Div. 18 joins forces with Psychology Shield

Div. 18 (Psychologists in Public Service) has contributed funds to the fight to enforce California's law that makes psychologists primary-care providers. The state has encountered difficulties implementing the law, which grants psychologists in state-owned and operated facilities the authority to direct a patient's overall treatment. After several initiatives by the California Psychological Association (CPA) and the state Supreme Court ruling in CAPP v. Rank, psychologists in state-run facilities are still unable to provide their full legal privileges to clients.

As a result, Div. 18 has joined with Psychology Shield, an organization created to take legal action to enforce the law. In addition to Div. 18, Psychology Shield has received funding from CPA and 12 other state psychological associations, as well as the APA Psychology Defense Fund, the APA Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice and the union representing state-employed psychologists in California.

In October, Div. 19 changed its name from Military Psychology to the Society for Military Psychology.

Representatives from Div. 22 (Rehabilitation) and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) met at the APA Annual Convention in Hawaii to reaffirm their desire to work together on various initiatives.

The collaboration ensures that disability concerns are appropriately covered on work issues agendas.

Div. 24 (Theoretical and Philosophical) has sponsored a new book, "Critical Thinking About Psychology: Hidden Assumptions and Plausible Alternatives," that examines whether psychologists subject themselves to critical evaluation. The book suggests that critical thinking is often mistaken for rigorous thinking or analytical reasoning, which focus on methodological concerns. As a result, psychologists selectively exclude some topics from critical examination.

The book, edited by Brent Slife, PhD, Jeff Reber, PhD, and Frank Richardson, PhD, adopts a two-part conception of critical thinking: Psychologists should be aware of the underlying assumptions and worldviews of a particular field of inquiry and then develop alternative ideas.

For more information, visit http://www.apa.org/books/4316048.html.

Div. 27 (Society for Community Research and Action) and the American Psychological Foundation seek nominations for the Harry V. McNeil Award, which honors individual practitioners, neighborhood organizations and community mental health centers that support and encourage innovation in community mental health and promote their local community's active participation. The division awards $500 to the winner.

The nomination deadline is Feb. 15. Nominations should be made by APA members or fellows and should include the following:

• Four letters of support--two from local community citizens or organizations and two from APA members or fellows.
• A two-page description of the innovation and supporting materials.
• A copy of the curriculum vitae or résumé of the individual or a brief description of the organizational unit.

For more information or to submit nominations, contact Jennifer Woolard, Georgetown University Psychology Department, 306H White Gravenor Bldg., 37th and P St. N.W., Washington, DC 20057; phone: (202) 687-9258; e-mail.

Div. 39 (Psychoanalysis) is holding its Annual Spring Meeting, "Being and Becoming: 25 years of Continuity and Change in Psychoanalytic Psychology," April 12–17 in New York City.

Keynote speakers are Jay Greenberg, PhD, and Adam Phillips, PhD. Attendees can earn continuing-education credits in workshops with Beatrice Beebe, PhD, Irwin Z. Hoffman, PhD, Otto F. Kernberg, MD, Robert Langs, MD, and Donnel B. Stern, PhD.

The deadline for early registration is Jan. 5. For full program and registration information, visit the Div. 39 Web site at http://www.division39.org or contact co-chairs Anton Hart, PhD, at (212) 595-3704 or via e-mail, and Stefan Zicht, PsyD, at (212) 580-7262 or via e-mail.

Div. 44 (Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues) is working with the Bisexual Foundation to create the Bisexual Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship will be an annual fund awarding up to $2,000 to graduate students advancing research on the psychology of bisexuality.

Application guidelines are available at http://www.apa.org/divisions/div44. For more information contact Michael R. Stevenson, division president, at (765) 285-1690; or via
e-mail.

--Z. STAMBOR