Members can comment on draft guidelines
APA's Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) is requesting member comments on a draft document prepared by its Committee on Professional Practice and Standards (COPPS).
The document, Criteria for Practice Guideline Development and Review, is a revision of the Criteria for Guideline Development and Review (known informally as the "Guidelines on Guidelines"), which was approved by APA's Council of Representatives in 1995. The draft document is also being sent to APA governance groups, divisions and state and provincial associations for comments.
Interested members may request a copy of the draft document from Ernestine Penniman in the APA Practice Directorate at (202) 336-5911. The deadline to return comments to the Practice Directorate is July 15.
Committee on Children,Youth and Families seeks new members
The Committee on Children, Youth and Families (CYF) is searching to fill two anticipated vacancies in 2002.
The committee is particularly interested in candidates with experience in promoting the application of psychological knowledge to the well-being and optimal development of children, youth and families and in issues advancing psychology as a science and profession and as a means of promoting health and human welfare.
The committee is seeking candidates with expertise in health and mental health services for children and youth; immigrant children, youth and families; early childhood prevention and intervention strategies; and gender, ethnic and cultural issues.
Members are encouraged to take leadership on a targeted project during their service on the committee. Examples of issues previously addressed by the committee include:
• Immigrant children, youth and families.
• School drop-out prevention.
• Sexuality education.
• Social practices that induce violence.
• Psychological implications of disasters.
• Early mental health interventions.
• Violence against children in the family and community.
• Training psychologists to work in the public sector.
• Cultural competence.
• Day care.
• Testing.
• The mental health needs of children and adolescents in the juvenile justice system.
Committee projects have included topic specific task forces, working groups, conferences, publications and public policy statements.
Each candidate should submit a letter indicating his or her willingness to serve; a brief, one-page description of a project (e.g., convention programs, edited books, journal articles, policy resolutions or statements) and a curriculum vita. Although it is not required, candidates may wish to submit no more than three letters supporting their nomination.
The committee places a priority on maintaining a representation that reflects the diversity of psychology and society (e.g., ethnicity, culture, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, geographic location and those who are employed less than full time).
The selected members will serve a three-year term and work about 10 hours per month on CYF-related issues. They are required to attend two committee meetings per year in Washington, D.C., with expenses reimbursed by APA. The committee will meet on March 1517, 2002 and Sept. 2022, 2002; March 2830, 2003 and Sept. 1921, 2003; and March 2628, 2004 and Oct. 13, 2004. Members also attend the informal CYF meeting held during APA's Annual Convention at their own expense.
The deadline to submit nomination materials is Aug. 13. Nomination materials received after the deadline will be held for consideration the following year. Send materials to CYF Nominations, APA Public Interest Directorate, at the APA address; (202) 336-6050.
Apply for travel grants to Chile psychology conference
APA has requested funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to support a block travel grant for U.S. citizens and residents participating in the scientific program of the 28th Interamerican Congress of Psychology in Santiago, Chile, July 29Aug. 3.
NIMH funding will be used exclusively for scholars working in areas that are central to the NIMH mission to increase knowledge and improve research methods on mental and behavioral disorders; to generate information regarding basic biological and behavioral processes underlying these disorders and the maintenance of mental health; and to develop and improve mental health treatment and services. At least half of the awards will be granted to investigators who are students within eight years of receiving their doctoral degree.
Although APA has not received final approval from NIMH on availability of funding, applications are now available from the APA Office of International Affairs at the APA address; (202) 336-6025; fax: (202) 218-3599; e-mail International.
Wanted: Members with expertise in alternative dispute resolution and mediation
Volunteers and staff of APA and the American Bar Association (ABA) are seeking APA members with interest or experience in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and mediation.
ABA's Section of Dispute Resolution has expressed an interest in working with APA to facilitate interdisciplinary initiatives on ADR/mediation issues. Therefore, APA and ABA are looking for information on projects and other collaborative efforts that exist between lawyers and psychologists in the areas of ADR/mediation. APA's Committee on Legal Issues (COLI) would appreciate assistance in identifying such psychologists.
If you are a psychologist with interest or expertise in ADR/mediation and have a desire to participate in or be informed about proposed APA-ABA interdisciplinary initiatives addressing these issues--or if you know of any projects involving formal, informal and community-based collaborations in the area of ADR/mediation between psychologists and lawyers--please contact COLIc/o Donna Beavers, APA Office of General Counsel, at the APA address; fax: (202) 336-6069.
Comments sought to revise standards for teaching high school psychology
The APA Standards Working Group seeks comments to begin revising the National Standards for the Teaching of High School Psychology. The standards articulate the curriculum, assessment and instruction defining one- and two-semester high school psychology courses. They have been influential in advancing the scientific rigor of high school psychology courses throughout the United States.
The standards are organized into five content domains: methods of research, biopsychological, cognitive, developmental and sociocultural. Each content domain is divided into standard areas. Within each of the 17 standard areas are content standards, performance standards and performance indicators. For this first revision of the standards, the group is soliciting recommendations on the content standards, performance standards and performance indicators.The five content domains and 17 standard areas will be maintained.
In addition, the Standards Working Group will update the resources for the standards.
APA will compile the recommendations and send them to a panel of experts for review. Working from the reviewed recommendations, the Standards Working Group will develop a draft of the revised National Standards by early next year.
Members of the APA Standards Working Group include: Laura Maitland, Mepham High School, chair; Rob McEntarffer, Lincoln Southeast High School; Kristin Whitlock, Viewmont High School; and Ken Weaver, PhD, Emporia State University.
The group views the National Standards as a living document and invites broad participation in the revision process.
For more information, contact Martha Braswell, APA staff liaison to the Standards Working Group, (202) 336-6140; e-mail; Web site: www.apa.org/ed/topsshomepage.html. All recommendations must be received by May 1.
2001 APA Membership Directory available in June
APA has completed data collection and record verification for the full biographical directory of APA members, and expects the 2001 Membership Directory to be completely printed in June.
A record number of APA members have already placed advance orders for a copy of the directory. Aside from advance orders, APA will print only a limited number of additional copies.
For Member and Affiliate members, the price is $79.99 plus shipping; list price is $99.99 plus shipping.
Orders for the millennial roster of members may be placed by contacting the customer service department at Bernard C. Harris Publishing, P.O. Box 41135, Norfolk, VA 23541-1135; (800) 877-6554; fax: (800) 829-4142; e-mail: inquiry@bcharrispub.com.
--D. SMITH
Faculty volunteers sought to spread the word about APA benefits
APA seeks university and college faculty members to volunteer to disseminate information about APA membership, as well as APA books, journals and other products and services on their campuses. For information, contact Gregory Hill, Membership Development, at the APA address, (800) 374-2721, ext. 5576; TDD: (202) 336-6123; fax: (202) 216-7628; e-mail.
