Board approves tight budget, new rules

APA?s Board of Directors passes items that will be considered by council later this month.

Faced with lower than anticipated revenues and a strong aversion to raising dues, APA?s Board of Directors at its June 5?7 meeting approved a 1999 budget with major expense reductions. The budget, endorsed by both the Finance Committee and the Board, will be acted upon by APA?s Council of Representatives at its August meeting. It includes substantial cutbacks in expenditures of all major APA functions including central office operations, boards and committees, and the Board of Directors? own budget. For the first time in recent history, expenditures will be almost $1 million less than expenditures for the previous year.

The $79 million budget calls for a small deficit of less than one half of one percent, which is expected to be made up during the year, resulting in a balanced budget for 1999. The $1 million expenditure for the Public Education Campaign, which had been funded in previous years from a reduction in APA?s assets, was built into the budget on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, thus assuring its continuation through 2001 as directed by council.

'Many APA members and many council representatives have asked that APA cut back on expenses so we can live comfortably within our income,' said Gerry Koocher, PhD, APA?s treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee. 'I commend the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors for biting the bullet and making the cuts that had to be made.'

Other action

Additional items approved by the board to be considered by council include:

? A new APA policy stating that the association opposes discrimination against same-sex couples and supports for them the types of legal protections that married couples have in such areas as employee benefits, taxes, property rights and estate planning.

? A new association rule that requires all editors and associate editors of APA journals to be members for the their full terms of service. The rule also stipulates that consulting editors do not need to be APA members because they do not make editorial decisions; they merely offer information and advice. The rule also states that nonmember consulting editors will be encouraged to join the association if they are qualified.

? A new association rule, which calls for APA divisions to make it clear that their documents are not intended to set standards or guidelines for practice. According to the proposed rule, 'When an APA division or one of its official sub-units sponsors and/or disseminates a published document that the Division does not intend to be standards or guidelines but which the public may reasonably construe as a set of standards or guidelines for professional practice, the Division shall make it clear that the contents of the publication are not intended to set a standard or guideline for practice.'

Cross-divisional programs

The board also approved funding for six projects under APA?s Interdivisional Grants Program, which supports innovative initiatives that promote collaboration among APA?s divisions. (This action does not need council approval.)

The six projects are:

? A national multicultural summit between divisions 45 (Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues), 35 (Women) and 17 (Counseling).

? Conducting a study of psychology?s roles in drop-out prevention research and practice with divisions 16 (School), 7 (Development), 12, Section 1 (Clinical-Child), 27 (Community) and 43 (Family).

? Developing a curriculum for psychology in primary-care among divisions 43 (Family), 38 (Health), 42 (Independent Practice) and 12, Section 5 (Clinical-Pediatric).

? Developing an APA policy statement on the uses of hypnosis to influence recollection with divisions 30 (Hypnosis) and 41 (American Psychology-Law Society).

? Specifying proficiency in psychopharmacology with divisions 28 (Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse), 42 (Independent Practice) and 50 (Addictions).