The APA Task Force on Abortion and Mental Health has concluded there is no credible evidence that a single elective abortion of an unwanted pregnancy, in and of itself, causes mental health problems for adult women.

The task force, created in 2006 and charged with reviewing the empirical studies on the topic published in English since 1989, follows up on an earlier APA work group on the issue.

"The best scientific evidence published indicates that among adult women who have an unplanned pregnancy, the relative risk of mental health problems is no greater if they have a single elective first trimester abortion or deliver the pregnancy," said task force chair Brenda N. Major, PhD.

However, the report was careful to note that some studies do indicate that women may experience sadness, grief and feelings of loss following an abortion and that some may experience clinically significant disorders. Nonetheless, the task force found "no evidence sufficient to support the claim that an observed association between abortion history and mental health was caused by the abortion per se, as opposed to other factors."

The task force also concluded that many of the studies published during the period reviewed suffered from serious methodological problems, such as failing to control for potentially confounding factors. As a result, the task force is calling for more and better-designed research on possible links between abortion and mental health.

At this point, said the task force, evidence regarding the relative health risks associated with multiple abortions is uncertain. What is needed is well-designed research that accounts for co-occurring risk factors including poverty, prior exposure to violence, history of emotional problems or substance abuse, and prior unwanted births. Failure to control for these co-occurring risks, said the task force, may lead to unfounded assumptions of a link between abortion and mental health problems. The research should also compare the mental health of women who choose abortion to that of women who pursue another course of action — i.e., having and raising the child or putting him/her up for adoption, the task force said. Additionally, studies need to control for the "wantedness" of the pregnancy.

—R. Farberman

Step up efforts to prevent discrimination of gender-variant people

By conducting more research and providing appropriate treatment, psychologists can help end discrimination against transgender and gender-variant people, according to a report issued by APA's Task Force on Gender Identity and Gender Variance.

APA created the task force in 2005 to examine the research, policies and other issues that concern this population. The report states that more transgender people, their families, friends and employers are seeking psychologists' help — a trend that "underscores the need for psychologists to acquire greater knowledge and competence" in the area.

In particular, the report recommends that APA:

• Encourage research on gender identity and expression.

• Advocate for antidiscrimination protection for transgender people.

• Develop practice guidelines for transgender clients.

• Encourage training programs and graduate internships to support transgender and gender-variant people.

At a convention session on the report, task force member Walter O. Bockting, PhD, of the University of Minnesota, discussed the gaps in research on this group that need to be filled. For one, he said, there are no good numbers on how many people confront gender-identity issues. Researchers also want to learn more about the causes of gender variance, he said, adding that the roots are likely "a complex interaction" of biological, social and cultural factors.

Some areas of the research on this population remain controversial, Bockting noted. Among them, he said: "Should we assist these children in becoming more gender typical ... versus should we really focus on providing a supportive environment for these children and assist their families to allow the children to explore their gender identity?"

In addition to receiving the report, APA's Council of Representatives approved a resolution that supports full equality for transgender and gender-variant people.

—S. Martin

Children need better mental health treatment

About 20 percent of American children are diagnosed with a mental disorder, yet only 30 percent of them get treatment based on scientific evidence — and the problem is likely to get worse, concludes APA's Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice with Children and Adolescents.

Alarmed by that finding, the task force is recommending ways to better disseminate information on evidence-based practice approaches — treatments that are based on scientific evidence and clinical expertise that take into account patients' characteristics, cultures and preferences and could, therefore, significantly improve care.

That care should "include prevention, early intervention, targeted treatments for particular disorders, an understanding of developmental processes and continuity of care," says task force chair Anne E. Kazak, PhD. Treatments, she said, should be accessible regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity and culture. In addition, evidence-based practice should be cross-disciplinary and include collaborations with families, schools, practitioners and researchers from various health fields.

Specifically, the report calls for:

• More research funding to develop and disseminate evidence-based practice for children.

• The creation of multidisciplinary coalitions to promote evidence-based practice for children and adolescents.

• Web-based systems that would allow families, practitioners, universities, mental health agencies and others to share information about evidence-based practice.

• Web-based training on evidence-based practice for psychologists and other health-care providers.

