ASSOCIATION NEWS

Gerson Memorial Grant nominations sought

The American Psychological Foundation (APF) invites nominations for the 1999 Randy Gerson Memorial Grant, which offers a $5,000 scholarship to students engaged in doctoral studies. APF created the grant to advance the systemic understanding of family, couple dynamics and multigenerational processes. Work that advances theory, assessment or clinical practice in these areas shall be considered.

The review board will give highest priority to projects using or contributing to the development of Bowenian family-systems theory.

Priority will also be given to projects that advance Gerson?s work in the following publications: McGoldrick and Gerson. 'Genograms in Family Assessment' (Norton, 1985); Mikesell, Lusterman, McDaniel. The family life cycle: phases, stages and crises in 'Integrating Family Therapy' (APA, 1995); 'Family systems theory and Imago therapy: a theoretical interpretation,' Journal of Imago Relationship Therapy, (Vol. 1, p. 19-41), 'Family of origin frames in couples therapy,' Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, (Vol. 19, p. 341?354).

Applications should include:

? Statement of the proposed project.

? Rationale for how the project meets the fund?s goals.

? Budget for the project.

? How the results of the project will be disseminated (published paper, report, monograph, etc.).

? Personal reference material (vitae and two letters of recommendation).

? Signature of the student?s faculty mentor or director of training after he or she has certified the accuracy of the student?s presented information.

? Official transcript

All materials must be received by Feb. 1. For more information, please contact APF at the APA address, phone: (202) 336-5843 or e-mail.

CE workshop Proposals due Nov. 1

There is still time to submit a workshop proposal for the Continuing Education (CE) Committee to consider for the 1999 CE Program at next year?s APA Annual Convention in Boston, Aug. 20?24. The committee seeks proposals for workshops that offer new skills and knowledge to APA members in all areas of psychology.

Some sought-after topic areas include addictions, aging, family, forensic, industrial/organizational psychology, neuropsychology, religious issues and sport psychology.

The CE Office can assist with your submission. Call (800) 374-2721 (menu option 8) to request a proposal form?also available on disk.

If your proposal is selected, you will receive an honorarium and free admission to one workshop of your choice.

Board of Directors welcomes new members-at-large

The 1997 Council of Representatives elected J. Bruce Overmier, PhD, and Ruth Ullman Paige, PhD, as members-at-large to the Board of Directors.

Overmier is a professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota. He has served as associate editor to the American Psychologist since 1993, and president of Div. 3 (Experimental) from 1992?93 and Div. 6 (Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology) from 1990?91. He received his PhD and MA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Paige is a private practitioner in Seattle, Wash. She has practiced in such areas as women?s health; psychology of women with a focus on incest, rape and family violence; couples and family therapy; and anxiety, panic, depressive and phobic disorders. Paige serves on the editorial board review of Professional Psychology: Research and Practice and Women and Therapy.

In 1994, she received the Karl F. Heiser Special Presidential Award for Advocacy on Behalf of Professional Psychology from APA. Paige earned her PhD from the University of Oregon and her MS from the City University of New York. Overmier and Paige will serve a three-year term from Jan. 1 1999 to Dec. 31, 2001.

Proposals sought for lesbian and gay issues award

The American Psychological Foundation requests proposals for the 1999 Wayne F. Placek Award and the Wayne F. Placek Small Grant Award. The awards encourage scientific research that increases the general public?s understanding of homosexuality and alleviates the stress gay men and lesbians experience in this and future civilizations.

The awards committee invites proposals for empirical research from all fields of the behavioral and social sciences. The committee encourages proposals which address issues related to prejudice, discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation; family and workplace issues relevant to lesbians and gay men; and subgroups of the lesbian and gay population that have historically been underrepresented in scientific research.

Wayne F. Placek Award recipients will receive a maximum of $30,000. Funds may be requested for any expenses legitimately associated with conducting an empirical research project, including salary (for the applicant or assistants), equipment (up to $5,000), supplies, travel, photocopying, postage and payment to participants. The award does not pay institutional indirect cost.

Proposals should contain studies that can be completed in two years based on the funding provided by the award. Funding will begin Sept. 15 after the awards are announced in August.

Applicants must have a doctoral degree or the equivalent, and be affiliated with a college, university or research institute that meets federal requirements for administering research awards.

Junior faculty and individuals who have recently completed their doctorates are encouraged to apply. The deadline for receipt of completed applications is March 15.

