Nominate colleagues for children and adolescents task force
In February, APA's Council of Representatives authorized the formation of the Children and Adolescents Task Force of the Ad Hoc Committee on End-of-Life (EoL) Issues and requested a report on practice, research, training and policy issues for psychologists who work with dying children and their families.
In response, APA's Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest invites nominations for the Children and Adolescents Task Force.
Members of the task force are required to participate in periodic conference calls and to attend two three-day meetings in Washington, D.C., during 2002. Members are also expected to devote significant time to writing, coordinating, networking and other activities associated with producing the final task force report by Dec. 31.
Nomination materials should include the nominee's qualifications and curriculum vitae as well as a letter from the nominee indicating a willingness to serve on the task force. Self-nominations are encouraged. One position on the task force is designated for a psychologist with expertise in working with both persons with disabilities and dying children. Send materials to the Task Force on Children and EoL Issues, c/o Robert Beverly at the APA address. All material must by received by May 15.
For more information about APA initiatives associated with end-of-life care, visit www.apa.org/pi/eol or contact John Anderson, PhD, at (202) 336-6051 or by e-mail.
Ethics Committee rules and procedures change
APA's Board of Directors has approved changes to the Ethics Committee's "Rules and Procedures" (APA, 1996), which applies to complaints and to notices for show-cause predicates received by APA's Ethics Office after Sept. 30, 2001. The changes are one outcome of a long-term review of the ethics adjudication program by APA's Council of Representatives, Board of Directors and Ethics Committee.
In summary, the changes provide that:
* Respondents in all cases will be allowed the right to resign from APA at their first notice of an open case or complaint. The resignation will be "under ethics investigation," and APA will advise anyone who inquires that the resignation occurred while the former member was under ethics investigation; and
* Respondents in "show cause" matters will be expelled automatically, if within 60 days of receiving notice of the matter the respondent does not exercise his or her right to resign or to have the matter reviewed. ("The show cause procedure...can be used when another body--including criminal courts, licensing boards and state psychological associations--has already taken specified serious adverse action against a member," "Rules and Procedures," [1996] Overview; see also Part IV, Section 1, "Predicates for use of show cause procedures.")
The Ethics Office has and will continue to notify affected individuals of the new provisions.
The "Rules and Procedures" (2001) can be found at www.apa.org/ethics. The "Rules and Procedures" (1996) remain applicable to matters prior to the changeover date and are also available on the Web page.
Council to vote on Ethics Code revision
A final draft from the April meeting of the Ethics Code Task Force will be voted on in August by APA's Council of Representatives. The Ethics Committee and Board of Directors must first approve the draft. This will represent the completion of a revision process that began shortly after APA adopted the 1992 Ethics Code.
The draft to be forwarded to council for a vote is available through links on the Ethics Web page: www.apa.org/ethics.
Queries about the April draft may be submitted to the Ethics Office at the APA address or by e-mail.
Don't forget APAGS deadline for scholarships and awards
Nominations for the following scholarships and awards are due June 14. Find full details and information about how to apply at www.apa.org/apags/members/schawrds.html or in the March Monitor.
The four scholarships are:
* The David Pilon Scholarship for Training in Professional Psychology, a $1,000 award intended to promote supplemental training and education experiences in professional practice.
* The Ellin Bloch and Pierre Ritchie Honorary Scholarship, a $1,000 award for research on the topic of "Self-care strategies for psychologists and trainees: promoting optimal performance."
* The Nancy B. Forest and L. Michael Honaker Master's Scholarship for Research in Psychology, a $1,000 award for thesis research at the master's level.
* The Scott Mesh Honorary Scholarship for Research in Psychology, a $1,000 award for doctorate dissertation research.
The three awards are:
* The Raymond D. Fowler Award for outstanding contributions to the professional development of students.
* The Kenneth and Mamie Clark Award for outstanding contributions to the professional development of ethnic minority graduate students.
* The Department of the Year Award for a department that provides an outstanding level of commitment toward graduate students and graduate student life.
Department Volunteer Networkpromotes APA's benefits
APA provides many services for psychology students, who often have little knowledge of the services available to them. The Department Volunteer Network (DVN) connects students to APA through faculty volunteers from colleges and universities across the nation.
To learn more about DVN or to become a DVN volunteer, e-mail David DeVito at (800) 374-2721, ext. 5584.
Committee on Accreditation is accepting testimony on programs scheduled for a 2003 site visit and periodic review
In accordance with Section 4.1 of its "Accreditation Operating Procedures," APA's Committee on Accreditation (CoA) is accepting third-party testimony from students, faculty and consumers on programs scheduled for review in 2003.
Listings of the programs scheduled for review, instructions for provision of third-party comments and deadlines for filing comments can be found at www.apa.org/ed/accred.html. For details on providing comments, please refer to the "Procedure for Provision of Third-Party Testimony" at www.apa.org/ed/CoApolicyImp2.pdf. This information is also available by contacting APA's Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation at the APA address or by calling (202) 336-5979.
--K. HEWLETT
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