Mission Statement
The mission of the Committee on Psychology and AIDS (COPA), an ad hoc
committee that reports directly to the American Psychological Association
(APA) Board of Directors, is to guide the development and implementation
of APA's organizational response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Consistent with the mission, it is committed to the ongoing pursuit of
the following objectives:
- to educate psychologists and society at large on the various and
unique roles psychology can contribute to the fight against the HIV/AIDS
epidemic;
- to encourage and support psychologists in their efforts toward eliminating
this epidemic through effective strategies of preventive education and
intervention;
- to stimulate behavioral research in a variety of areas associated
with HIV prevention and mental health services for persons affected
by HIV/AIDS;
- to facilitate linkages between APA, behavioral researchers, medical
researchers and community-based organizations for the purpose of coordinating
and improving HIV-related research and mental health services;
- to create educational resources about HIV/AIDS to APA members and
the public;
- to provide guidance and direction for APA HIV/AIDS advocacy activities
at federal, state and local levels; and,
- to serve as an oversight committee for APA Office an AIDS activities.
History of the Committee on Psychology and AIDS (COPA)
The Task Force on Psychology and AIDS was established by the Board of
Directors in June 1987, on the recommendation of the Board of Ethical
Responsibility for Psychology (BSERP). The task Force fulfilled its original
charge and in November 1989 submitted a Final Report to the Board of Directors,
noting its accomplishments related to science, practice, public interest,
education and training, publications, advocacy, and Association Issues.
In August 1990, the Board of Directors recommended the establishment
of the Ad Hoc Committee on Psychology and AIDS to be funded in the amount
of $5,000 from the 1990 Council contingency fund. The Committee shall
consist of six members, shall be funded for a three-year period, and shall
report to the Council through the Board of Directors.
The Task Force was created as a response to the AIDS crisis, but now
the epidemic has evolved from an immediate crisis to an enduring problem
that will challenge our society for the foreseeable future. The initial
goal of the Task Force was to assess the current situation and to develop
organizational responses to AIDS on behalf of APA. The goal for the office
on AIDS now is to sustain psychology's constructive efforts in the face
of the severe health and mental health problems associated with HIV Infection
and disease. In that light, the Association through its Office on AIDS
needs policy oversight and guidance by persons who have substantial expertise
in AIDS and who represent the interests of the diverse populations affected
by the disease.
In its 1989 Final Report the Task Force on Psychology and AIDS recommended
that its work continue through establishment of a new oversight group,
the Ad Hoc Committee on Psychology and AIDS (COPA). Such a committee should
continue to address the original Task Force charge while also: a) providing
policy direction and oversight for current APA activities related to AIDS;
b) advising APA staff and maintaining liaison with governance groups on
AIDS issues; and c) formulating new APA Initiatives to meet the continually
changing challenges posed by the epidemic.
COPA should consist of six members to be appointed by the Board of Directors
to serve a three-year term. Members should be selected on the basis of
their expertise and demonstrated commitment to AIDS Issues, and their
work should encompass the perspectives of science, practice, public interest,
communications, and education and training. COPA members should represent
the communities and populations most affected by the AIDS/HIV epidemic.
Given the changing nature of the HIV epidemic, appropriate expertise representing
the interests of women, children, ethnic minorities, and IV drug users
should be considered in making appointments to the group.
2004 Call for Nominations
