PI-GRO secured the testimony of APA Member Dr. Pamela Deters for a May 3, 2011
hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies. Dr. Deters, who currently serves as the president of the
Society of Indian Psychologists, provided expert witness testimony in support of the
President’s FY 2012 Indian Health Service (IHS) budget request. The testimony, which was given on behalf of the Friends of Indian Health, a coalition of over 50 health organizations and individuals dedicated to improving the health care of American Indian/Alaska Natives, highlighted consensus coalition priorities concerning the IHS budget. In addition, the testimony also mentioned mental and behavioral health priorities important to APA, including expansion of the
Indians Into Psychology program. Dr. Deters, who is a member of the Cherokee/Choctaw tribe and a licensed Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Louisiana and Mississippi, also met with her own congressman, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), and with the offices of Rep. Don Young (R-AK) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), both of whom have large American Indian/Alaska Native populations in their districts.
