JOBS: Ass't Professor, Clinical Psychology, Yeshiva University

Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University. Clinical Program (PsyD): ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Tenure-Track.  All specialty areas will be considered.  The program has a particular interest in candidates with clinical and research expertise in the following areas: severe mental illness, eating disorders, substance abuse and personality disorders.   Applicants with an active clinical involvement, a strong track record of research productivity and scholarly publications, are sought. The candidate should be license eligible in New York State as a clinical psychologist. Salary is competitive/ 9 months.   Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology is located on Yeshiva University's Albert Einstein College of Medicine Campus in New York.  The Clinical Program has been in effect since 1979 and has been an APA-accredited Doctor of Psychology program since 1984. Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology offers three APA-accredited doctoral programs: Clinical, a combined program in School/Clinical-Child and Clinical Health PhD; and offers a NY State registered MA program in mental health counseling. Applications from minority candidates are especially encouraged. Yeshiva University is an equal opportunity employer.  Applications review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.  Please send in both print copies and e-copies of vita, evidence of teaching experience, representative publications, and three letters of reference to Lawrence Siegel, PhD, ABPP Dean, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Rousso Building, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx NY 10461 and email these materials to fgspclinicalprogram@gmail.com

 

 

 

INFO: APA Statement on Senate Passage of Health Care Reform Legislation

FYI.
Merla

Dr. M. Arnold, PhD, RN Licensed Psychologist - Registered Nurse Psychological Services, Behavioral Health  Counseling, Consultation and Education Focused on the Needs of Older Adults Western Suffolk/Eastern Nassau Counties, LI, NY Long Term Care Settings (631) 271-9863  "It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom.  It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken  and the wisest might err." Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)  “It is better to know the patient who has the disease than it is to know the disease which the patient has.”  Hippocrates (460 BC - 377 BC) 

APA Statement on Senate Passage of Health Care Reform Legislation

Washington, DC, December 24, 2009 – The American Psychological Association commends the U.S. Senate for its historic passage of legislation that holds the promise of more comprehensive coverage for Americans with health insurance and provides new options for those without. 

We are pleased that the amended Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is consistent with our association's principles for comprehensive health reform, and that the bill includes

• mental health and substance abuse services in all benefits plans, with coverage that is equal to physical health care
• integration of psychological services with primary care
• supports the training of psychologists
• increased comparative effectiveness research, which compares treatments and strategies to help health care

professionals and patients decide on the best treatment.

• initiatives to eliminate health disparities
• the promotion of prevention and wellness, and
• an extension of vital Medicare reimbursement for psychotherapy

The inclusion of these key areas recognizes what APA has long contended—the mind and body are inextricably linked. Psychologists provide vital mental and behavioral health services as part of primary and chronic care management. We are pleased that the Senate acknowledges the importance of the science and practice of psychology and its role in the health and well-being of Americans.

The American Psychological Association (APA), 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 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.

Luana Bossolo
Assistant Executive Director, Public Relations
American Psychological Association Practice Directorate
Washington, DC
202-336-5899
www.apahelpcenter.org

INFO: New APA Committee on Aging members

CONA welcomes its two newest members, Adam Brickman (Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease & the Aging Brain, Columbia University) and Neil Charness (Department of Psychology, Florida State University) to three year terms effective January 1. 

 

They join Chandra Mehrotra (chair), Patricia Areán, Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, and Sara Honn Qualls as the 2010 CONA.  Thanks to Merla Arnold and Lee Hyer for their service.

 

 

Deborah DiGilio| Director, Office on Aging Public Interest Directorate American Psychological Association 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242 Tel: (202) 336-6135 |  Fax: (202) 336-6040 email: ddigilio@apa.org | www.apa.org/pi/aging
P Please consider the environment before printing this email.

