Proposals sought for violence prevention programs

The American Psychological Foundation (APF) is inviting proposals for research-based programs on violence prevention and intervention. Applicants may request up to $20,000.

Through this fund, the APF trustees aim to:

* Encourage the application of psychological science to violence prevention and intervention in the community.

* Support innovative community programs aimed at preventing violence within social settings (e.g., young adult populations, elder abuse, domestic abuse, hate crimes and sexual assault).

* Provide seed money for interventions proposed by community-based organizations or provide funding for established, successful community programs.

Applicants must be doctoral-level psychologists engaged in a research-based program related to violence prevention. Special consideration is given to programs with a strong foundation in violence prevention and intervention research and those that have--or show promise for--broad-based community support.

The application deadline is Sept. 15. APF will announce the winners on or after Nov. 15. Eligibility criteria and electronic submission requirements are available at the APF Web site at www.apa.org/apf. For further information, contact APF at foundation@apa.org.

Make plans to apply for the 2003 Husted award

The American Psychological Foundation and APA's Science Directorate will begin accepting nominations in July for the 2003 Todd E. Husted Memorial Award--a $1,000 prize for an outstanding dissertation that has the potential to develop or improve services for those with severe mental illnesses.

Topics relevant for the award include those that:

* Foster the development of a more comprehensive, humane and responsive system of mental health care.

* Develop interventions to prevent the deterioration, homelessness and premature deaths of those with serious mental illnesses.

* Develop effective methods of improving patient compliance with medication and treatment for those with impaired insight as a result of schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder.

* Improve identification, diversion and treatment of persons with mental illness who--as a result of that illness--enter the criminal justice system.

* Foster methods to improve training and social attitudes of professionals, such as attorneys, public defenders and judges, in the criminal-justice system regarding serious mental illnesses.

* Increase access to--and use of--appropriate services and supports for treatment-resistant and severely mentally ill persons.

The application deadline is Sept. 15. Applications will be accepted beginning July 1. For further information and application materials, visit the APA Web site at www.apa.org/science/dissinfo.html.

APF seeks lecturers for two future conventions

The American Psychological Foundation (APF) is seeking nominations for the Frank. J. McGuigan Lectures on "Understanding the human mind," to be presented at the next two APA Annual Conventions (Honolulu, July 28-Aug. 1, 2004, and Washington, D.C., Aug. 18-21, 2005). Each psychologist selected to present the annual McGuigan lecture will receive an honorarium of $1,000.

According to the bequest, the McGuigan Lecture Series aims "to explicate the concept of the human mind through theory and empirical research." To be considered for the lecture position, candidates must be pursuing research--psychophysiological, physiological, behavioral or psychometric--that advances the understanding of the human mind.

The nomination deadline is Sept. 1. Self-nominations are welcome. Nominators should describe the proposed lecture topic, provide a brief statement of how the topic applies to the qualification criteria and provide a brief professional biography with a short list of pertinent publications. Send nomination materials to: McGuigan Lecture Nominations, American Psychological Foundation, at the APA address.

APF seeks proposals for research funding on giftedness

The American Psychological Foundation (APF) is encouraging doctoral-level researchers to submit proposals for a new grant program that offers up to $25,000 a year--for no more than three years--for research or programming on the psychological understanding of gifted children and adolescents.

The goal of the program, supported by the Esther Katz Rosen fund, is to support scholarly work that contributes to greater understanding and advancement of gifted children and their development and needs, as well as effective practices with gifted children. Seed money may also be provided to establish, or expand in new directions, educational programs or interventions designed to meet gifted children's academic or social needs. Special consideration will be given to innovative projects with potential to become self-supporting or obtain external funding. Continued funding will be based on available funds and renewal evaluation reports submitted at the conclusion of each year of funding.

The application deadline is Oct. 1. The winner will be announced after Feb. 15, 2004. Applications should be submitted electronically to APF at foundation@apa.org. For further information and complete application guidelines, visit the APF Web site at www.apa.org/apf or send a request to foundation@apa.org.