Candidates for APA President
What specific psychological science initiatives would you promote during your presidential year?
To facilitate the issue about which I feel most passionate, I would initiate the necessary scientific research toward changing attitudes about family size. It is imperative that psychologists dedicate research into methods of limiting population growth through education and training.
Secondly, I would recommend research on changing psychologist's attitudes about involvement in public policy advocacy. With such a small percentage of psychologists currently involved in public policy issues, the ability to make changes (i.e., in funding for mental health research, in funding for treatment of the mentally ill) is very limited. Research is necessary to find methods of attitudinal change in this arena.
How would you enhance financial resources for the APA Practice Organization?
By definition, the APA Practice Organization (APAPO) has been developed to promote the practice of psychology; therefore, the professors and universities providing training for psychologists have a very important stake in the success of APAPO. I would organize to facilitate financial contributions by universities/professors training psychologists to become practitioners. I would also investigate:
Developing a group of comprehensive CE workshops concerning practice issues to be presented nationally to provide income for APAPO.
And, I would develop systems to ensure that all members who should be paying the special assessment are doing so.
