APA reaches out to new professionals
APA President Norine G. Johnson, PhD, and the APA Board of Directors have appointed members to the Ad Hoc Committee on New Professionals, which is charged with attracting more new professionals to APA's ranks.
The committee, an outgrowth of the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) Task Force on New Professionals, is composed of four individuals representing Science, Practice, Education and Public Interest who are within five years of receipt of the doctoral degree in psychology, plus one senior member. This group will research, organize and institute initiatives to increase the number of Student Affiliate Members who switch to full-member status, as well as the number of new professionals joining the association for the first time.
Appointed members are Jessica Henderson Daniel, PhD, Judge Baker's Children's Center/Children's Hospital, Boston; Robyn Landow, PhD, private practice in New York City; Elizabeth Meinz, PhD, State University of New York College at Cortland, Cortland, N.Y.; Mitchell J. Prinstein, PhD, Yale University, New Haven, Conn.; and Miguel A. Ybarra, PhD, Barry University, Miami Shores, Fla.
To learn more about the group, contact Nancy Forest at (202) 336-6095.
Accreditation workshops will be offered at convention
APA's Committee on Accreditation will be conducting site visitor workshops on Aug. 23 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., prior to the Annual Convention in San Francisco. The workshop is open to new as well as experienced site visitors who have not been trained under the new Guidelines and Principles for Accreditation of Programs in Professional Psychology.
A site visitor chair workshop will also be offered on Aug. 23 from 12:305 p.m. for current site visitors interested in learning more about the responsibilities of being a site visit team chair.
Workshops are scheduled in the San Francisco Hilton. For more information, or to register for the workshops, contact Betsy Horrocks at (202) 336-5995; Web site: www.apa.org/ed/accred.html.
Ad Hoc Committee on Psychology and AIDS seeks nominations
The APA Ad Hoc Committee on Psychology and AIDS (COPA) is seeking nominations for two new members whose terms will begin on Jan. 1, 2002 and end on Dec. 31, 2004. The mission of COPA, an ad hoc committee that reports directly to the APA Board of Directors, is to guide the development and implementation of APA's organizational responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
A candidate should have demonstrated expertise in dealing with HIV/AIDS issues as a researcher, practitioner, educator or policy advocate. COPA is particularly interested in candidates with expertise in HIV/AIDS public policy, treatment and prevention for substance users living with HIV, and treatment and prevention for children and families living with HIV. Send qualifications, a letter from the nominee indicating willingness to serve, and a curriculum vitae to Robert Beverly, Office on AIDS, at the APA address,
by Sept. 12.
Committee on Aging seeks nominations
APA's Committee on Aging (CONA) is seeking nominations for two new members to begin three-year terms in January 2002.
CONA helps to ensure that older adults, especially the growing numbers of older women and minorities, receive the attention of the association.
CONA is interested in candidates with demonstrated interest and experience in aging issues. It is also committed to ensuring the representation of all constituencies within APA. Each year, new members are selected based on their qualifications with regard to the particular slate requirements for that year. This year, the committee is giving preference to candidates actively involved in scientific research and to ethnic minorities.
Selected candidates will be required to attend two committee meetings a year in Washington, D.C., with expenses reimbursed by APA. Members also work on committee priorities between meetings. If possible, members attend a CONA meeting held during APA's Annual Convention at their own expense.
Nomination materials should include the nominee's qualifications, a letter from the nominee indicating willingness to serve on CONA and a current curriculum vitae. APA nominations are open to all members including those who are retired or employed less than full time.
Nominations and supporting materials should be sent by Aug. 1 to Deborah DiGilio, Aging Issues Officer, Public Interest Directorate, at the APA address.
New members wanted for Committee on Women in Psychology
APA's Committee on Women in Psychology (CWP) seeks nominations for two new members to begin three-year terms in January 2002.
CWP works on activities regarding the status of women by interacting with and making recommendations to APA's governance structure and membership as well as to Div. 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women) and other relevant groups. It also develops ways to increase women's participation in the profession.
Candidates should demonstrate interest and experience in women's issues. For this term, CWP seeks at least one member actively involved in research. To fulfill the committee's commitment to full diversity in representation, one of the slates should be filled by an openly identified lesbian psychologist. Letters of nomination should clearly describe the candidate's specific qualifications relative to these criteria.
Selected candidates will be required to attend two committee meetings a year in Washington, D.C., with expenses reimbursed by the APA. Members also work on CWP priorities between meetings. If possible, members attend a CWP meeting at their own expense held during the APA Convention.
Nomination materials should include the nominee's qualifications, a letter from the nominee indicating
willingness to serve on CWP and a current curriculum vitae. Self-nominations are also encouraged. APA nominations are open to members who are retired
or employed less than full time. Nominations and supporting materials should be sent by Sept. 1 to Stephanie Olmstead-Dean, APA Women's Programs Office, at the APA address.
