On December 9-10, seventeen American Psychological Association of Graduate Students members descended on Washington, DC for an advocacy training workshop combined with Hill visits to offices of their members of Congress. The advocacy training workshop was hosted by the Education, Public Interest, and Science Government Relations Offices. The seventeen participants represented the Advocacy Coordinating Team (ACT) within APAGS including Regional Advocacy Coordinators and State Advocacy Coordinators. The participants had a chance to better connect with their fellow Advocacy Coordinators and understand ways to get involved in the legislative process. The legislative issues discussed throughout the training and those which the APAGS members advocating for included the Campus Suicide Prevention Program as part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reauthorization and the protection of peer-reviewed research grants. More specifically, for the Campus Suicide Prevention Program, the participants advocated for the recommendation to expand the “Uses of Funds” section for the provision of mental and behavioral health services to students and to increase and extend the authorization of appropriations for FY 2009. For the protection of peer-reviewed research, participants thanked their members if they voted no on previous amendments to rescind funding from peer-reviewed research grants and urged that members of Congress vote “no” on any future amendments. For many, the advocacy training was a refresher on the importance of advocacy at all levels and a chance to perfect their direct communications with the offices of their members of Congress. For a few, the training was an introduction to federal advocacy and these no longer “novice” participants have been propelled on a trajectory towards taking in active role in advocacy efforts for psychology. Whatever the level of advocacy experience, the APAGS participants all expressed great enthusiasm about the experience and the APA Government Relations Office looks forward to working with these future leaders of APA in years to come.

The Education Government Relations Office is also preparing to lead an advocacy training workshop for a group of Air Force psychology residents on Thursday, January 31. Details on the training will follow in the next issue of the Monitor.

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