WASHINGTON — The American Psychological Association (APA) awarded U.S. Representative Brian Baird (D-WA) its Outstanding Leadership Award last night for his advocacy on behalf of psychologists and persons with mental health disorders.
Baird is a longtime supporter of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act, which would put insurance coverage for mental health services on par with physical health services. One of only three psychologists in Congress, Baird was honored at a dinner held during APA's annual State Leadership Conference.
Baird has also worked on behalf of veterans and their families. He has called on lawmakers and the Bush Administration to include an additional $1.3 billion in legislation funding the War in Iraq to help support benefits for returning veterans, including increased mental health care, family services, and counseling.
In 2004, Baird worked to ensure access to mental healthcare for residents of his state. When proposed changes to Medicaid regulations in his state threatened the ability of thousands with mental health disorders to receive treatment, Rep. Baird persuaded the federal agency that handles the benefit program to delay implementing the changes through 2005 while Washington's mental health program is reconfigured.
"Rep. Baird has proven time and again that he is one of psychology's strongest voices on Capitol Hill. He is working every day to remove the stigma that often surrounds mental health disorders, and to ensure that access to care is available to those who need it," said Russ Newman, APA's executive director for professional practice.
APA's Outstanding Leadership Award is given annually to a United States Senator or Congressman who has prominently championed the goals of professional psychology.
The American Psychological Association (APA), located in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 55 subfields of psychology and its affiliations with 58 state, territorial, and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession, and as a means of promoting health, education and welfare.