 

INFO: Action Alert! Congress Temporarily Postpones SGR Cut - ACT TODAY

X Urgent
X Action Required

APA Practice Organization Action Alert

Date: December 18, 2009

To: SPTA and Division Federal Advocacy Coordinators
APAGS Coordinators

From: Marilyn Richmond, J.D., Assistant Executive Director for Government Relations
American Psychological Association Practice Organization

Cc: Katherine Nordal, Ph.D., Executive Director for Professional Practice
SPTA Executive Directors
SPTA Directors of Professional Affairs
CAPP

Re: Congress Temporarily Postpones SGR Cut

This week the House voted to postpone for two months the scheduled 21.2% Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) cut to Medicare provider payments
as the debate on health care reform continued to occupy the focus of Congress. The postponement was included in the "must-pass" defense
appropriations bill (H.R. 3326), which the Senate is expected to pass in the next few days and the President is expected to sign. The SGR
cut will be blocked until February 28, and Congress will have to address this Medicare issue by that deadline.

As you may recall, the House previously passed legislation (H.R. 3961) in November to permanently replace the SGR formula and provide a
1% update for 2010, but the bill has stalled in the Senate due to budgetary concerns. The Senate health care reform bill currently includes
a provision to prevent the SGR cut for one year and provide a 0.5% update for 2010.

Other Medicare issues, including our 5% psychotherapy payment restoration, remain a key part of the health care reform bills currently under
consideration. Following the implementation of across-the-board cuts resulting from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
five-year review, the APA Practice Organization successfully persuaded Congress in 2008 to restore payments for psychotherapy, the only codes
that received relief. In 2009, APAPO secured language extending the restoration provision in the Senate and House health care reform bills,
as well as all health care reform bills considered by committees of jurisdiction.

Because it is part of health care reform, this critical provision is unlikely to be enacted by January 1. However, Finance Committee staff
has indicated that they will seek to apply the restoration to all Medicare payments in 2010.

We need to keep the pressure on Congress to ensure our provision is extended, and retroactively if necessary. Your Senators and Representative
need to hear from you TODAY that they should pass the restoration extension as soon as possible.

Action:

Click here to urge your Senators and Representative to quickly pass the psychology payment restoration extension:

<http://capwiz.com/apapractice/issues/alert/?alertid=14479701>

If you are not able to reach the Legislative Action Center from the above link, please visit
<http://capwiz.com/apapractice/issues/alert/?alertid=14479701> .

Grassroots feedback is also extremely important to our advocacy efforts, so we would very much appreciate it if you would
e-mail (jcook@apa.org) or fax (202-336-5797) us any responses you receive from your Representative.

Sample Letter:

I am writing as a psychologist and constituent to share my deep concern that Congress has not yet taken action on several key Medicare priorities.
While I am grateful that the Sustainable Growth Rate cut has been prevented for two months, Congress must move quickly to stop the cut from endangering
Medicare patients' access to quality mental health care and should pass a permanent solution that fairly reimburses psychologists and other providers.

Moreover, Congress must extend the 5% psychotherapy payment restoration, which was enacted as part of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and
Providers Act to protect Medicare mental health services that were previously cut by CMS's five-year review. An extension of this critical provision
was passed by the House (Sec. 1309 of H.R. 3962 and is included in Senator Reid's bill (Sec. 3107). My practice is already facing significantly lower
reimbursement in 2010 due to CMS's recent practice expense adjustments, and I simply cannot afford to provide services for less.

Please enact the MIPPA restoration extension as soon as possible and make sure it applies retroactively. This is critically important to my
practice and the patients I serve. Thank you for your time and consideration.

*********************************************************************************

--

Dr. M. Arnold, PhD, RN
Licensed Psychologist - Registered Nurse
Psychological Services, Behavioral Health Counseling, Consultation and Education
Focused on the Needs of Older Adults
Western Suffolk/Eastern Nassau Counties, LI, NY
Long Term Care Settings
(631) 271-9863

"It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err."
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

"It is better to know the patient who has the disease than it is to know the disease which the patient has." Hippocrates (460 BC - 377 BC)