The 1999 Wayne F. Placek Small Grants for Scientific Research on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues awards $5,000 to cover any expenses legitimately associated with conducting an empirical research project. Funds will not normally be provided for stipends of principal investigators, travel to conventions or manuscript preparation. The award does not pay institutional indirect cost. Proposals should contain a study that can be completed within one year, with the possibility of leading to a larger-scale project.

Applicants must have a doctoral degree or the equivalent. All research involving human subjects must be approved by an Institutional Review Board from the applicant?s college, university or research institute. All materials must be received by Jan. 15. Awards will be announced March 1.

All applicants must conform to the APF Placek Award and Small Grant guidelines. For more information, send a stamped, self-addressed legal envelope with 52 cents postage to the APF at the APA address.

Please indicate which Placek Award you wish to know more about, or call APF at (202) 336-5814, e-mail or visit the APF Placek Awards web site: http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/apfawards.html.

Board of Educational Affairs invites members to suggest topics for education and technology miniconvention

The APA Board of Educational Affairs (BEA) Task Force for the 1999 Miniconvention on Education and Technology seeks ideas for innovative programming to be featured at APA?s 1999 Annual Convention in Boston, Aug. 20?24.

BEA developed the miniconvention on education and technology to showcase the latest technological advances in education. Programs will highlight hands-on use of instructional technology in psychology covering all academic levels (pre-K to continuing education) as well as interactive, multimedia presentations and demonstrations.

Sessions on the use of technology in the classroom and in clinical training and supervision of graduate and postdoctoral students, telehealth and distance learning are being considered for this program. The task force welcomes your input to assist them in planning. Please send suggestions for additional program sessions and names of people who have developed or are using innovative technology in their teaching, supervision or practice. Please submit your suggestions to Mayella Valero, APA Education Directorate, by phone: (202) 336-6139.

Members of the BEA Task Force are: Virginia Andreoli Mathie, PhD, Chair, James Bray, PhD, Martha Ellis, PhD, Marlyne Kilbey, PhD, Tracy Orleans, PhD, William Pfohl, Jr., PsyD, and Paul Sackett, PhD.

Committee welcomes testimony for the evaluation of psychology training programs

APA?s Committee on Accreditation is accepting third-party testimony from students, faculty and consumers on all programs scheduled for a 1999 site visit and periodic review.

Listings of the programs scheduled for review, instructions for provision of third-party comment, and deadlines for filing comments can be found on the World Wide Web at www.apa.org/ed/accred.html. This information is also available by contacting APA?s Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation at the APA address or calling (202) 336-5979.

APA invites applications for its Congressional Fellowship Program

The APA Congressional Fellowship Program will sponsor four psychologists to serve as special legislative assistants on the staff of a member of Congress or Congressional committee for a one-year period. One fellowship position is dedicated to HIV/AIDS-related policy. The program is intended to encourage more effective use of scientific knowledge in the government and broaden the perceptions of the research, practice and governmental communities about the value of psychology-government interaction.

Activities may include conducting legislative or oversight work, assisting in Congressional hearings and preparing speeches and briefing materials. Prospective fellows must demonstrate competence in scientific or professional psychology, display sensitivity toward policy issues and a strong interest in applying psychological knowledge to national issues.

Applicants must hold APA membership (or application pending) and a doctorate in psychology at the time of application with a minimum of two years postdoctoral experience preferred.

Congressional fellows will begin their one-year appointments on Sept. 1. Fellows receive a stipend of $44,300 plus $3,000 for travel expenses and relocating to the Washington, D.C. area. Senior fellows with 10 or more years of postdoctoral experience receive an additional stipend supplement of $10,600.

Interested psychologists should submit a curriculum vitae and a personal statement of 1,000 words addressing the following details: the applicant?s interest in the fellowship and career goals, potential contributions to the legislative process and desired learning from the experience.

Nominees should include three letters of reference specifically addressing the abilities related to the fellowship. The deadline for receipt of applications is Dec. 15.

Send all application materials to APA Congressional Fellowship Program, Public Policy Office at the APA address.

For more information, please contact Daniel Dodgen, PhD, in the APA Public Policy Office by phone: (202) 336-6068.

Psychology Partnerships Project calls for participants

The Psychology Partnerships Project: Academic Partnerships to Meet the Teaching and Learning Needs of the 21st Century (P3) is accepting applications for participants. P3 promotes partnerships between psychology teachers and other psychology professionals, such as teachers in other disciplines, business organizations and community groups.

P3 activities will build the psychology education community by addressing the following critical issues:

? Academic and career

advising.

? Assessment, curriculum, diversity and faculty development.