"It's important that we package evidence-based practice in ways that can push action forward on dissemination," said Kazak.

The good news is that already some evidence-based practice is being used for youth with anxiety-related problems, ADHD, depression, conduct problems, substance use problems and trauma-related syndromes, the task force found. These treatments were effective in part, the task force said, because practitioners were culturally responsive to their clients, the report says.

Read the full report at www.apa.org/pi/cyf/evidence.html.

—S. Martin

More research is needed on resilience among African-Americans

Researchers who study African-American youth have focused too much on the negative and not enough on the positive attitudes and behaviors that contribute to the strengths of this population, according to a report from APA's Presidential Task Force on Resilience and Strength in Black Children and Adolescents.

"The majority of what is known is focused on the negative risk factors associated with their development," says task force chair Stephanie Irby Coard, PhD. "This is misleading and doesn't offer a balanced view of reality and their full potential, the violence they suffer, the disparities they face. We don't know enough about the kids who are doing well and even thriving in the face of adversity."

The task force is calling for a "reframing" of research so that there is an understanding of how certain attitudes, behaviors and psychological processes contribute to the strength and resilience of African-American children and adolescents, Coard says.

The task force reviewed 450 studies and surveys of African-American youth age 5 to 21 across all socioeconomic conditions and geographical areas to understand how factors such as racial identity, emotional knowledge, religiosity, school and family support can mitigate the societal challenges facing African-American children and adolescents.

This report emphasizes that ethnic- and culture-specific competencies that exist within African youth and families — such as racial identity or spirituality — make unique contributions to fostering resilience, for example, racial identity or spirituality. "If you are truly interested in fostering optimal health and mental health and overall success in African-American youth, you have to understand racial, ethnic and cultural competencies and contexts," says Coard.

Specifically, the task force recommends that researchers conduct more studies on the influence of race, ethnicity and culture, as well as positive familial processes and environments (e.g., social support) as key variables in identifying the "protective mechanisms" that are important in promoting strength and resilience among African-American youth.

Raising awareness of the lack of research in these areas is critical, says Coard. "I think the majority of us in the field think we are doing our part and we may all have kind hearts and the best intentions, but the majority of research that has been produced to date tells a different and skewed story."

The task force is now disseminating its findings, and recommendations to researchers, practitioners, policy-makers and the public nationwide.

The full text of the report is at www.apa.org/pi/cyf/resilience.html.

Fulbright scholars unite

At the 2008 APA Annual Convention, APA President Alan E. Kazdin, PhD, and the association's Office of International Affairs invited all psychology Fulbright scholars from the past 10 years to attend the convention to help celebrate the Fulbright as a means of promoting international exchange, research and collaboration.

More then 100 attended — about 70 participated in a poster session showcasing their Fulbright projects. At a symposium, three Fulbrighters discussed their experiences in the program and two Fulbright program officers discussed the many programs that provide funding for students, scholars and professionals to undertake graduate study and to advance research and teaching at all levels.

Also attending the session was Harriet Fulbright, the widow of the founder of the Fulbright program, Sen. William Fulbright. Mrs. Fulbright is president of the J. William & Harriet Fulbright Center, a nonprofit organization that promotes world peace.

—D. Schwartz

Presidential recognition

APA President Alan E. Kazdin, PhD, gave presidential citations to 24 people during APA's Annual Convention. They are:

• Norman Abeles, PhD

• Margarita Alegria, PhD

• David B. Baker, PhD

• Robert L. Balster, PhD

• John Bargh, PhD

• John F. Dovidio, PhD

• Malcolm Gladwell

• James S. Jackson, PhD

• Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D–Mass.)

• Annette La Greca, PhD

• Marsha Linehan, PhD

• Richard E. Mayer, PhD

• Roberta Nutt, PhD

• Dan Schacter, PhD

• Murray Sidman, PhD

• Brent Slife, PhD

• Larry Steinberg, PhD

• Louis W. Sullivan, MD

• Stephen J. Suomi, PhD

• Patrick Tolan, PhD

• Terry J. G. Tracey, PhD

• John Weisz, PhD

• Oksana Yakushko, PhD

Online course offers new teachers an edge

An APA-backed online course is helping graduate students and early career psychologists design psychology classes before they stand before the lectern for the first time.

