LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


BY: LAURA SHELTON, CMP


You Spoke—We’re Listening


• Main reasons for being and remaining a DATIA member are regulatory and legislative information, education, marketing, and networking


• Current members’ top 5 indications of needs include working on and promoting best industry practices and technological advances (non-urine lab based testing and electronic CCFs), working on legislative issues to promote drug and alcohol testing, creating online training opportunities, creating mobile drug and alcohol testing applications/websites, and reporting on and providing information to members regarding international workplace drug testing practices in that order All of the above needs apply to DATIA’s


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ince the last issue of DATIA focus, we have completed two very important initia- tives to determine how to (a) beter your


membership experience with DATIA, and (b) expand DATIA to beter serve the needs of our members and the industry. First of all, thanks to everyone that


participated in the annual DATIA membership survey that we use each year to make your membership experience more beneficial. Here are a few key findings of DATIA’s current demographics that will help management guide us through the coming year: • 50% of DATIA’s members have 5 or fewer employees


• 56% of DATIA’s members are single location operations


• 90% of DATIA members perform local, regional, and national services (split evenly), while only 8% perform international services


• 60% of DATIA members have over 11 years of experience in the industry


• In terms of testing protocols, the order of prev- alence is: lab based urine, point of collection urine, hair testing, lab based oral fluids testing, and point of collection oral fluids testing


6 datia focus


formal mission statement: • To promote the highest possible standards of professionalism and quality control in the drug and alcohol testing industry, and develop and oversee education, certifica- tion, and accreditation programs for the drug and alcohol testing industry;


• To serve as the coordinated voice for the industry on regulatory and legislative maters of drug and alcohol testing and collection issues as well as drug free workplace regulatory issues;


• To serve as a body for discussion and resolution of common problems and issues affecting the drug and alcohol testing industry;


• To inform its members of issues affecting their businesses through newsleters, legislative alerts and meetings;


• To collect and disseminate information on drug and alcohol service and product providers through a national directory distributed to business and the general public; and,


• To actively cooperate with other enti- ties, organizations, and service providers involved with or affected by drug and alcohol testing on common interests and concerns, including but not limited to,


substance abuse professionals, substance abuse program administrators, employee assistance professionals, Medical Review Officers, testing laboratories and employer trade associations. DATIA’s second initiative was a very


productive Board retreat held in November 2011. While at the retreat, many discussions were held as to where DATIA should be focusing its efforts to beter serve its members’ needs and expand knowledge of drug and alcohol testing to benefit members. As a result, DATIA has developed a number of initiatives that will enhance your membership. While we don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, these include: • Expanding DATIA’s online training opportunities;


• Adding more webinar education to keep you educated with less expense;


• Creating new courses to serve the industry’s needs;


• Creating online matrices to make interfacing with legislators on legislative issues easier;


• Creating standards for drug free workplace programs that will apply in different tiers for international and US companies. As your Executive Director, I truly ap-


preciate your feedback and hope that you as members feel free to contact me with any sug- gestions or comments. I take every comment to heart and hope to make every member’s experience the best it can be. We look forward to serving you again in 2012 and taking your suggestions to make it the best year yet! Feel free to contact me directly with suggestions at lshelton@datia.org or 800-355-1257 x 40. ❚


Best,


Laura Shelton DATIA Executive Director


winter 2012


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