APA/APASI Strategic Plan
The plan was built on a strong belief that a new vision for the association should be co-created. Our members were invited to provide input into a transformative path forward that addresses the needs and interests of the different segments that make up the field.
This three- to five-year strategic plan—originally adopted in February 2019 by APA’s Council of Representatives—enables us to focus the association’s efforts toward maximizing the impact we can have on complex issues facing the field of psychology and broader society. The plan was revised and adopted by Council in February 2024.
APA Impact in Action
Reflecting on APA’s strategic plan and progress to-date.
Vision
The change APA aspires to create in the world.
A strong, diverse, and unified psychology that enhances knowledge and improves the human condition.
Mission
APA’s unique role in creating that change.
To promote the advancement, communication, and application of psychological science and knowledge to benefit society and improve lives.
Guiding Principles
The beliefs that guide and inform all that APA does. They apply equally across all areas of psychology including science, professional practice, education and training, applied, and in the public interest.
Engage, connect, and serve members.
Provide tools, resources, support, and networks that address member needs while creating an inclusive environment that fosters a sense of community and belonging.
Build on a foundation of science.
Advance research and efforts to translate, disseminate, and apply research findings in a range of settings while ensuring that the organization’s policies, advocacy, and offerings are informed by the best available psychological science and knowledge.
Respect and promote human rights.
Focus on human rights, equity, and nondiscrimination for all peoples.
Advance psychology and support psychologists.
Demonstrate a steadfast commitment to promoting the discipline of psychology while advocating on behalf of APA’s members and all psychologists.
Operating Principles
How all parts of APA will work together to execute the plan.
Increase organizational effectiveness.
Collaborate across APA to align resources, decision-making, and the contributions of elected and appointed leaders, staff, and the broader membership in service of advancing the strategic plan. Focus on the future, make evidence-informed decisions, and create capacity for new strategic initiatives.
Focus on outcomes.
Identify and pursue meaningful and measurable outcomes to significantly advance the interests of the public, the field, and psychologists.
Embrace cultural humility and reflexivity.
Commit to organizational self-reflection while partnering with and learning from the people, communities, and systems with which APA interacts.
Embrace a global perspective.
Advance psychology through global engagement, association programs, and meaningful collaborations with psychological associations and other relevant groups from around the world.
Build meaningful partnerships.
Collaborate with psychology partners, including APA Divisions, state, territorial and provincial psychology associations, ethnic psychology associations, and other relevant groups.
Strategic Goals and Objectives
Goals are the high-level descriptions of what APA must achieve to be successful. They are aspirational in that they are wide-ranging, complex, and ongoing. Objectives are more specific and address the component pieces of each goal.
Utilize psychological science and knowledge to make a positive impact on critical societal issues.
- Increase access to care and focus on reducing disparities in health outcomes by advancing a population health approach.
- Promote the application of psychology to improve the functioning of public and private institutions, organizations, systems, and communities.
- Advocate for evidence-informed policy decisions at the global, national, state, and local levels.
- Establish psychology as a key contributor in the development, evaluation, and application of technology.
- Foster the advancement of human rights through the application of psychological science to human rights systems and mechanisms, and the utilization of human rights-based approaches.
Prepare the field of psychology for current and future opportunities and challenges.
- Grow, diversify, develop, and support the next generation of psychologists.
- Facilitate the continued professional development of experienced psychologists.
- Advocate for increased federal and state level funding for psychology research, education, training, and service delivery.
- Promote the use of new and established research findings, technologies, and methodologies in all settings.
Elevate the public’s understanding, appreciation, and utilization of psychology.
- Expand the public’s understanding of psychology and psychologists to accurately reflect the full breadth of the field.
- Engage and support educational systems to foster lifelong appreciation and application of psychology.
- Make psychological science accessible and understandable to the public and key decision makers.
- Promote psychology’s unique contributions in health, health care, and human wellbeing.
- Educate the public about the quality and effectiveness of psychology-related products, services, and technologies.
Strengthen APA’s role as a leading voice for psychology.
- Contribute to the advancement of psychological science and practice through the continued development and enhancement of publishing programs, products, and services.
- Partner with state, provincial and territorial associations, APA Divisions, and other external groups to increase the effectiveness of federal, state, and local level advocacy operations.
- Serve as a leading resource for standards and evidence-based guidelines for the field.
- Apply an ethical framework to guide behavior of psychologists within the discipline and profession, APA as an organization, and the broader society.
- Expand and enhance APA’s role as a developer and distributor of science, practice, education, and career resources for psychology.