In the Public Interest

In this issue

• APA President-elect Vasquez and PI-GRO take to the Hill to discuss immigration issues
  APA continues to highlight psychological science and research on the critical issue of immigration
• Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal, a long-term priority for PI-GRO, advances
  With efforts moving forward to repeal the Defense Department policy concerning homosexuality, also referred to as “Don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT), PI-GRO sent an action alert to APA members in support of legislative activities in the House of Representatives
• PI-GRO supports APA collaboration with the Indian Health Service
  As APA further strengthens its partnership with the Indian Health Service (IHS), Public Interest issues continue to be paramount
• Efforts on domestic HIV prevention address mental health, coordination
  In critical policy discussions around HIV/AIDS, PI-GRO continues to highlight the need for federal investments in mental health
• APA joins Sesame Workshop to discuss the needs of military families
  In May, staff from APA’s PI and Science GRO’s joined a representative from the Sesame Workshop for a meeting with Representative Walter Jones (R-NC) regarding collaborative efforts to support military service members and their families
• PI-GRO works to educate agencies and advocates about mental health and juvenile justice
  Mental health advocates responded during May and June to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) plan for federal fiscal year 2010
• APA members provide critical input on Senate request on residential treatment facility (RTF) placements
  Concerns about the use of federal education funds supporting RTF placements prompted Senate staff to seek input from PI- and Education GROs
• Senate introduces student nondiscrimination legislation
  Efforts are moving forward in the Senate to provide protection in schools against discrimination related to students’ actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity
• White House kicks off 20th Anniversary celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  PI-GRO worked over recent months to advance priorities related to individuals with disabilities and collaborate with federal and organizational partners around these critical issues