Report from APA Council - August 2019

The Guidelines for Psychological Practice for People with Low-Income and Economic Marginalization are the first APA guidelines to address the needs of low-income people, who are underserved, understudied, and diverse, says Cindy L. Juntunen, PhD, a professor at the University of North Dakota and chair of the low-income guidelines task force.

posthumous presidential citation.

The Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association met in Chicago, IL on August 7th and 9th 2019.

Chicago is lovely in the summer, with the backdrop of Lake Michigan and plenty of deep-dish pizza options. I was again honored to have the opportunity to represent New Jersey at the APA Council of Representatives meeting.

The following is a summary of the major decisions and votes at this meeting. Some of what is reported below is excerpted from a meeting summary provided to council members from APA

On Wednesday morning, Jean Carter, PhD provided Council with the financial report.

Council also received an update from APA’s CEO, Dr. Arthur Evans. He highlighted that recently crafted statements and policies all have the common thread of reinforcing our strategic goals. APA has also been working much faster to release statements in timely fashion. For example, we were able to craft and release a statement on gun violence just hours after the latest tragedies. We are also working and collaborating with major organizations and partnerships in the country to strengthen psychology’s voice.

For one of the first motions on the floor, Council was asked to approve amending the Association Rules to add four additional seats to the Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) as follows: three APA members to be nominated by the Board of Directors and elected by Council; and the past-chair of the Council of Executives of State, Provincial and Territorial Psychological Associations (CESPPA) serving ex-officio. BPA recommended these changes due to the additional responsibilities BPA will undertake as a result of the sunsetting of the Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice (CAPP) at the end of June 2019. This motion passed by 98.8 %.

Council also voted overwhelmingly in favor of two sets of guidelines.

The guidelines are an important step for a couple of reasons, she says. The first is that research finds that low-income and economically marginalized individuals are far more susceptible to health and mental problems than those with more resources but have less access to needed services.

The second is that psychologists typically have more resources than many of the clients they serve. So, to provide culturally informed care, it’s critical that they reach outside their comfort zones and determine more effective ways of providing services, for example, by offering sliding scale fees or shorter sessions that better accommodate these clients’ budgets and work schedules.

Also important, according to the guidelines, is viewing poverty in a structural context.

In addition, the council approved the Race and Ethnicity Guidelines in Psychology: Promoting Responsiveness and Equity that update research on the effective understanding and treatment of ethnically and culturally diverse clients and help psychologists develop stronger tools to respond appropriately to them.

A business item that addressed adding an Early Career Psychologist to the agenda planning group was approved by 99.4 %.

An amendment was proposed that would permit the current Member-atLarge or the early career psychologist member of the Council Leadership Team whose term is ending, to be able to run for chair-elect. This passed by 78.2%.

On Wednesday afternoon, recently deceased members were honored. Additionally, on Wednesday afternoon, the Committee on Early Career Psychologists presented Division 42 with a recognition for promoting the expertise of early career psychologists and encouraging early career involvement in leadership.

On Friday morning, Dr. Ronald Rozensky was presented with the Raymond D. Fowler Award for Outstanding Member Contributions. Additionally, Dr. Alberto-Garcia was presented with a

A motion that generated a lot of discussion and back and forth commentary was when Council was asked to approve amendments to the APA bylaws and association rules that would create a new membership category for masters and doctoral students. This approved amendment to the APA bylaws and association rules would create an official membership category for graduate students that specifically gives them voting rights after one year. Those rights include the ability to vote for president-elect, members-at-large of the Board of Directors, apportionment and bylaws amendments. I had proposed an amendment to the motion that would limit this graduate student member category with voting rights to only doctoral level students. That amendment did not pass.

Council also voted to allow an amendment to the original proposal that will change Associate Members’ waiting period for voting privileges from five years to one year. These proposed bylaw changes were approved by a 73% vote. APA voting members will receive the ballot for both items on Nov. 1.

APA’s Council of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the 2019 APA Immigration and Refugee Policy Statement <https://www.apa.org/about/policy/apaimmigration-policy.pdf> that encourages psychologists to use their training to treat and advocate on behalf of immigrants, refugees, and people seeking asylum in the United States.

More than 98% of council members voted in favor of the policy that highlights the psychological stresses faced by immigrants, refugees and their families, and supports the need for policies and practices that consider their well-being, including medical, psychological and social services.

I am proud to be your representative to APA. I am also now the Memberat-Large of the executive board of the Caucus of State/Provincial/Territorial Representatives, a role that I am hopeful will expand my ability to ensure that the concerns of my fellow New Jersey psychologists continue to be addressed. ❖

Respectfully submitted,

Rhonda Allen, PhD Council of Representatives (NJ) (2019-22)