APA's disabilities committee seeks nominations

APA's Committee on Disability Issues in Psychology (CDIP) invites nominations for two new members to begin three-year terms on Jan. 1.

The committee seeks to promote the psychological well-being of people with disabilities; knowledge about disabilities and disability issues in education, training programs, policies and psychologist's professional development; development and implementation of psychological service-delivery modes that respond to the needs of people with disabilities; and awareness of disability in psychological research, as well as specific research activity in disability areas.

CDIP seeks psychologists with disability-related academic, clinical or research experience. The committeestrongly encourages applications from those who have a disability (visible, invisible, or due to a chronic health condition or injury) and those with personal experience with disability. The committee also welcomes psychologists from underrepresented groups and those who are retired or employed part time.

CDIP members participate in annual meetings held in Washington,D.C., with expenses reimbursed by APA. Members also work on projects between meetings and are encouraged to attend APA's Annual Convention, to which attendance is not subsidized.

Nomination materials should include a curriculum vitae, a statement of interest and qualifications.

Send materials to Anju Khubchandani, Office on Disability Issues in Psychology, at the APA address or e-mail. The application deadline is Aug. 31.

Meet the new APAGS committee members

The American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) has elected three new students to the APAGS Committee:

• Chair-Elect: Konjit Page, University of North Dakota.

• Member-at-Large, Education Focus: Jae (Tina) Jeong, the University of Memphis.

• Member-at-Large, Communications Focus: Bryana White, University of Rhode Island.

All officers serve two-year terms, except for the APAGS chair and chair-elect, who serve for three years. The APAGS leaders represent student interests at meetings of the APA Board of Directors, APA Council of Representatives and Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers, among other groups. Officers also plan student-focused APA Annual Convention sessions, develop ideas for resources and other materials for APAGS members and advocate for student-friendly legislation.

In addition, the APAGS Committee appointed Brian Hall, of Kent State University, as its Convention Committee Chair.

Join an APAGS subcommittee

APAGS is accepting applications for its Convention Committee, Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns and Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs. Subcommittee applications are due Sept. 1.

To apply, send:

• A cover letter of no more than two pages that reviews your interest in the position, eligibility and qualifications, ability to commit to the responsibilities, confirmation that you are able to attend all of the required meetings (if applicable).

• A curriculum vitae that includes mail and e-mail addresses, as well as phone numbers.

• A brief letter of recommendation from a faculty member confirming your student status, anticipated graduation date, and a statement regarding your leadership potential and ability. (If recommendation letters are sent via e-mail, they should be sent to Heather Dade at e-mail from your faculty member. Original, signed, hard-copy letters may be enclosed in your application packet.)

For more information, visit: www.apa.org/apags. Mail application materials to the APAGS Subcommittee Application at the APA address.

Early-career committee seeks nominations

APA's Committee on Early Career Psychologists (CECP) seeks to fill two slates—one representing education, one representing state, provincial and territorial associations (STPAs). The new members will serve three-year terms in 2008.

To be considered for the Education Slate, the nominee should have work experience as an educator; experience working with and ability to represent early-career psychologists' interests to the education community in the field; experience working with committees and other groups in promoting education and training; and project-management experience.

The SPTA slate promotes early-career psychologists' interests in SPTAs and represents the SPTA's interests to early-career psychologists. This position co-directs a network of early-career psychologist representatives from SPTAs and APA divisions.

In addition, the member facilitates activities, projects and programs that foster joint membership and participation between the early-career members of APA and SPTAs. This individual will be required to attend APA's State Leadership Conference in March. APA will evaluate applicants for the SPTA slate on leadership experiences within SPTA governance and program activities, as well as a general history of leadership and governance work.

Nominees for both slates must be within seven years of the receipt of their doctorate as of Aug. 1. In addition, nominees must be able to attend, in their entirety, mandatory committee meetings in March and October. Meeting expenses are reimbursed by APA.

To encourage ethnic diversity, the committee requests that nominators consider nominees' ethnic backgrounds. The committee also suggests that nominators consider equitable age and gender representation, and diverse representation of expertise.

