Two positions available on CONA

APA's Committee on Aging (CONA) invites nominations for two members with aging expertise to serve three-year terms from January 2004 to December 2006.

CONA advances psychology as a science and profession and as a means of promoting health and human welfare by ensuring that APA promotes the needs of older adults--especially women and minorities. Its activities include:

* Providing advocacy for a scientific agenda on aging to policy-makers and private and public funding agencies.

* Advocating for policies that enhance the availability and reimbursement of health and mental health services to older adults and their families.

* Developing and supporting public policy that promotes optimal development of older adults, facilitates psychological practice with older persons and expands scientific understanding of adult development and aging.

* Promoting inclusion of knowledge about adult development and aging in all levels of education, including continuing education, training programs and professional development.

* Publicizing information on scientific findings and practice issues about older adults to psychologists, other health professionals, policy-makers and the public.

* Coordinating information at APA that addresses aging issues and consulting with APA boards, committees, divisions, state associations and directorates.

* Ensuring that older APA members receive the appropriate attention of the association.

Members are required to attend one committee meeting a year in Washington, D.C., with expenses reimbursed by APA, and to attend a CONA meeting at APA's Annual Convention at their own expense. Members participate in bi-monthly conference calls and work on committee priorities between meetings. They also provide consultation to APA's Office on Aging staff and participate in advocacy activities as needed.

While CONA has no predetermined slates this year, expertise is needed in such areas as competency, long-term care, private practice, academic administration, policy and diversity issues. Nominations are open to all members, including those who are retired or employed part time. Prior applicants are encouraged to reapply.

The nomination deadline is Sept. 1. Nomination materials should include a current curriculum vitae and a letter from the nominee that indicates willingness to serve on CONA and highlights specific competencies and interests that would benefit CONA. Letters of support from other APA governance groups, APA divisions, state psychological associations and other groups or organizations are welcome.

Send nomination materials to Deborah DiGilio, Aging Issues Officer, APA's Office on Aging, at the APA address or via e-mail at ddigilio@apa.org.

Practitioners sought for National Depression Screening Day

Consider participating in the 13th annual National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) on Oct. 9. NDSD, which is co-sponsored by APA, aims to focus national attention on depression, manic-depression, PTSD and anxiety, to screen for the disorders and connect those in need of treatment with mental health providers.

Practitioners are needed to either partner with a hospital or clinic on a screening or to screen their own clients on Oct. 9 or another day in October or November.

NDSD organizers provide tools and education resources for screenings and referrals, as well as tips on running a program and sample publicity materials. The organizers also provide participating psychologists with screening forms with scoring instructions and referral guidelines, diagnostic aids, a clinician's guide, videos, posters and educational materials for diverse audiences, including older adults and Spanish-speaking clients.

Last year, screenings took place at approximately 6,000 sites nationwide, including hospitals, mental health clinics, colleges, primary-care offices and public settings such as community centers, older adult facilities and supermarkets.

Register to host a NDSD site by Aug. 29. For registration information, contact Screening for Mental Health, the organization that administers NDSD, at (781) 239-0071, online at www.mentalhealthscreening.org or via e-mail at info@mentalhealthscreening.org.

Violence prevention CE workshop offered in Toronto

APA will host a continuing-education (CE) workshop to familiarize APA members with the ACT (Adults and Children Together) Against Violence project and prepare them to spread the project's messages and contents to adults in their communities. The program, developed by APA in collaboration with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), is a national anti-violence initiative emphasizing the importance of early prevention the role of adults and communities in protecting children from becoming involved with violence.

The workshop, "Violence prevention in the early years," will provide participants with an overview of major topics on early childhood violence prevention, such as:

* ACT as a social-cognitive intervention.

* Young children and violence, roots and consequences.

* Prevention skills such as anger management and media violence literacy.

* Ways to be involved with ACT in the community.

APA encourages those who are interested in early childhood, families, children and violence prevention to attend. Attendance is limited to 25 participants. For more information, contact Julia Silva at jsilva@apa.org.

Tool-kit explains Medicare provisions

Tap a new tool-kit to learn about Medicare provisions for psychological services and provide input on their development. The Medicare Local Medical Review Policy (LMRP) Tool-kit, created by APA's Committee on Aging, is a Web-based resource that includes an explanation of the LMRP development process, advocacy opportunities, samples of correspondence with insurance intermediaries, psychology-friendly LMRP provisions and empirical evidence to support incorporation of such provisions. APA members can access it at www.apa.org/pi/aging/lmrp. For more information, contact Deborah DiGilio in APA's Office on Aging at ddigilio@apa.org.

