The five candidates running for APA’s 2017 president discuss their commitment to diversity and the opportunities that have resulted from changes to APA’s governance structure:
Q1: How will you integrate and reflect APA's commitment to diversity in all of your presidential endeavors?
We all belong to the same species. However, it's no secret that throughout history different groups have clashed. I believe respecting all psychologists, including those from underrepresented groups, begins with caring about each other. Let's care about each other. The caring and passion I feel commit me to the many who are microaggressed and marginalized within APA culture: the survivors of the internship crisis and other psychologists without APA-accredited internships. APA has shown a commitment to some aspects of diversity; however, APA must start caring and stop supporting the unjust treatment of psychologists without APA-accredited internships. Visit All Psychologistsopens in new window.
Q2: There are multiple changes to APA’s governance structure underway. What is one major opportunity this change offers the association?
APA's Council of Representatives now has the opportunity to correct unsupported, unscientific policies. Previously, council rubber-stamped some prepackaged policies with minimal scientific evidence or consideration. Two flawed policies council passed that weren't supported by science are the Resolution on Accreditation for Programs that Prepare Psychologists to Provide Health Services and Health Service Psychology: Preparing Competent Practitioners. These policies don't reflect good science, harm the public by reducing access to psychologists and infuriate a large number of psychologists by suggesting they're not competent because they didn't have an APA-accredited internship. Visit Todd Finnery onlineopens in new window.