Monitor on Psychology

Monitor on Psychology
Volume 40, No. 4 April 2009

APA News
Print version: page 72

Convention registration opens this month

As of April 15, you can register online for APA's 2009 Annual Convention in Toronto, Aug. 6–9, at www.apa.org/convention.

Registering early allows you to take advantage of lower registration fees and reserve hotel rooms at special APA rates.

Be sure to have your APA membership number and password available when you access the online registration site.

Don't forget to bring your passport to Toronto!

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Attention students: Special opportunities available at the APA convention

Would you like to help other students find their way at APA's Annual Convention? Then apply to be a convention ambassador for the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students. Ambassadors monitor APAGS sessions, provide information to student attendees and generally make other students feel welcome. APAGS also offers special hotel rates as low as $55 per night for students attending the convention. Space is limited, so don't wait. To become an ambassador or learn more about student housing, visit www.apa.org/apags/convention.html.

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A new edition in APA's 'Society's Grand Challenges' series

APA has released a booklet on health disparities, the third in APA President Alan E. Kazdin's 2008 Presidential Initiative on "Society's Grand Challenges." The booklet addresses ways psychologists can help bridge the gap between the healthiest Americans, who live longer, fitter lives than anyone in the world, and the unhealthy Americans who barely outlive people in some of the poorest countries.

"Our goal in producing this booklet is to educate the public and policymakers about the ways psychological science can be applied toward solutions that can help address and reduce health disparities," says APA's Executive Director for Science Steve Breckler, PhD.

APA distributed two earlier booklets—one on prolonging vitality and the other on global climate change—in August. For more information, visit www.apa.org/science/gcbooklets.html.

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Call for Model Act revisions and comments

APA's Task Force on the Revision of the Model Act for State Licensure of Psychologists seeks revision comments for the document. The revision of the Model Act updates the current version, approved in 1987. The revisions reflect changes in the scope of psychological practice, including recognition of psychologists' roles in psychopharmacology and developments in industrial-organizational and consulting psychology practice. The document will also reconcile APA policies regarding professional practice, such as reasserting the doctoral standard for licensure and changes in the recommended sequence of education and training leading to licensure. The deadline for comments is June 5. To comment on the Model Act, visit http://forms.apa.org/practice/modelactlicensure/.

INNOVATIVE PRACTICE AWARD

Collaborative program keeps kids in school

In 2001, the principal of Billings Senior High, in Billings, Mont., gave Lane Lasater, PhD, and Ken Robinson, EdD, a tough assignment: Develop a program for students on the verge of dropping out or being expelled from school.

That's when these two professionals developed the Social Responsibility Training (SRT®) program, a semester-long class that helps students tap their own resourcefulness and take charge of their lives.

After three and a half years, 68 percent of the 86 students who had entered the one semester program graduated successfully or were still in school, says Lasater.

"What makes this program unique is empowerment," says Robinson. "We're helping students learn to solve their own problems."

"We're focused on providing at-risk people with resources and support before they completely disappear from the radar," says Lasater.

Students use a workbook that requires daily self-assessment assignments in responsibility, integrity, awareness, resilience and service. One classroom exercise asks them to draw their lifelines, listing the significant events and decisions that led them to where they are. Students also testify to their classmates that they accept responsibility for their behaviors. They explain why they are in the class and state the goals they hope to achieve, such as graduating.

Lasater and Robinson train the teachers and counselors, or "coaches," who guide the students. Also, administrators or supervisors who request training can also receive it—for free. Because staff members take the program training together, they're more likely to communicate and collaborate to achieve what's in the best interests of each student, says Lasater. "We now also offer parallel programs for parents and families," says Lasater.

Lasater and Robinson are this month's winners of APA's Innovative Practice Presidential Citation because their work can serve as a model for empowering frontline staff to work together to solve social problems.

"This program represents the application of psychological science and practice to prevent at-risk youth and families from developing psychological and behavioral problems," says APA President James H. Bray, PhD.

Since 2001, the SRT® has trained 1,100 teachers, counselors and other educators and has helped 28,000 at-risk youth and parents in 17 states take responsibility for themselves in both school and life.

"We certainly want to reach more people, but this is a great beginning," says Robinson.

—J. Clark