Help for internship applicants

The American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) has produced a book to help doctoral-level students navigate the internship application process. "Internships in Psychology: The APAGS Workbook for Writing Successful Applications and Finding the Right Match" is published by APA Books and can be purchased online at www.apa.org/books/4313003.html. Graduate students who have pre-registered for the APAGS Pre-Convention Internship Workshop on Wednesday, Aug. 6, before APA's Annual Convention in Toronto will receive a free copy. Copies will also be sold at the APA Bookstore in Toronto.

Work on continuing-education issues

APA's Continuing Professional Education Committee (CPEC) is seeking five new members to begin three-year terms on Jan. 1. CPEC develops policy and program recommendations for APA's continuing-education (CE) program, working with APA's CE Sponsor Approval System and Office of Continuing Education in Psychology. The committee:

* Develops and delivers CE programs and products.

* Provides educational and technical assistance to APA directorates, divisions, state associations and other sponsors.

* Collaborates with organizations that want to become APA-approved sponsors of continuing education.

* Reviews all sponsors and organizations seeking APA sponsor approval.

* Identifies, promotes, implements and evaluates research, development and innovations in CE.

Members are required to attend two annual committee meetings in Washington, D.C., with expenses reimbursed by APA. Members also work on committee projects between meetings. CPEC aims to include a diverse group of psychologists. It encourages nominations of individuals who are committed to the concept of lifelong learning, with knowledge of, or background in, forensic psychology, humanistic psychology, psychoanalysis, counseling psychology and independent practice.

The submission deadline is Sept. 5. Nomination materials should include the nominee's curriculum vitae and a letter stating the individual's interest in serving on the committee. Submit materials to Karen Kanefield, CE Sponsor Approval System, at the APA address; (202) 336-5988; e-mail: kkanefield@apa.org.

Spend a year guiding health policy

APA is inviting applications for a potential one-year health policy fellowship with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The fellow works on national policy issues related to psychology, managed care, health-care reimbursement and financing.

The fellowship, tentatively slated to begin in January, is funded by a stipend of up to $69,000, commensurate with experience. Applicants should be licensed, doctoral-level psychologists with at least three to five years work experience and an interest in public policy.

The application deadline is Sept. 15. To apply, send a curriculum vitae and a letter describing the candidate's interest in public policy or public service to Elizabeth A. Cullen, JD, Director of Congressional Affairs, APA Practice Directorate, at the APA address. For more information, call (202) 336-5889.

Liven up your class

Want to engage your students more? Learn some tips at a workshop for introductory psychology teachers sponsored by APA's Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) and held at EKU on Sept. 12. At the workshop, seasoned EKU psychology faculty will cover strategies for teaching the major domains of psychology--developmental, biopsychological, sociocultural and methods. Participants will take home materials to help them apply activities in their classrooms.

Teachers of high school and community college psychology and pre-service teachers are encouraged to attend. Registration is $30 for APA/TOPSS members and $35 for nonmembers. For more information and to register, contact Mayella Valero at mvalero@apa.org or (202) 572-3013.

APAGS celebrates 15 years, new officers

The American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) is celebrating its 15th anniversary and the launch of APA's new magazine for graduate students, gradPSYCH, at APA's 2003 Annual Convention in Toronto with a reception with swing dancing on Friday, Aug. 8. APAGS will also welcome four new officers.

* Jessica Percodani, of Chestnut Hill College, is 2003-2004 APAGS chair-elect. She will serve as chair in 2004-2005.

* Michael Madson, of Capella University, is member-at-large, education focus, and will serve through August 2004.

* Ira Saiger, of Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, is member-at-large, communications focus, and will serve through August 2004.

* Steve Hampe, of Marquette University, is member-at-large, practice focus, and will serve through August 2004.

For more information on APAGS, visit its Web site at www.apa.org/apags. Check out online discussions about gradPSYCH articles in the "Members Only" section on the APAGS Web site.

Accreditation questions answered at an open forum in Toronto

APA's Committee on Accreditation (CoA) will hold a public forum on accreditation issues at APA's 2003 Annual Convention in Toronto, Aug. 7-10. The session, "Open forum on accreditation: emerging substantive areas," will include a presentation by CoA representatives followed by a question and comment period. Attendees are not required to register in advance to attend the forum; however, participants who wish to comment or pose a question at the forum must register in advance. To register, send an e-mail to apaaccred@apa.org that includes your name, the group you represent (if any) and your specific comment or question.

The deadline for advance registration is July 21. A designated speaker at the forum will read the comments and questions submitted in advance, and if time permits, additional comments and questions will be taken from session attendees.

Further information on the forum will be posted online prior to convention at www.apa.org/ed/accreditation. For more information, contact APA's Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation at (202) 336-5979.

Special membership opportunity for students

Attention soon-to-be doctorates: Paid APA graduate student affiliates who have received or are about to receive their doctoral degrees are eligible to become APA members at no additional cost in 2003. If you are eligible for APA membership and have received this offer, return your special upgrade application as soon as you are eligible. To request an upgrade application, contact APA Membership, at the APA address; (800) 374-2721; membership@apa.org.

