As the State, Provincial or Territorial Association representative for the APA's Committee on Early Career Psychologists (ECP), I lead the ECP track at APA’s Practice Leadership Conference (PLC). I get to meet ECP psychologists from around the country doing incredible work to advance psychology. I appreciate Div. 31’s support of ECPs and the opportunity to highlight the work ECPs are doing.
This quarter, we highlight Michelle Casimir, PsyD, an ECP delegate at the 2018 PLC, and chair of the Georgia Psychological Association (GPA) ECP Committee. Casimir reports from Georgia:
“I love the work I do for Georgia’s ECPs and graduate students."
“GPA remains committed to advocating and supporting ECPs in the state of Georgia. ECPs have a dedicated ECP Committee on the Board of Directors and are encouraged to take an active role on other committees such as the Ethics Committee, Public Interest Review Committee and Annual Meeting Committee."
“GPA’s ECP Committee is focused on fostering growth and leadership in our members as well as developing and providing resources on ECP related issues. We are delighted to offer informational webinars to our members including how to start a private practice, self-care for ECPs and financial wellness. Previously, we had the pleasure of collaborating with the Product Initiative Team of the APA Membership Office to provide a webinar on student loan debt targeting both ECPs and graduate students. We continue to keep our ECPs and graduate students informed on hot topics such as changes in EPPP and the APA State Licensure Toolkit. At GPAs last annual meeting, APA CEO Arthur Evans spoke to ECPs and graduate students. This riveting discussion was focused on the future of psychology, the expanse of opportunities in the public domain and the potential for psychologists to impact public policy and social justice issues. ECPs also have the opportunity to partake in a monthly peer consultation group to discuss issues or challenges in their delivery of psychological services in a variety of settings."
“The ECP Committee has worked diligently to create a committee within GPA dedicated to student members. The newly formed GPAGS Committee is a student association with its own officers and initiatives. GPAGS officers have been excited to participate in the new roles and attend GPA’s Board of Directors meetings. The leadership of the ECP Committee helps to guide GPAGS. GPA and the ECP Committee are dedicated to GPAGS and believe that supporting our students is vitally important to the future of the profession."
“Our current venture is to implement a Mentoring Program for ECPs and graduate students as well as support the current GPA’s president in the mission of increasing leadership. The ECP Committee, along with GPAGS, created the Mentoring Program and will be piloting it this Fall. GPA is also working with ECPs and GPAGS to educate and expose them to advocacy efforts. A special workgroup consisting of ECPs and GPAGS was formed to assist GPA’s larger efforts with social justice issues while still advocating for the profession. GPA’s work on solidifying Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact in the state of Georgia is an opportunity, once implemented, that can benefit ECPs and graduate students to practice telepsychology in the future."
“Working for my fellow ECPs and the graduate students has made me even more committed to the profession. It is a great delight to see the progress that has been made in such a short span of time."
I really appreciate Casimir sharing the news from Georgia. We appreciate all the work that ECPs there put into their state association and look forward to more great things in the future.