Committee on Accreditation seeks public members
APA's Board of Educational Affairs (BEA) seeks nominations for membership on the Committee on Accreditation (CoA) to represent consumers of professional psychological services. Visit www.apa.org/ed/accred.html for detailed membership criteria.
The term of service for public members begins Jan. 1, 2002, and lasts three years, with eligibility for a maximum of two consecutive terms of service. The CoA typically meets three times a year in Washington, D.C., with expenses reimbursed by APA.
To nominate an individual for this position, please submit a resume and a cover letter by Sept. 1 describing the qualifications of the nominee to Board of Educational Affairs, c/o Robert Walsh, Education Directorate at the APA address.
Questions regarding the duties and qualifications of the public member may be directed to the APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation at (202) 336-5979 or at APA Accreditation.
Continuing Professional Education Committee seeks nominations
The Continuing Professional Education Committee (CPEC) seeks nominations to fill three vacancies for the 2002-2004 committee term. CPEC is committed to maintaining a diverse and broad representation from all groups and areas of psychology. Nomination materials should include a letter of interest and current curriculum vitae. Self-nominations are encouraged. Send by Sept. 5 to Karen Kanefield, SAS Manager, CPE Office, at the APA address or send by e-mail as an attachment.
Pinnacle Scholars Project will bring gifted teens and experts together
APA's Center for Gifted Education Policy will launch its Pinnacle Scholars Project this summer with a weeklong summit in Great Barrington, Mass.
The project will allow extraordinarily talented high school students from eight different disciplines the opportunity to meet and work side-by-side with experts and graduate students/assistant professors from each of the eight areas that pertain to the students' talents. The experts participating in the Pinnacle Project include:
* Fiction writers Faye Kellerman and Jonathan Kellerman, PhD.
* Biologist and Nobel Laureate Joshua Lederberg, PhD, of Rockefeller University.
* Journalist Philip Scheffler, executive editor of "60 Minutes."
* Psychologists Martin E.P. Seligman, PhD, and E. Belvin Williams, PhD.
The Pinnacle project, the first major project developed by the
Center for Gifted Education Policy, was created to publicize the talent development needs of gifted adolescents and establish a venue to fertilize ideas about talent development across disciplines.
At the summit, tentatively scheduled for Aug. 1-5, students and masters will form mentoring relationships by planning a project and participating in hands-on activities. The summit will provide a safe forum to discuss the joys, psychological stresses and expectations associated with high-level talent development. After the summit, masters and their associates will maintain a relationship with their student either through visits, e-mail or written correspondence, or telephone. In addition, students will have the opportunity to work on a collaborative project with other interested student participants, and generate a method of presentation for their product. The project's organizers hope to share that product at APA's 2002 Annual Convention in Chicago.
On the Web and at the conference: APA's Healthy Lesbian, Gay
and Bisexual Students Project
APA's Healthy Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) Students Project, which seeks to strengthen the capacity
of the nation's schools to prevent behavioral health risks of LGB students,
has launched a new Web site: www.apa.org/ed/hlgb.html. The site offers information on:
* The background and health risks of LGB youth.
* Links to policies and ethics statements of related national educational organizations.
* Reports of the project's recent needs assessment of school health professionals.
* More than 230 searchable journal articles or book chapters concerning LGB youth, schools and health.
* Daily links to newspaper articles and electronic media related to LGB youth, health and mental health.
The Healthy LGB Students Project will be coordinating two presentations at APA's 2001 Annual Convention in San Francisco: "Addressing LGB adolescent health and mental health in schools," Saturday, Aug. 25, 8-9:50 a.m. CE credits are available to participants who attend this symposium, and "Addressing needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual youth of color," Sunday, Aug. 26, 9-10:50 a.m. For more information, contact Dusty Porter, PhD, project manager.
Committee on Urban
Initiatives seeks new members
APA's Committee on Urban Initiatives (CUI) seeks nominations for two new members to begin three-year terms in January 2002. CUI addresses issues of public interest and aims to affect scientific research, professional practice and public policy, to enhance the quality of life for urban residents.
The committee seeks one candidate with expertise in public safety issues in urban communities (e.g., strengthening relationships between law enforcement and communities, re-entry of incarcerated persons into communities) and one candidate with expertise in urban families (e.g., strengths of urban families, housing, poverty and education).
Expertise in underserved populations--such as the poor, women, ethnic minorities or immigrant populations--is highly desirable. Also, to fulfill its commitment to full diversity in representation, one of the individuals should be an ethnic-minority psychologist. Letters of nomination should clearly describe the candidate's specific qualifications relative to these criteria.