CONFERENCES: Society for Research in Adult Development Call for Submissions

Society for Research in Adult Development
Call for Submissions to the
25th Annual Adult Development Symposium
March 9-10, 2010 ~ In Philadelphia
Sofitel Hotel
120 South 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Hotel Website
Submit proposals online by December 31, 2009
The Society for Research in Adult Development (SRAD;
www.adultdevelopment.org) is dedicated to the study of positive adult
and life-span development from an interdisciplinary perspective.
SRAD's 2010 Symposium is meeting as a preconference of the 13th Society
for Research on Adolescence (SRA) Biennial Meeting, March 11-13, 2010,
at Philadelphia Marriott Downtown (www.s-r-a.org)
Challenges to conventional wisdom are especially welcome in all
submissions.
Topics include and are not limited to:
Secondary Education
Post-Secondary Education
Adult Education (Life Long Learning)
Professional Development Programs
Community Settings and Politics
Consultative Settings
Organizational Settings
Therapeutic Settings
Other Settings
Transitions from Adolescence
Emerging Adulthood
Life Periods and Seasons
Identity
Intelligence
Motivation
Pathology
Responsibilities
Roles
Cognitive Development
Emotional Development
Moral Development
Positive Development
Performance Development
Relationship Development
Religious Development
Stages in Adult Development
Spirituality Development
Whole-person Development
Wisdom Development
Measurement Methods
Methodological Issues
Fractals in Development
Models of Development
Submissions due December 31, 2009
TO SUBMIT ABSTRACTS of your proposed presentation, and for ONLINE
REGISTRATION, visit http://adultdevelopment.org/registration.php.
Format of Presentations:
The sessions are comprised of interactive poster presentations. The
emphasis will be on visual presentations accompanied by dialogues with
small groups of people. Most people informally interact with presenters
in this venue around the posters. A brief presentation to the group at
large precedes the poster period. The poster period is followed by full
group discussion. Full papers or short summaries should be made
available as hard copy handouts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Symposium Fees
Professional $60 ($75 at the door)
Student $35 ($40 at the door)
(Limited, partial student scholarships for registration fee only may be
available; contact commons@tiac.net)
Register for the Adult Development Symposium online:
http://adultdevelopment.org/register_now.html
Alternatively, you may register by mail; send a check (made payable to
the Society for Research in Adult Development) with full contact
information to:
Michael Lamport Commons, Ph.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Harvard Medical School
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
234 Huron Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138-1328
QUESTIONS? CONTACT Michael Lamport Commons at commons@tiac.net
-

CONFERENCES: National Summit on Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan

From Keith Cooke, kcooke@apa.org:

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN:  National Summit on Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan: Forging A Shared Agenda

National Summit on Interpersonal Violence and Abuse

Across the Lifespan: Forging A Shared Agenda

February 24-26, 2010

Sheraton Dallas Hotel, Dallas, Texas

 

Co-sponsoring Divisions: 20, 35, 48, 50, 51, 53

Collaborators: Public Interest Directorate; Practice Directorate; Divisions 9, 17, 20, 29, 33, 35, 37, 39, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 50, 51, 53, 56

The conference will be organized around eight thematic threads. These threads represent different aspects of interpersonal violence. Plenary speakers and symposia will represent an interweaving of two or more of these threads, with the aim of fostering a more integrative overall perspective of the critical issues to address in eliminating interpersonal violence.

 

THREADS: (1) Child Maltreatment (2) Children Exposed to Violence (3) Community Violence (4) Diversity & Vulnerable Populations (5) Intimate Partner Violence (6) Sexual Assault (7) Substance Abuse (8) Youth Violence

 

 Speakers include APA Past President Alan Kazdin: President-Elect Carol Goodheart; President Elect-Elect Melba Vasquez

 

Up to 14.5 hours of Continuing Education

Up to 14.5 hours are available for Psychologists, National Certified Counselors, MFT’s, LCSWs, Nurses, and Substance Abuse Counselors. Up to 14.5 hours are available for Attorneys; CE Credits approved by CA Agencies are accepted in most states.

 

AGENDA & ONLINE REGISTRATION

HERE

RESERVE ROOM AT SHERATON DALLAS HOTEL

HERE

 

POSTER SUBMISSIONS

DEADLINE: December 18, 2009

Guidelines & Information: www.npeiv.org

Additional Inquiries: Patricia Smith

psmith@alliant.edu

858-527-1860 ext 4042

 

TRAINING: NIH Summer Institute on RCTs involving Behavioral Interventions -- Applications due 1/15/2010

Please post and distribute

(Apologies for multiple emails to you!)

