Chris K. Wehl, PhD, was awarded a Presidential Citation for his sustained commitment to develop, protect and expand the role of professional psychology on both the state and federal level.
As federal advocacy coordinator for the Utah Psychological Association since 2000, Wehl has kept psychology’s agenda in the forefront of Utah’s Congressional delegation. He diligently and persistently remained committed to gaining support and co-sponsorship of federal mental health parity throughout the 10-year effort it took to pass this landmark legislation. He has continued to advocate on behalf of Utah Psychologists for the inclusion of Psychologists in the Medicare physician definition, gaining co-sponsorship of this legislation from one Utah Member of Congress. He was honored by the APA Practice Organization with the Federal Advocacy Coordinator of the Year Award in 2007.
Wehl spearheaded the Utah Psychological Association’s efforts in successfully achieving the passage of mental health parity legislation in 2002, having served as a member of the Mental Health Technical Advisory Group to the Utah Health Policy Commission.
Wehl has served as Utah’s representative to the APA Council of Representatives (2008-13), and has chaired both the Utah Psychological Association’s Legislative Committee (2000-08) and Insurance Committee (1991-05), also serving as an elected board member-at-large (1994-98). He was the recipient of the Utah Psychological Association Distinguished Service Award in 2005.
Wehl continues his advocacy efforts to preserve, protect and expand the professional role of Utah Psychologists in the specialty area of family forensics. Since 2011, he has been a member of the Custody Evaluation Subcommittee of the Utah Judicial Standing Committee for Children and Family Law. He has served since 2009 on the Utah Psychological Association Taskforce on Family Forensic Issues.
Wehl was first recognized for his advocacy efforts as a recipient of the APA Karl F. Heiser Award for Advocacy in 1995. He has remained steadfastly committed to advocacy on behalf of Psychology since then.