Applicants should expect to spend a minimum of five hours per week on committee activities. The committee works extensively through e-mail and phone conferences. All nominations should include a statement of interest from the nominee, a curriculum vitae and one letter of recommendation. Nomination materials must be received by Aug. 31.

Send nominations to Alex Sittig at the APA address, fax (202) 218-7628 or e-mail.

Contact committee chair Guerda Nicolas, PhD, at e-mail, for more information.

APA's Ethics Committee adds new members

APA's Ethics Committee welcomed two new members in 2007. APA's Council of Representatives elected the members, whose terms began in January.

They are:

• Jeffrey E. Barnett, PsyD, a licensed psychologist in independent practice in Arnold, Md., and affiliate professor in the psychology department of Loyola College in Maryland. Barnett is a past president of the Maryland Psychological Association as well as APA Div. 31 (State, Provincial and Territorial Psychological Association Affairs) and 42 (Psychologists in Independent Practice). He is president-elect of APA Div. 29 (Psychotherapy) and is an associate editor of the APA journal Professional Psychology: Research and Practice.

• Dianne S. Salter, PhD, JD, a Pennsylvania-licensed psychologist and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and New Jersey State Bar Association. She is national director of behavioral health and chief psychologist for VisionQuest. In addition, she is associate adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education. Salter is a past president of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, the Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists and the Pennsylvania Psychological Foundation. She also serves as one of the Pennsylvania representatives to APA's Council of Representatives.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender committee seeks new members

The Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns seeks nominations for two positions beginning Jan. 1.

Nominees should have experience or expertise relevant to one or more of the following areas: policy and advocacy; practice with lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender clients; youth; couples and family; aging.

The committee particularly welcomes nominations of ethnic-minority psychologists, bisexual psychologists, psychologists with disabilities, transgender psychologists and other psychologists who are members of underrepresented groups. In selecting nominees, the committee will also consider the range of major fields and specialties in psychology and the geographic diversity represented in its membership.

The committee shall consist of six members, three of whom self-identify as women and three of whom self-identify as men, to be appointed for staggered terms of three years. Transgender members who do not self-identify as either women or men may fill either a female or a male seat, in alternation (for example, if there were two transgender members who did not identify as either women or men, one would fill a male seat and one would fill a female seat). The committee shall report to APA's Council of Representatives through the Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest.

A statement of the nominee's interest in and qualifications for the committee and a curriculum vitae should accompany the nomination. Self-nominations are accepted. Nomination materials must be received by Aug. 31. Mail nominations to CLGBTC Nominations, Public Interest Directorate at the APA address or e-mail.

Nominate for Women in Psychology Committee

The Committee on Women in Psychology (CWP) seeks nominations for two new members to serve three-year terms beginning in January.

The committee functions as a catalyst by interacting with and making recommendations to APA governance and APA membership, as well as other relevant groups. The committee also collects and disseminates information on the status of women and develops ways to increase women's roles and functions in the profession.

The committee's strategic goals include promoting the health and well-being of all women; identifying and eliminating discriminatory and exploitive practices against all women; promoting the unique contributions of women to psychology; enhancing women's leadership within and outside of APA; monitoring activities of groups within APA to assess the impact on women; collaborating with others as needed to achieve the empowerment of underrepresented groups; and advocating for public policy that enhances women's lives. As part of its monitoring function, CWP devotes a full day during their two committee meetings each year to discuss cross-cutting items submitted by other groups.

The committee is interested in people with demonstrated interest and experience in women's issues. For this term, CWP seeks an openly identified lesbian or bisexual psychologist who can address gay, lesbian or bisexual concerns and a psychologist actively involved in research focused onwomen's issues. CWP also encourages applications from individuals who have a disability or have expertise in disability issues.

Nomination letters should clearly describe the candidate's specific qualifications relative to these criteria. Nominees must be full APA members.