________________________________
APPLICATIONS DUE JANUARY 15, 2010
http://blsweb.net/obssrapp2attend2010/

JULY 11-23, 2010

OBSSR/NIH SUMMER TRAINING INSTITUTE
ON
RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIALS INVOLVING BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS
http://obssr.od.nih.gov/training_and_education/annual_Randomized_Clinical_Trials_course/RCT_info.aspx

Objective

To provide a thorough grounding in the conduct of randomized clinical trials to researchers and health professionals interested in developing competence in the planning, design, and execution of randomized clinical trials involving behavioral interventions. The curriculum will enable participants to:

* Describe the principles underlying the conduct of unbiased clinical trials.
* Identify the unique challenges posed by behavioral randomized clinical trials (RCTs).
* Evaluate alternative RCT designs in terms of their appropriateness to scientific and clinical goals.
* Select appropriate strategies for enrollment, randomization, and retention of participants.
* Understand methods for monitoring, coordinating, and conducting RCTs.
* Develop strategies for appropriate statistical analyses of RCT data.
* Evaluate the quality of behavioral RCTs and interpret their results.
* Design a RCT research project in collaboration with a scientific team.

Eligibility Requirements for Summer Fellows

Priority will be given to individuals who have received their PhD or MD (or equivalent degrees) not later than July 2008. Applicants must have at least two years of subsequent research experience. Applicants should not yet have achieved a tenured position at their institution. (The typical past participant has had 4-5 years of research experience.) Beyond these eligibility criteria we are seeking researchers who have demonstrated research potential and experience and who will clearly benefit from behavioral randomized controlled trial training. The ideal candidate will have prior experience, and will be actively pursuing an independent research career, in behavioral randomized clinical trials.

Further, those who have extensive research experience will only be considered after more junior investigators have been evaluated. Preference is also given to individuals who are not employees of NIH. While we will consider and may even accept exceptional applicants who do not meet the above criteria, priority will go to those who do.

Due to the limited number of spaces in the course, applicants must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status). Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Reasonable Accommodations for Disabilities: If you are accepted to attend the summer institute and require reasonable accommodations for disabilities to participate in this activity, at least 60 business days before the course begins please contact Ms. Sidnitra Bates at 301.577.0244, extension 64 or sbates@blseamon.com.

Costs and Stipends

The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH, will pay for domestic (USA) travel to and from the Summer Institute site, room and board, and for course materials. Family members may accompany participants at their own costs.

Application Procedures

All application materials must be submitted online. Instructions and the application form are posted at http://blsweb.net/obssrapp2attend2010/.

--
Ronald P. Abeles, Ph.D.
Special Assistant to the Director
Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
Office of the Director
National Institutes of Health
Bldg. 31C, Rm. B1C19, MSC 2027
31 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-2027

(Courier Services Zip Code 20814)

Phone: 301-496-7859 Fax: 301-435-8779
Mobile: 301-792-3749
email: abeles@nih.gov
http://obssr.od.nih.gov

Major changes for grant applicants!
Shorter page limits ... restructured forms ... new instructions
For application submissions due on or after January 25, 2010,
the time is now to find out how --
http://enhancing-peer-review.nih.gov/restructured_applications.html

--
Ronald P. Abeles, Ph.D.
Special Assistant to the Director
Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
Office of the Director
National Institutes of Health
Bldg. 31C, Rm. B1C19, MSC 2027
31 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-2027

(Courier Services Zip Code 20814)

Phone: 301-496-7859 Fax: 301-435-8779
Mobile: 301-792-3749
email: abeles@nih.gov
http://obssr.od.nih.gov

Major changes for grant applicants!
Shorter page limits ... restructured forms ... new instructions
For application submissions due on or after January 25, 2010,
the time is now to find out how --
http://enhancing-peer-review.nih.gov/restructured_applications.html

AWARDS: New Award: Florence L. Denmark Award for Contributions to Women and Aging

I would like to encourage you to consider nominating individuals for this NEW Division 35 award that honors Florence Denmark. Her contributions as a past APA President, CONA member, UN Committee on Ageing chair and through her many other roles at APA, which are too numerous to list here, have brought needed attention to women and aging issues.  The nomination information is below. (Congratulations, Florence!)