? Instructional technology.

? Research and service

learning.

Participants have the opportunity to take part in a leadership role, and develop or enhance academic partnerships in their state or region for this exciting and innovative project. P3 encourages individuals and teams who have developed or are committed to forming long-term partner relationships in their region to apply.

Participants will also have the opportunity to:

? Work with the P3 Steering Committee in spring 1999 to gather and share information about academic partnerships in psychology and the critical issues confronting psychology teachers in the next century.

? Attend the National

Forum on Psychology Partnerships on June 17?22, 1999 at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. The forum provides an opportunity for participants to discuss strategies for developing or enhancing academic partnerships, outline a plan for a partnerships project in their state or region, and discuss how these partnerships could address critical issues in academic psychology. APA, the host institution and other funding sources will cover the majority of the travel expenses.

? Implement new partnership projects or enhance existing partnerships in their state or region during fall 1999 and spring 2000.

? Coordinate local or regional partnerships as part of the National Conversation on Psychology Partnerships in spring 2000. The purpose of the national conversation is to share the progress and products of the partnership projects.

? Participate in on-going reporting and assessment activities on the effectiveness of the projects.

Applicants should submit the following materials for consideration:

? A curriculum vitae.

? An application form (available at the P3 web site or the APA Education Directorate).

? A personal statement describing your experience in academic partnerships and your interest in P3.

? A description of an active or proposed partnership designed to address one or more of the eight critical issues described in more detail on the P3 web site.

Review of applications will begin Nov. 15, and coordinators will be notified by Jan. 15. Send all materials to Peter Petrossian, P3 Staff Liaison, Education Directorate, at the APA address, or call (202) 336-5970.

P3 is an initiative of APA?s Board of Educational Affairs and Education Directorate. The P3 Steering Committee members are Virginia Andreoli Mathie (Chair), Irwin Altman, Charles Blair-Broeker, Samuel Cameron, Margaret Davidson, Martha Ellis, Randy Ernst, Tresmaine Grimes, Jane Halonen, Susan Harris-Mitchell, Randolph Smith and Jill Reich (ex- officio).

For more information about P3 and the critical issues around which their activities will be organized, please visit the P3 web site at http://www.apa.org/ed/p3.html.

Textbook reviewers sought

Are you interested in how psychology textbooks cover ethnicity, culture, disability, gender, sexual orientation, discrimination or ageism?

If you have expertise in one or more of these areas, you can be of help to authors by serving as a reviewer of manuscripts prior to the publication of new texts or new editions of current texts.

The Task Force on Diversity Issues at the Precollege and Undergraduate Levels of Education in Psychology, under the auspices of the Board of Educational Affairs, is compiling a registry of individuals who have expressed an interest in such reviewing.

The registry will be provided to all publishers of introductory texts and to other publishers upon request.

To become part of the registry, or to obtain further information, please send your name, address and area of interest to: Peter Petrossian, 750 First St., N.E., Washington, DC 20002-4242.

Editorial assistance available to international manuscript authors

APA?s International Affairs Office and the APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology have united to coordinate an editorial mentoring program that encourages international scholars to publish their work in U.S. journals.

The International Affairs Office has established a clearinghouse of mentors who volunteer to work with authors so that a manuscript complies with APA style and the rules of Standard Written English.

If you are interested in finding out more about the program, contact Marian Wood in the APA International Affairs Office at (202) 336-6025, fax: (202) 336-5502.

Participate in National Alcohol Screening Day

Practitioners, alcohol treatment centers, hospitals and colleges are encouraged to register as an official site of the first National Alcohol Screening Day to be held April 8 during National Alcohol Awareness Month. Sites all over the nation will offer free, anonymous screening for alcohol abuse.

The goal of the day is to focus national attention on alcohol abuse prevention, the importance of identifying early problems with alcohol and the risks of problem drinking.

The national event is organized by the National Mental Illness Screening Project (NMISP)?a nonprofit organization that coordinates nationwide mental health screening programs. NMISP will provide each site with a procedure manual that describes how to implement the program, promotional and educational materials, the screening tool and instructions for its use. NMISP will also provide phone consultation to site coordinators in preparation for the day.

NMISP?s flagship program, National Depression Screening Day, screened 85,000 people in 1997, and NMISP expects the alcohol screening to generate similar results.

APA is a sponsor of National Alcohol Screening Day, along with the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

The deadline for site registration is Jan. 22. For more information, contact: NMISP/NASD, One Washington St., Suite 304, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-1703, (781) 239-0071, web site: www.nmisp.org.