The online course, known as Grad 980 ("Preparing to Teach a Psychology Course"), has been completed by more than 300 students from 75 colleges and universities worldwide, said course developer Victor Benassi, PhD, of the University of New Hampshire's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, at APA's Annual Convention.

The course is tied to the Preparing Future Faculty program, a national movement to enhance the way students train for academic careers, originally funded by the Council of Graduate Schools and the Association of American Colleges and Universities. The University of New Hampshire, with funds from APA's Education Directorate, created Grad 980 in response to graduate students' reports that they felt they were entering the professoriate unprepared to teach.

"I have heard that, without exaggeration, from hundreds of students," said Benassi.

For more information on Grad 980, visit www.unh.edu/teaching-excellence/GRAD980/Index.htm.

—J. Chamberlin

Make a difference in federal policy

APA is seeking applications for its 2009–10 Congressional Fellowship and Executive Branch Science Fellowship Programs. These fellowships provide an opportunity for psychologists to spend a year using their psychology training in the worlds of federal policy-making and research administration and funding.

The fellowship program contributes to the more effective use of psychological knowledge in government and broadens awareness about the value of psychology-government interaction among psychologists and within the federal government. Activities may include drafting legislation, conducting oversight work, assisting in congressional hearings and debates, and preparing speeches and briefing materials. Special fellowships are available for mid-career psychologists and psychologists with expertise in health and behavior. The Executive Branch Fellow gains crucial experience in science policy and research coordination in a federal science agency (previous placements include the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Science Foundation).

To qualify, applicants must be U.S. citizens, be APA members and hold a doctoral-level degree in psychology or a related field. A minimum of two years' postdoctoral experience is preferred. Applicants for the congressional fellowships must have their degrees at the time of application, with a special exception made for psychology interns who have met all other requirements for their program.

Both programs provide a yearlong stipend, a supplement for relocation and travel expenses during the year, and additional monthly funds for health insurance and other fellowship-related expenses.

The application for both programs requires: a cover sheet (available at www.apa.org/ppo/fellows/coversheet.pdf); a detailed CV; three letters of reference; and a 1,000-word personal statement. Applicants interested in both the Congressional and Science Policy Fellowships must complete and submit separate applications.

Applications for both programs are due Jan. 7, with selections made in early spring. For more information, visit www.apa.org/ppo/fellows or contact the Public Interest Government Relations Office at (202) 336-5935.

APA coalition convenes to plan for teachers' success

The Coalition for Psychology in the Schools and Education convened for its biannual meeting in June at APA headquarters in Washington, D.C. The meeting was attended by representatives of 12 APA divisions, the Board of Educational Affairs, The Board of Scientific Affairs, Psi Chi, the Committee on Psychological Tests and Assessment and Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools.

A central project of the group is to address the psychological science that teachers need for successful practice. The group reviewed efforts conducted by the Institute of Medicine to enhance the behavioral and social science content of medical school curricula.

To learn more about the coalition visit www.apa.org/ed/cpse/interdivision.html, or contact Rena Subotnik, PhD, in the Center for Psychology in Schools and Education, at e-mail.

Give APA your feedback on programs up for 2009 accreditation review

APA's Commission on Accreditation is accepting testimony from students, faculty and consumers on all programs scheduled for site visits and periodic reviews during 2009.

To see the lists of programs scheduled for review, as well as programs applying for initial accreditation, and the deadline and instructions for commenting, visit www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/.

For details on how to provide testimony, refer to the Accreditation Operating Procedures, at www.apa.org/ed/oprtgprcd.pdf. This information is also available by contacting APA's Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, at the APA address, or by calling (202) 336-5979.

Next month: Fostering women's leadership

Just before the convention, APA hosted the Women's Leadership Institute, at which 30 mid-career women psychologists learned ways to boost their careers, negotiate for better salaries and make the most of mentoring. The APA program, a first for psychology, aims to enhance women's leadership abilities as greater numbers of women enter the field, institute leaders say. A special report on this institute will appear in the November Monitor.

