During the February APA Council of Representatives meeting, council members Kim Gorgens, PhD, Frank Worrell, PhD, Lori Thompson, PhD, and Beth Rom-Rymer, PhD, opened the discussion of how best to support the translation of psychological science into public policy by sharing their experience in working with legislators and other policymakers. APA General Counsel Nathalie Gilfoyle also described the association's highly successfully amicus briefs program.
The collective advice shared with the council included:
- Speak from the science; don't roam from the data.
- Personalize and humanize the issue. Tell the "story" of how a certain policy initiative can help people or solve a problem.
- Engage all stakeholders.
- Find allies including reaching beyond psychology.
- Disseminate your findings in accessible language and formats.