 

Deborah DiGilio| Director, Office on Aging Public Interest Directorate American Psychological Association 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242 Tel: (202) 336-6135 |  Fax: (202) 336-6040 email: ddigilio@apa.org | www.apa.org/pi/aging
P Please consider the environment before printing this email.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

From: Division 35 announce only list for Psychology of Women. [mailto:DIV35ANNOUNCE@LISTS.APA.ORG] On Behalf Of Cooke, Keith
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 10:54 AM
To: DIV35ANNOUNCE@LISTS.APA.ORG
Subject: [DIV35ANNOUNCE] Florence L. Denmark Award for Contributions to Women and Aging

 

Announcement of New Award and Call for Nominations: Florence L. Denmark Award for Contributions to Women and Aging

Sponsored by Division 35 of the American Psychological Association, Society for the Psychology of Women

The Society for the Psychology of Women announces a new award initiated by Division 35’s Committee on Women and Aging, in honor of Dr. Florence L. Denmark for her tireless work over many years on both gender and aging issues. The new award is the Florence L. Denmark Award for Contributions to Women and Aging, and its purpose is to recognize scholarly or public policy accomplishments, or both, in the area of women and aging.

Award and Nomination Details

The awardee will receive a plaque and be recognized at Division 35’s Awards Ceremony during the 2010 APA convention in San Diego, CA.

Nominations should include:

•       a letter of nomination,

•       a 500-word statement describing the nominee’s contributions to scholarship or public policy, or both, on women and aging, and

•       the nominee’s current CV.

The nomination may also include letters of support. Self-nominations are acceptable.

The deadline for nominations is April 30, 2010. Please submit nominations/self-nominations and materials via e-mail as Word or PDF attachments to: Jamila Bookwala, Ph.D., Chair, Florence L. Denmark Award for Contributions to Women and Aging, <bookwalj@lafayette.edu>

 

 

 

**********************************
Jamila Bookwala, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
305 Oechsle Hall
Lafayette College
Easton, PA 18042

610-330-5285 (voice)
610-330-5349 (fax)
bookwalj@lafayette.edu (electronic)
http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~bookwalj (webpage) 

---

INFO: Donna-Rasin Waters President-Elect of New York State Psychological Association

I wanted to advise the listserve that fellow gerospychologist, Donna Rasin-Waters, was recently elected President-Elect of the New York State Psychological Association.  Donna is the former president of the Association's Adult Development and Aging Division.  She has been a long-time advocate for public policy related to psychology and aging and, among her many activities, she is currently the Federal Advocacy Coordinator for APA, Division 12. 

 

Congrats to Donna.

 

Greg Hinrichsen

AWARDS: Norman Abeles is a 2010 Public Interest Award Winner

Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest (Senior Career)

 

Norman Abeles, PhD

 

For his sustained efforts to increase public awareness and understanding of how psychological principles address social issues, for supporting efforts to promote psychology as a science, and for advancing the practice of psychology.  Through his many varied roles as an APA volunteer, including serving as President of the Association in 1997, Dr. Abeles has demonstrated a unique devotion to successfully ensuring that psychological science is used to accomplish important social advances.   

 

He will receive this award at the APA 2010 Convention.

 

Deborah DiGilio| Director, Office on Aging Public Interest Directorate American Psychological Association 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242 Tel: (202) 336-6135 |  Fax: (202) 336-6040 email: ddigilio@apa.org | www.apa.org/pi/aging
P Please consider the environment before printing this email.

 

 