CWP members are required to attend two committee meetings each year in Washington, D.C., with expenses reimbursed by APA. Candidates should ensure they can attend all committee meetings. Meetings in 2008 will be March 28–30 and Sept. 19–21; meetings in 2009 will be March 20–22 and Sept. 11–13; meetings in 2010 will be March 19–21 and Sept. 24–26.

Committee members also work between meetings and will be expected to participate in regular conference calls. Because CWP sponsors events at APA's Annual Convention (including its annual network meeting and leadership awards), committee members are strongly encouraged to attend, though expenses cannot be reimbursed.

Nomination materials should include a letter from the nominee indicating willingness to serve on CWP, a brief statement of the nominee's qualifications and a curriculum vitae. Self-nominations are encouraged. APA nominations are open to members who are retired, employed less than full time or work full time. Nominations and supporting materials should be sent by Sept. 4 to Leslie Cameron, APA Women's Programs Office, at the APA address or via e-mail.

Offer feedback on model act for state licensure

The Task Force on the Revision of the Model Act for State Licensure of Psychologists seeks comments on the revision of the "Model Act for State Licensure of Psychologists." The current version of the APA Model Act was approved by the APA Council of Representatives in 1987.

APA's Model Act serves as a prototype for drafting state legislation regulating the practice of psychology.

This revision will update the Model Act to account for developments in professional practice during the past 20 years, include APA's recommendations on prescriptive authority and state licensing laws,reflect developments in industrial/organizational and consulting psychology such that many psychologists who do not provide health services may be required or wish to be licensed and, incorporate changes in the recommended sequence of education and training leading to licensure in psychology.

To review the revised guidelines and comment online, visit http://forms.apa.org/practice/modelactlicensure. Comments are due by Oct. 31.

COPPS seeks input on parent coordination guidelines

The Committee on Professional Practice and Standards (COPPS) is seeking input on the possible development of APA guidelines on parent coordination. COPPS is reviewing critical incidents and literature related to this emerging area of professional practice.

Parent coordination is an alternative dispute resolution process in which a trained and experienced psychologist assists high-conflict parents by resolving disputes, educating parents about children's needs and issues, making decisions within the scope of an agreement or court order, and promoting healthy and meaningful parent-child relationships. In many jurisdictions, the parent coordination expert is appointed by the court.

COPPS seeks information and input on the importance and relevance of developing parent coordination guidelines. COPPS is particularly interested in gaining APA members' perspectives on parent coordination practices, critical incidents and other related matters.

Comment online at http://forms.apa.org/practice/parentcoordination by Nov. 7.

COPPS seeks feedback on guidelines for providers

The Committee on Professional Practice and Standards (COPPS) requests input from members on APA's " General Guidelines," a set of aspirational statements for psychologists engaged in professional practice. In particular, the group seeks to learn whether the guidelines should be revised, retired as policy or reconceptualized.

COPPS seeks members' evaluation of the importance, relevance and adequacy of the existing guidelines, recommendations for specific changes to the existing guidelines or language and questions about the guidelines. COPPS is particularly interested in hearing members' perspectives on the application of these General Guidelines given existing APA practice guidelines and emerging and evolving fields of psychological practice.

Comment online at http://forms.apa.org/practice/generalguidelines by Nov. 7.

Comment on child custody evaluations guidelines

The Board of Professional Affairs Committee on Professional Practice and Standards seeks comments on the revision of the Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Divorce Proceedings, renamed as "Guidelines for Evaluating Parenting Responsibility." The original guidelines were adopted as APA policy in 1994.

The guidelines were revised to keep them consistent with current practices and research, as well as to update terminology. Further, the revision was intended to enhance both language and structure to comport with APA's guideline developmentpolicies and the Ethics Code.

The Guidelines for Evaluating Parenting Responsibility are intended for use by psychologists conducting child custody evaluations, specifically within the context of relationship dissolution. They aim to educate psychologists and provide a framework for making recommendations regarding parental responsibilities.

Comment online at http://forms.apa.org/practice/GEPR/ by Oct. 31.

— D. Schwartz