use and mental health fields — to come together to tackle a shared dilemma. Priority consideration will be given to services research that

• utilizes new theories and/or methods to address important scientific questions and/or,
• proposes a conceptual shift in thinking or modification to an oft-used paradigm.

Conference Tracks

Topical presentations related to disparities in behavioral healthcare are being solicited across six conceptual areas:

• Economics & Financing
• Organizational & Systems Issues
• Effectiveness Research
• Culture, Context & Setting
• Risk Reduction, Disease Prevention & Health Promotion
• Dissemination & Implementation Research

When submitting your online application, please be prepared to indicate the category that best represents the emphasis of your work.

Further, conference participants are encouraged to submit presentation proposals that invoke a) rural populations, b) community partnership research endeavors, c) disaster and war reactions, d) populations across the life span (children / adolescents / adults / aging) and e) varied service settings, such as primary care, criminal justice settings, schools, faith-based service settings, and nursing homes.

Submission Types:

Paper Presentations (Individual or Symposia):

Individual oral presentations should be no longer than 25 minutes and should be prepared in PowerPoint format. Three oral presentations on a common topic will be grouped together by the planning committee to comprise a 90-minute session.

Alternatively, presenters can propose a symposium that comprises three related papers. Approximately half of the 90 minute session should be saved for questions and discussion of the presentations. Each symposium should include an abstract summarizing the overall purpose of the panel, as well as individual summaries for each of the papers to be presented (must involve three presenters and an identified discussant (one of the presenters can fill this role).

Poster Presentations:

Posters will be presented on a standard conference poster board during poster sessions. Information on poster set-up and parameters will be forwarded upon acceptance. All mounting supplies (e.g. masking tape, push pins) will also be provided on-site.

'Think Tank' Presentations:

These 90-minute sessions will allow for informal networking and discussion around a specific topic of shared interest with the goal of attempting to identify challenges and potential solutions for researchers in the field. Topical areas consistent with the conference theme might include:

• Areas where conceptual, empirical, or methodological innovations to improve quality of care are needed, or have taken place
• Innovations in dissemination and implementation of evidence based care
• Identified innovations or needs in the area of quality of care measurement

The discussion group leader will be expected to start a dialogue with a brief (10 minute) overview of the topic, will pose key questions that he/she would like the group to discuss, and will facilitate the discussion. A recorder will be assigned to each session and the group leader will be expected to generate a brief summary (750 -1000 words) that will be sent to the Conference Committee, following the meeting, on the outcomes of the discussion.

Online Submission (all formats)

All submissions must be completed on-line here by 5:00 PM EST on December 7, 2010. The primary presenting author must be identified as the key contact person for each submission.

Overview of Guidelines

Each submission must include an abstract of 75 words and a presentation summary of up to 500 words. These summaries will serve two purposes: (a) their quality will determine acceptance for the conference, and (b) if accepted, summaries will be prepared as a part of conference materials.

When preparing your submission:

• Please follow the outline for your proposed format (i.e., poster, paper, symposia, or 'think tank').
• You may enter the system on more than one occasion to complete your submission, if necessary.
• You may reference citations in APA format in the text portion of your summary; it is not necessary for you to provide the full citation as a part of your presentation submission but you should include this information as a part of any handouts you may provide to conference participants.

What you will provide:

1. Choice of presentation format (e.g., paper, poster, symposium, or 'think tank').
2. Complete contact information for all presenters and contributing authors.
3. Abstract (75 words maximum) for online agenda.
4. Summary (maximum 500 words) for peer review, and if accepted, publication as a part of conference materials.
5. Indication of the Conference Track that best describes the content of your presentation (select from the list provided).

Paper, Symposia, Poster, or 'Think Tank' Outlines

Paper presentations and posters address the same goal -- to present important findings and conclusions from a specific project. Papers are allotted 25 minutes, and are scheduled with complementary presentations. Papers presented in the context of a symposia submission should be briefer and allow more time for discussion. Poster presentation sessions are more casual in nature, and allow in-depth conversation regarding the experiences of the investigators. 'Think Tanks' are discussion-driven and are intended to encourage innovation through the identification of challenges and opportunities in a specific area.

Please use the following headings in preparing your summary section:

1. Introduction (covering Purpose, Research Questions). 'Think Tank' presentations should provide the topical area and issues to be focused on.
2. Methodology (addressing Subjects, Demographics, Measures, Analytic Strategy). 'Think Tank' presentations should provide a minimum of four (4) questions that will be used to facilitate the discussion.
3. Findings (Report, in text format, of significant findings (no tables/graphs). No 'Think Tank' requirement.
4. Conclusion (Summary and implications for future work). No 'Think Tank' requirement.

Review Process

An abstract review committee will rate your presentation summary according to: (a) the interest level of the topic, (b) state-of-the-art methodology and approach, (c) overall quality of the submission (i.e., clearly conveyed summary of material to be presented, consistent with the guidelines below), and (d) relevance to the overall mission of the conference. The review committee reserves the right to elevate any submission to a plenary session.

Additionally, please indicate whether a poster presentation would be acceptable if the agenda cannot accommodate all paper presentations proposed. Abstracts / Summaries accepted for presentation will be included in a conference program book and CD.

Notification:

All proposals will be acknowledged upon receipt, and the contact person will be notified of final decisions regarding acceptance on or around January 11, 2011.

All presenters/authors whose papers are accepted and who plan to attend the conference will be expected to pay the conference registration fee, but will be eligible to do so at a discounted rate.