Dr. Gwendolyn Keita, Executive Director

Public Interest Directorate Mission

To fulfill APA's commitment to apply the science and practice of psychology to the fundamental problems of human welfare and the promotion of equitable and just treatment of all segments of society through education, training and public policy.

About the Public Interest Directorate

The activities of the Public Interest Directorate are overseen by the Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest. The mission of the Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest is to encourage the generation and application of psychological knowledge on issues important to human well being. The APA Public Interest Directorate supports and promotes efforts to apply the science and profession of psychology to the advancement of human welfare. Public Interest issues are of central importance to the science and profession of psychology and critical to consumers of psychological services and the general public.

The major objectives of the Public Interest Directorate are to:

• promote those aspects of psychology that involve solutions to the fundamental problems of human justice and equitable and fair treatment of all segments of society;
  
  
• encourage the utilization and dissemination of psychological knowledge to advance equal opportunity and to foster empowerment of those who do not share equitably in society's resources;
  
  
• increase scientific understanding and training in regard to those aspects that pertain to, but are not limited to, culture, class, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, and discrimination; and to support improving educational training opportunities for all persons.

The Public Interest Directorate consists of (12) Twelve program offices:

• Office on Aging
• Office on AIDS
• Children, Youth and Families Office
• Disability Issues in Psychology Office
• Office of Ethnic Minority Affairs
• Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns Office
• Minority Fellowship Program
• Public Policy Office - Public Interest Advocacy
• Office on Socioeconomic Status (SES)
• Violence Prevention Office
• Women's Programs Office
• Work, Stress, and Health Office

Governance

Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest (BAPPI)

Committees

Ad Hoc Committee on AIDS in Psychology
Committee on Aging
Committee on Children, Youth, and Families
Committee on Disability Issues in Psychology
Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs
Committee on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns
Committee on Socioeconomic Status
Committee on Women and Psychology
Committee on Psychology in the Public Interest Awards