Attend an ACT Against Violence workshop

APA's Public Interest Directorate Violence Prevention Office invites psychologists to submit applications to attend the ACT Against Violence train-the-trainers workshop, Nov. 6–8 in Washington, D.C.

ACT is a research-based APA program that trains professionals to help families and communities to create violence-free environments for young children and youth.

The three-day workshop covers:

• How to disseminate information on child development and on the roots and consequences of violence in the lives of children.

• Prevention skills, such as anger management, social problem-solving, positive discipline and media literacy.

• Program implementation, evaluation, marketing and fundraising strategies.

The workshop offers 24 continuing-education units. The application deadline is Oct. 24. For more information visit www.actagainstviolence.org or contact Julia Silva, director, at (202) 336-5817 or e-mail.

Test these study programs and earn CE credits

APA's Office of Continuing Education in Psychology seeks doctoral-level psychologists who are interested in earning CE credit while testing new independent study programs. These CE activities are based on APA books and journals or are online multimedia programs. To qualify, applicants must be APA members and have at least five years' postdoctoral experience. For more information, contact Janis Pitt.

Apply for 2009 Minority Fellowship Program

APA's Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) welcomes applications for its fellowships in psychology and neuroscience. The fellowships seek to stimulate interest in ethnic-minority, mental health services and neuroscience research by providing financial support and mentoring to doctoral students and postdoctoral trainees.

The fellowships are:

• The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MHSAS) Predoctoral Fellowship, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Applicants must be doctoral students in clinical, counseling or school psychology and planning to pursue careers as practitioners or psychotherapy researchers who specialize in ethnic-minority populations.

• The MHSAS Postdoctoral Fellowship, also funded by SAMHSA. This fellowship is intended for early career doctoral recipients interested in careers in mental health service delivery, research or policy.

• The Diversity Program in Neuroscience (DPN) Predoctoral Fellowship, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, supports doctoral students pursuing careers in neuroscience.

• The DPN Postdoctoral Fellowship, also funded by NIMH, supports early career doctoral recipients who are pursuing careers in neuroscience.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled full time when they begin the fellowships. Mental health and substance-abuse services applicants must be in APA-accredited programs and must demonstrate their commitment to ethnic-minority mental health.

Fellowship applications are due Jan. 15. Apply online at www.apa.org/mfp.

Apply for grant to enhance ethnic-minority training

The APAGS Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs awards two $1,000 grants each spring and three $1,000 grants each fall for projects that aim to recruit, retain and enhance the training of ethnic-minority graduate psychology students. Examples include workshops, conferences, speaker series, mentorship programs and the development of student organizations with a focus on multiculturalism or ethnic-minority concerns. Visit the APAGS Web site at www.apa.org/apags for more information.

Students: Present at APA's 2009 convention

APA's 2009 Annual Convention is Aug. 6–9 in Toronto. Topics to be presented at convention include balancing professional and personal life, diversity in psychology training, mentoring and surviving the dissertation process.

Proposals are due Dec. 1 and must be submitted online. Visit www.apa.org/apags/convention/cfp05generalinfo.html for more information.

Volunteer to help HIV-prevention program

APA's Office on AIDS seeks volunteer consultants to support its Behavioral and Social Science Volunteer Program, which seeks to improve the ability of community-based organizations, health departments and community-planning groups to design, adapt and evaluate effective HIV-prevention interventions for communities of color.

Volunteers should have a master's or doctoral-level degree in behavioral or social science; be representative of a minority ethic/racial group; and have knowledge of HIV-prevention science and its application among communities of color. They also should have a desire to give back to local communities to reduce the spread of HIV.

For more information about this program, contact Shauna Cooper by e-mail or (202) 336-6176.

President-elect election

For the first time, the 2008 president-elect election will offer the opportunity for voting members, fellows and associates to cast their vote online. Members will have the option to vote using a paper ballot OR the online ballot. Paper ballots will be mailed to all eligible voters on Oct. 15 and the online ballot will go live on Oct. 15 as well. Instructions for voting online will be available on the Web site and included on the paper ballot.

If you have any questions, contact the Election Office at (202) 336-6087 or via e-mail.