CONFERENCES: Society for Research in Adult Development

Society for Research in Adult Development Call for Submissions to the 25th Annual Adult Development Symposium March 9-10, 2010 ~ In Philadelphia Sofitel Hotel 120 South 17th Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Hotel Website Submit proposals online by December 31, 2009 The Society for Research in Adult Development (SRAD; www.adultdevelopment.org) is dedicated to the study of positive adult and life-span development from an interdisciplinary perspective. SRAD’s 2010 Symposium is meeting as a preconference of the 13th Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) Biennial Meeting, March 11-13, 2010, at Philadelphia Marriott Downtown (www.s-r-a.org) Challenges to conventional wisdom are especially welcome in all submissions. Topics include and are not limited to: Secondary Education Post-Secondary Education Adult Education (Life Long Learning) Professional Development Programs Community Settings and Politics Consultative Settings Organizational Settings Therapeutic Settings Other Settings Transitions from Adolescence Life Periods and Seasons Identity Intelligence Motivation Pathology Responsibilities Positive Aging Roles Cognitive Development Emotional Development Moral Development Performance Development Relationship Development Religious Development Spirituality Development Whole-person Development Wisdom Development Measurement Methods Methodological Issues Models of Development Mathematical Models of Development Submissions due December 31, 2009 TO SUBMIT ABSTRACTS of your proposed presentation, and for ONLINE REGISTRATION, visit http://adultdevelopment.org/registration.php. Format of Presentations: The sessions are comprised of interactive poster presentations. The emphasis will be on visual presentations accompanied by dialogues with small groups of people. Most people informally interact with presenters in this venue around the posters. A brief presentation to the group at large precedes the poster period. The poster period is followed by full group discussion. Full papers or short summaries should be made available as hard copy handouts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Symposium Fees Professional $60 ($75 at the door) Student $35 ($40 at the door) (Limited, partial student scholarships for registration fee only may be available; contact commons@tiac.net) Register for the Adult Development Symposium online: http://adultdevelopment.org/register_now.html Alternatively, you may register by mail; send a check (made payable to the Society for Research in Adult Development) with full contact information to: Michael Lamport Commons, Ph.D. Assistant Clinical Professor Department of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 234 Huron Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138-1328 QUESTIONS? CONTACT Michael Lamport Commons at commons@tiac.net

--  My Best,  Michael Lamport Commons, Ph.D. Assistant Clinical Professor  Department of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 234 Huron Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138-1328  Telephone (617) 497-5270 Facsimile (617) 491-5270 Cellular  (617) 320–0896 Commons@tiac.net http://dareassociation.org/   

CONFERENCES: Cognitive Aging Conference 2010

For more information, contact anderson.smith@carnegie.gatech.edu

 

REMINDER:  The deadline for abstract submission for the Cognitive Aging Conference is December 11, 2009.  You can submit your abstract through our conference website:  http://cos.gatech.edu/cac/       Other information about registration and hotel reservations is also found on the website.

 

POLICY --APA asks experts to comment on draft objectives for Healthy People 2020

Dear Colleagues:

For the past thirty years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued 10-year national objectives for promoting health and preventing disease. Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) employs insights from research, innovations in health care, and lessons learned from public health experience to set goals for improving the nation's health over the next decade. The "Healthy People" process is built on objectives and benchmarks to monitor progress over time. The planning process for Healthy People 2020 is well under way, and comments are now being accepted online on the draft goals and objectives. Comments may be submitted, and previous comments reviewed, from this page: http://www.healthypeople.gov/hp2020/comments/ <https://mail.apa.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.healthypeople.gov/hp2020/comments/> Comments will be accepted online through December 31, 2009.

The behavioral and social sciences have a lot to contribute to this process. Indeed many psychologists have been involved in the development of the draft plan. As in past iterations of the "Healthy People" planning process, the American Psychological Association encourages its expert members to weigh in on these issues, and develops its own set of comments as well. Any comments, compliments, or criticism you have can inform the APA comments, if you will take the time to share your thoughts with us.

The HP 2020 Framework is organized around a central vision: "A society in which all people live long, healthy lives." The mission presented in the Framework emphasizes the need for a strong foundation of scientific data and evidence to inform policies and practices to improve health, the importance of increasing public awareness of the social determinants of health and disease, as well as the need to engage multiple sectors of society to take actions to strengthen policies and practices that impact health.

The draft is organized around four overarching goals:

* To attain high quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death;

* To achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups;

* To create social and physical environments that promote good health for all;

* To promote quality of life, healthy development and healthy behaviors across all life stages.

We at APA urge you to go to the website and look over the draft. It is an important document, and will be influential in shaping public health policy and practice over the next ten years. There are many objectives, some retained from HP 2010, and others newly proposed. From the topic areas page (http://www.healthypeople.gov/hp2020/Objectives/TopicAreas.aspx <https://mail.apa.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.healthypeople.gov/hp2020/Objectives/TopicAreas.aspx> ) you can examine goals in any area (e.g. adolescent health, diabetes, health communication, HIV).

