Please see the below summary which highlights a recent aging, mental health, and psychology success story in the United States Senate. We appreciate you sharing this news with colleagues and listservs who might be interested. Thank you for your assistance.
On Thursday, March 30, APA members Florence Denmark, Ph.D. (past-president of APA and CONA member), Gregory Hinrichsen, Ph.D. (past-chair of CONA), and Donna Rasin-Waters, Ph.D. (Division 12 Federal Advocacy Coordinator and co-chair of Division 12-Section II Public Policy Committee) attended an invitation-only Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting to discuss aging policy issues. The three psychologists were among a select group of 20 national aging experts/advocates invited for a discussion with democratic leaders, including Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Harry Reid (D-NV), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
Drs. Denmark, Hinrichsen, and Rasin-Waters highlighted the importance of accessible and affordable mental health care as a necessary priority for the aging population. In addition, they shared APA's policy recommendations for the upcoming reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA) with key staff members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Among the top APA recommendations shared by the psychologists was the need to incorporate the Positive Aging Act (S.1116/H.R.2629) amendments into the Older Americans Act, to create an Office of Older Adult Mental Health Services in the Administration on Aging (AoA) to oversee the development and implementation of initiatives to address the mental health needs of older adults.
Diane Elmore, Ph.D. of the APA Public Policy Office and Deborah DiGilio, MPH of the APA Office on Aging served as liaisons to the congressional offices and steering committee, briefed the invited APA members prior to their meeting, helped with their travel arrangements, and escorted and staffed them at the event.
Diane Elmore, Ph.D.
Senior Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer
Public Policy Office
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 336-6104
(202) 336-6063 Fax
