Memoranda of Understanding

APA regularly interacts with national psychology associations, primarily through information exchange and discussion of common issues. Over the past few years, APA has formalized some of these contacts through signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with individual associations. The signed MOU articulates the mutual goals of psychology associations and agrees to regularly communicate and consider the development of joint activities.

With increased interaction between APA and national psychology associations (e.g., APA hosting presidents of national psychology associations during the APA's annual convention; increased attendance of national psychology association officers at subsequent APA conventions; recent participation by APA presidents and other officers in international, regional and national psychology conferences; and meetings with officers of national psychology associations), there is a growing interest in affirming interassociation goodwill through signing further memoranda of understanding.

Once leaders of APA and the partnering psychology association agree to pursue signing an MOU, the APA Board of Directors reviews all MOU documents and gives their endorsement. Analogously, the Executive Committee Boards of partner organizations also review the MOU documents and give their endorsement. APA and the partner association look for a mutually agreeable time to sign the MOU — at one of the associations' annual meetings or at an international congress. After signing the MOU, representatives from each organization meet to discuss initial activities and collaborations.