Comment individually if you wish - then share your impressions and concerns with APA. Contact Pat Kobor, Science Government Relations Office, at pkobor@apa.org <mailto:pkobor@apa.org> , (202/336-5933) no later than Friday, December 18, 2009 at 5 pm.

Thank you!

Patricia Clem Kobor

Sr. Science Policy Analyst

American Psychological Association

750 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20002

(202) 336-5933

(202) 336-6063-f

pkobor@apa.org

P Please consider the environment before printing this email.

INFO: Going Global with Study, Teaching and Service in Psychology

From Merry Bullock, MBullock@apa.org:

Going Global with Study, Teaching and Service in Psychology – Call for Programming at the 2010 APA Convention

APA’s Committee on International Relations in Psychology (CIRP) is sponsoring a roundtable session at the 2010 APA Convention in San Diego to inform about international study, teaching, and service opportunities for psychologists. "Going Global with Study, Teaching and Service" will provide a platform for psychologists to discuss and learn about opportunities, gather ideas, and network with others interested in or engaged in international teaching, international study abroad, international research, and international applications of psychology and service.

CIRP is seeking contact information for those of you who are or have been involved in such activities (e.g. study abroad courses, international teaching, Doctors without Borders, international consulting, etc.) and brief descriptions of what you are doing or have done and where. CIRP’s aim is to identify individuals who would be willing to share information about the programs they are involved in, study abroad courses they have developed, etc. in a roundtable format that promotes a cross-fertilization of ideas and opportunities for expanding our own perspectives, as well as that of our students.

Please send your contact information and a short (paragraph length) description of your international experience to mbullock@apa.org. If your experience is in the Fulbright program or Peace Corps please indicate that in the header of the email (we are developing separate lists for activities with those organizations). Thanks much!

Merry Bullock, PhD
Senior Director | Office of International Affairs
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC  20002-4242
Tel: (202) 336-6024 | Fax: (202) 312-6499
email: mbullock@apa.org; www.apa.org

INFO: Your apportionment ballot

Dear Division 20 Listserv member,

If you have not received your apportionment ballot (they were mailed on Nov. 2) please contact Garnett Coad at the APA Elections Office (gcoad@apa.org). They were apparently send 3rd class but they should have gotten to you by now.

 

As soon as you get the ballot, or if you've gotten it already and haven't voted, please consider giving all 10 of your votes to Division 20. If you can't give us all your votes, please give us as many as you can possibly manage. In any case, don't let that ballot go to waste. Please return it as soon as possible!!

 

These are important times for aging in APA and we need to keep our 2 council representatives. Last year we were very close to losing our second seat, so every vote definitely counts.

 

Thanks!!

Best,

Susan

Division 20 Council Representative and Fellowship Chair

--
Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
611 Tobin Hall
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst MA 01003
413-545-4306 (O)
413-545-0996 (F)
http://www.psych.umass.edu/people/susanwhitbourne

INFO: Outing Age 2002, Elder Justice Act

FYI: 

 

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) today jointly released Outing Age 2010: Public Policy Issues Affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Elders, an update to the groundbreaking Outing Age report issued in 2000. Like its predecessor, Outing Age 2010 presents an in-depth look at public policy issues and challenges facing millions of aging LGBT people in the United States.  www.sageusa.org

 

Also, update on Elder Justice Act:  support is broad for the Elder Justice Act, which is linked to healthcare reform measures, http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-elder-abuse23-2009nov23,0,2818119.story.  APA has been a long-time supporter of this legislation. Dr. Diane Elmore, of the APA Public Interest Government Relations Office, represents APA on the Elder Justice Coalition that has worked for the passage of the Act.

 

 

Deborah DiGilio| Director, Office on Aging Public Interest Directorate American Psychological Association 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242 Tel: (202) 336-6135 |  Fax: (202) 336-6040 email: ddigilio@apa.org | www.apa.org/pi/aging
P Please consider the environment before printing this email.

 

STUDENTS: Graduate Study at UT Austin

The Lifespan Development Lab at the University of Texas at Austin is seeking applicants for doctoral study in psychology. Training emphases can include cognitive development, cognitive aging, individual differences, and/or quantitative methods. More information about the Lifespan Development Lab can be found at www.lifespanlab.com.

