Chris Loftis
Chair, APAGS-ACT
University of Florida
Students assume many roles during their graduate careers, but most feel
so overwhelmed by academic, research, and/or clinical responsibilities that they never
take part in what may be the most critical priority for their professional and personal
livelihood: the role of being an advocate. In March 2000, committee members of APAGS and
the APAGS Advocacy Coordinating Team (ACT) attended the APA Practice Directorate’s
State Leadership Conference (SLC). Committee members participated in workshops with
leaders of state and provincial psychological associations to develop advocacy skills and
receive intensive training in the legislative issues effecting the profession of
psychology. The conference culminated in Hill Visits in which attendees met with their
congressional representatives at the US Capitol to lobby for inclusion of legal
accountability for mental health benefits in the Patients' Bill of Rights.
These Hill Visits were noted by students to be extremely rewarding and
beyond expectations. Students returned from this event inspired and motivated to increase
student participation in advocacy. Catriona Buist, a veteran of student advocacy and
graduate student at the Department of Psychology at Our Lady of the Lake University,
explained, "The Hill visits I have been on have been exhilarating! They have taught
me how each individual can affect policy making and legislation. They have also inspired
me to get more involved in advocacy at both the state and national level. "
However, the ACT committee is acutely aware that many students are
poorly informed of the importance of advocacy in their professional development and that
many are unaware of their power to affect policy decisions that impact the education and
profession of psychology. In addition, students have many misperceptions about the
political process that serve as barriers in ACT’s mission of increasing student
advocacy. These barriers include: feeling powerless and ineffectual about having an impact
on legislation and policy decision making; fear and nervousness about visiting
congressional leaders due to lack of knowledge of issues and the process of influencing
policy; concern about how to present oneself; perception that students are insignificant
constituents and that representatives will be unreceptive; and finally, feeling
apprehensive and apathy towards writing, calling, or visiting elected officials.
Students who have participated in advocacy via Hill visits remark that
they felt appreciated by the congressional staff and empowered by their involvement in the
legislative process. Many students commented that they were impressed by the openness and
availability of congressional offices to listen to student concerns and to discuss the
political process with respect to policy critical to students. As Tamara Duckworth, a
graduate student in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of
Florida, remarked, "Making visits to the Hill was much easier than I expected. The
congressional staff seemed interested to hear from constituents. The fact that I was a
student didn't matter -- my vote is worth the same as anyone else's!" More
importantly, many congressional offices are not familiar with the many roles of psychology
or the intricacies of graduate education in psychology, including financial debt, clinical
caseloads, and academic/research responsibilities. Most appreciate the opportunity to be
educated by student constituents on the role of psychology in health care.
Political consultants and congressional representatives repeatedly
remark that input and feedback from constituents is critical to policy decisions. In
addition to providing education about psychological issues, it is important to maintain
ongoing relationships with local representatives. This is less time consuming than many
might assume and does not require large financial donations. Recently, I attended a dinner
for my congressional representative, Karen Thurman. The local chapter of my state
psychological association organized the dinner, and attendance was free for students.
Representative Thurman sat with several students during the dinner and discussed a variety
of topics that ran from legislative policy to common everyday events, including Elian
Gonzalez and our latest diets.
Again and again, students who meet with their representatives comment
that the encounter is much more pleasant and relaxed than they imagined it would be. If
you have been through orals for comprehensive or qualifying exams, you are overly-prepared
to do this! In addition to visiting representatives and their staff, students can voice
their concerns via letters, phone calls, and emails. Communicating periodically via these
methods are additional ways of maintaining on-going relationships with your local and
federal representatives. And of course, it is always critical to vote! Past newsletters
have included tips on how to arrange and conduct visits to your state legislators, and how
to correspond with congressional offices via letters and phone calls. Visit the APAGS
website or contact your campus representative for more information and resource materials.
If you are interested in becoming an advocate for psychology, start by
seeking opportunities to become involved with advocacy and to be educated about policy
decisions, regardless of how small the opportunity. This can include attending local
forums and policy hearings, becoming an APAGS campus representative, and participation in
letter writing and phone calling campaigns.
This summer, we are planning several events in conjunction with the APA
convention in DC to train and motivate students to become effective advocates. Students
are encouraged to attend the National
Psychology Graduate Student Rally on August 4th from 11am to 2pm on the west steps
of the US Capitol to recognize the contributions of graduate students to our
communities and to advocate for increased funding for psychology training. Following the
rally, students will conduct Hill visits to meet with their congressional representatives
to educate them about issues related to the training and practice of psychology. In
addition, the Public Policy Office is sponsoring an advocacy workshop to be held before
the rally on August 3rd. If you are interested in any part or all of these
events, please click on the rally website at http://www.wrightinst.edu/pgsrally/ for
more information and to sign up for these events. There is also information about reduced
cost housing options during the convention.
This article first appeared in the Summer 2000 Edition of the APAGS Newsletter, Vol.
12(2)