Selected candidates will be required to attend two committee meetings a year in Washington, D.C., with expenses reimbursed by APA. The meeting dates are: March 15-17, 2002; Sept. 20-22, 2002; March 28-30, 2003; Sept. 19-21, 2003; March 26-28, 2004; and Oct. 1-3, 2004.
Members are also expected to work on CUI issues and priorities between meetings. The necessary time per month will vary depending on the nature of the projects. If possible, members attend a CUI Network meeting held during APA's Annual Convention, at their own expense.
Except for the public member, committee members must be APA members. Nomination materials should include the nominee's qualifications, a letter from the nominee indicating willingness to serve on CUI and a current curriculum vitae.
Self-nominations are encouraged. Nominations are open to members who are retired or employed less than full time. Nominations and supporting materials should be sent by Aug. 15 to Marsha Jenakovich, Public Interest Directorate, at the APA address.
Members can join advocacy network to stay in tune with policy issues
APA's Public Policy Advocacy Network (PPAN) is seeking members who are interested in critical federal policy initiatives concerning psychologists. As a PPAN participant, members receive e-mails providing legislative updates and calls for action to contact congressional offices.
Because members of Congress seldom take action without hearing directly from their constituents, psychologists' letters, phone calls and e-mail messages help ensure that the field's knowledge and expertise are considered in important federal policy matters. The advocacy network also helps psychologists provide input into the development of research priorities and program guidelines at key federal agencies.
PPAN announcements are sent intermittently, averaging about once per month. Members can elect to receive all announcements or only those related to their areas of interest--education, science or public interest. The advocacy network is administered by APA's Public Policy Office in collaboration with the Education, Public Interest and Science directorates. The Practice Directorate operates its own federal grassroots network devoted to practitioner issues.
For more information on PPAN, contact Jeff McIntyre, APA Public Policy Office, (202) 336-6064; Web site: www.apa.org/ppo.
Ethics Committee welcomes new members and associates
APA's Ethics Committee recently welcomed two new members and two
new associates. APA's Council of Representatives elected the new members to serve from January 2001 to December 2003, while the Ethics Committee selected the nonvoting associates to serve from March 2001 to March 2003. The new members are:
* Michael C. Gottlieb, PhD, a forensic and family psychologist who practices independently in Dallas. He is also a partner in J.M. Craig Press Inc., an online publishing company providing mental health information to the family law community. Gottlieb is past-president of the Dallas and Texas Psychological Associations, the American Board of Family Psychology and the Academy of Family Psychology. He has represented Texas on the APA's Council of Representatives and recently completed a term on APA's Committee on Professional Practice and Standards.
* Michael D. Roberts, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and executive director of Communicare, a community mental health center serving seven counties in northern Mississippi. A former president of the Mississippi Psychological Association, he now serves as its federal advocacy coordinator. He is a member of the Mississippi State Board of Mental Health, which governs the Department of Mental Health. Roberts recently completed a term of service on the Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology.
The new associates are:
* Peter N. Mayfield, PhD, a clinical psychologist in private practice in Atlanta, specializing in adult psychotherapy. He is also the police and public safety psychologist for a suburban jurisdiction and an adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry at the Emory University School of Medicine. Mayfield is past-president of the state licensing board and of the Georgia Psychological Association, where he also served two terms on the Ethics Committee. He has also served on the American Board of Professional Psychology Board of Trustees.
* Ed Nottingham, PhD, a clinical psychologist in independent practice in Memphis, Tenn. He has been involved in ethics and ethics education since 1985. Nottingham served as chair of the Tennessee Psychological Association Ethics Committee for seven years, and also served on APA's Board of Directors' Standing Hearing Panel. He has previously served as an associate on the APA Ethics Committee.
Participate in National Depression Screening Day
APA encourages psychologists to participate in the 2001 National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) on Oct. 11. The association is an official supporter of NDSD, which is designed to help educate the public about depression and its treatment. This year's NDSD incorporates an expanded focus on bipolar disorders.
NDSD organizers provide psychologists and others who host participating sites with implementation instructions, publicity ideas and educational and screening materials. These include the APA Practice Directorate's fact sheet for consumers, "How Psychotherapy Helps People Recover from Depression." Participating sites handle publicity and provide the professionals to conduct the educational and screening components.
Screening participants hear an educational presentation on depression and manic-depression, take written self-assessments and have the opportunity to speak privately with a mental health professional.
More than 100,000 attended last year's NDSD at more than 3,500 sites nationwide. There is a $150 fee for site hosts and reduced fees for renewals and public sector sites. For more information and registration materials, contact NDSD, One Washington St., Suite 304, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-1706, (781) 239-0071; fax: (781) 431-7447.
--K. HEWLETT and D. SMITH
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