Applications are due on January 1, 2010. More information about the application procedure can be found at http://www.psy.utexas.edu/psy/GradProgram/application.html.

-- Elliot M. Tucker-Drob, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Psychology Faculty Research Associate Population Research Center The University of Texas at Austin 1 University Station A8000 Austin, TX 78712-0187 tuckerdrob@psy.utexas.edu www.lifespanlab.com

INFO: Information Alert! Legislative Update on Medicare Priorities

Thank you all for responding to the initial Action Alert.

This is a To Be Continued story...
Merla

Dr. M. Arnold, PhD, RN Licensed Psychologist - Registered Nurse Psychological Services, Behavioral Health  Counseling, Consultation and Education Focused on the Needs of Older Adults Western Suffolk/Eastern Nassau Counties, LI, NY Long Term Care Settings (631) 271-9863  "It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom.  It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken  and the wisest might err." Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)  “It is better to know the patient who has the disease than it is to know the disease which the patient has.”  Hippocrates (460 BC - 377 BC)

Cook, Jeff wrote:

Urgent          Action        Required     X   For Your        Information

APA Practice Organization Information Alert

 

 

Date:               November 20, 2009

 

To:                  SPTA and Division Federal Advocacy Coordinators

APAGS Coordinators

 

From:              Marilyn Richmond, J.D., Assistant Executive Director for Government Relations

American Psychological Association Practice Organization

 

Cc:                  Katherine Nordal, Ph.D., Executive Director for Professional Practice

SPTA Executive Directors

SPTA Directors of Professional Affairs

CAPP

 

Re:                  Legislative Update on Medicare Priorities

 

 

I am pleased to inform you that yesterday the House passed legislation to permanently replace the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and prevent the 21.2% cut to Medicare provider payments from taking effect in 2010.  The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (H.R. 3961) would provide a 1% update for providers in 2010 followed by regular inflation-based adjustments in future years.  With the help of psychologists like you across the country, we were able to mobilize nearly 4,000 messages to members of the House in a very short period of time.  Great work!  The vote was 243-183.  You can see how your Representative voted at http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll909.xml. 

 

On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) unveiled the leadership’s comprehensive health care reform legislation, merging together the Finance Committee and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee versions.  The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains several key Medicare provisions halting the scheduled SGR cut, providing a 0.5% update in 2010 and extending our 5% psychotherapy payment restoration.  In order to reduce overall costs, the bill limited the duration of key Medicare provisions to one year, anticipating further action on Medicare again next year.  The full House previously approved a two-year restoration extension as part of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) on November 7.

 

Your advocacy work, combined with direct lobbying by our team in Washington, has enabled the inclusion of the restoration extension in every piece of legislation along the way, in each key committee’s version as well as each chamber’s merged bill.  We will continue to work to ensure that the final Medicare provisions sent to the President, regardless of the legislative vehicle, provide the maximum reimbursement relief for practicing psychologists.  Thanks for your continuing efforts.

 

 

Jeff Cook

Director, Field and State Operations

APA Practice Organization

750 First Street, NE

Washington, DC  20002

(202) 336-5875 (Office)

(202) 336-5797 (Fax)

jcook@apa.org (Email)

 

CONFERENCES: APA Division 45

From Keith Cooke, kcooke@apa.org:

THE INNAUGURAL APA DIVISION 45 CONFERENCE

The Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues (APA Division 45) will be hosting its first-ever conference outside of the APA convention on June 17-19, 2010.  The conference will be held on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. There will also be a pre-conference professional development opportunity for ethnic minority graduate students and early career professionals on Thursday, June 17, 2010.

The goals of this meeting are to provide a forum for:

1)     The presentation of state-of-the-art research related to the psychological condition of individuals from all ethnic minority groups within the United States;

2)     The professional development of ethnic minority researchers (students and professionals);

3)     Greater networking and collaboration among researchers conducting research on ethnic minority issues across various fields of psychology.

There will be an opportunity to present posters, symposia, panel discussions and workshops.  The Call for Proposals ends on February 15, 2010 at 11:59 EST. Early registration ends on May 30, 2010 at 11:59 EST. You must register in Ann Arbor after that date at onsite rates. For more information and to register for the conference go to the conference website (http://www.div45conference.com).