CoA seeks public member

APA's Board of Educational Affairs is seeking nominations for a public member position on the Committee on Accreditation (CoA) to represent consumers of psychological services.

The BEA seeks individuals who:

* Agree to represent the general public and apply CoA's Guidelines and Principles objectively and fairly without regard to the issues of special interest groups.

* Are outside the discipline of psychology.

* Are not members of a trade or membership association related to, affiliated or associated with the CoA, or spouses, parents, children or siblings of such individuals.

* Are not employees, members of the governing board, owners, shareholders of or consultants to a program that is accredited or has applied for accreditation by the CoA, or spouses, parents, children or siblings of such individuals.

* Have a distinguished history of involvement in community or professional organizations.

* Can offer stature, credibility and expertise to the deliberations of the CoA and in the perception of the public.

* Have some experiences in a regulatory or quality assurance body (preferred) but do not at present serve on a regulatory body.

* Do not have overlapping interests in the accreditation process due to dual service and whose status does not represent a conflict of interest.

The public member's service begins Jan. 1. CoA meets three times a year at APA headquarters. The public member serves a three-year term and becomes eligible to serve one additional term upon completion of the first.

The nomination deadline is Sept. 5. Nomination materials should include a résumé and cover letter that describes the qualifications of the nominee. Send nomination materials to the Board of Educational Affairs, c/o Robert Walsh, Education Directorate, at the APA address. For more information on the duties and qualifications of the public member, contact APA's Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation at (202) 336-5979; e-mail: apaaccred@apa.org.

AIDS experts sought for APA committee

APA's Ad Hoc Committee on Psychology and AIDS (COPA) is seeking nominations for one new member to serve from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2006.

COPA is an ad hoc committee that reports to APA's Board of Directors and guides APA's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Members are required to attend at least one committee meeting each year in Washington, D.C., with expenses reimbursed by APA, and to participate in monthly conference calls. Between meetings, members are expected to devote a substantial portion of time to COPA projects, provide consultation to APA's Office on AIDS staff and participate in advocacy activities as needed.

Candidates should have expertise on HIV/AIDS issues as a researcher, practitioner, educator or policy advocate. COPA seeks to involve a diverse group of psychologists--including persons of color and individuals with HIV--and is interested in candidates employed in traditional university settings. The committee also encourages candidates with expertise in HIV/AIDS public policy, international HIV/AIDS issues and technology transfer or replication of effective HIV-related interventions to apply.

The nomination deadline is Sept. 1. Nomination materials should include the nominee's qualifications, a letter from the nominee indicating willingness to serve on COPA, and a curriculum vitae. Self-nominations are encouraged. Send nomination materials to Robert Beverly, Office on AIDS, at the APA address.

BEA announces new accreditation advisory council

By authority of its role in the APA Policies of Accreditation Governance (adopted by APA's Council of Representatives in 1991), the Board of Educational Affairs (BEA) has formed an Advisory Council on Accreditation.

The council's purpose is to review the composition of the Committee on Accreditation (CoA) and make recommendations to BEA regarding:

* How that structure (i.e., composition) may require change given the current state of education and training in psychology.

* The frequency of future reviews of CoA composition and how such reviews should be structured.

The BEA solicited nominations from constituencies affected by accreditation policies and practices, from which it appointed four members to the council. The appointees were selected for being statespersons of the discipline familiar with the following perspectives on accreditation: graduate education department leadership; professional education and training program leadership; and the professional practice of psychology.

In addition to the psychologist appointees, two members were appointed based on their leadership experience in higher education accreditation in other professions and in the national recognition of accrediting bodies. A seventh member was appointed to represent graduate student perspectives. A BEA representative was appointed to serve as council chair. The council will also have two ex officio members, one each appointed by CoA and APA's Board of Directors (BoD).

Members appointed to the BEA Advisory Council are: Ronald H. Rozensky, PhD (chair); Elizabeth M. Altmaier, PhD; Jill N. Reich, PhD; George Stricker, PhD; Melba Vasquez, PhD; Melvin D. Shipp, OD; Howard L. Simmons, PhD; David S. Miller (graduate student); David S. Hargrove, PhD (CoA ex officio member); and Charles Brewer, PhD (BoD ex officio member).

The council wants to hear from all constituencies affected by accreditation policies and practices about issues related to its charge. One opportunity for input will be during the council's first meeting, to be held concurrent with the 2003 Education Leadership Conference. On Sept. 7 the council will hold a "town hall" open meeting during which ELC participants can air questions and concerns.

To learn more about the council, or to submit your interests and concerns for the group's deliberations, visit www.apa.org/ed or contact Paul D. Nelson, PhD, APA senior staff officer for the Advisory Council, at pnelson@apa.org.

--J. CHAMBERLIN