Div. 31 is thrilled to announce the program for the year’s APA convention in Washington, D.C. We have been working hard to ensure the sessions this year are exciting and informative. Our theme for 2020 is SPTA membership engagement and licensure issues. Although times have been requested, nothing has been confirmed at this point. Please watch the listserv for an update in the coming months so you can plan your convention schedule. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in D.C. Hope everyone is staying well during this difficult time.
In this issue
Div. 31 convention programming announced
Our division’s APA 2020 program spans a wide range of issues.
State, Provincial and Territorial Psychological Association Affairs. (2020, April 1). Div. 31 convention programming announced. Focus on 31. https://www.apadivisions.org/division-31/publications/newsletters/focus/2020/04/convention-programming
Symposia
In order to support SPTAs this year, our program spans from general membership issues to issues-specific discussions. Brief descriptions of each session can be found below:
- Lessons Learned from Small State Psychological Associations: Growing Membership and Setting Priorities
SPTAs struggle with membership declines and small states are in crisis. The CT Psychological Association (CPA) presents data and steps taken to counter this trend, followed by a small state panel discussion of strategies relevant to all SPTAs. - Psychologists’ Impact on Public Policy and Law: Legislative Collaboration with Results
Psychologists often undervalue the impact their psychological science and clinical expertise add to the development of healthcare policy and legislation. Legislators collaborating with psychologists are most effectively introduce laws. - Training a Workforce in Pain Management Through SPTAs
This symposium outlines the development of and advocacy for a psychology workforce development program in pain management through use of SPTAs. - Interjurisdictional Telepsych and PSYPACT
The presentation will cover the need and rationale for allowing psychologists to use electronic communications interjurisdictionally to provide telepsychological services ethically and legally to patients. - Advocating for Practicing Psychologists at the State and Federal Levels
This program will provide examples, tips, guidance and information on grassroots advocacy and lobbying at the state and federal levels for psychologists practice needs. - APA and ASPPB Working Together: Where Ethics and Regulations Converge
Members of ethics committees and licensing boards will discuss different perspectives of a vignette drawn from a professional setting. The panelists will interact with each other and the audience members. - CPT Use and Advocacy: What you Need to Know
This symposium will address multidisciplinary concerns in regard to the updated CPT codes. Speakers have a diverse array of backgrounds, including neuropsychology, advocacy and health psychology. - Graduate Leadership Development: A Pilot Program
An ongoing pilot program at George Fox University that seeks to increase leadership skill development and training in psychology graduate students. - Building Resilience Post Disaster: Mitigation Actions for Psychologists
This program will help prepare participants for future disaster involvement through personal and professional mitigation — identifying contexts and situations where resilience used throughout the phases of the disaster response cycle.
We are also excited to join with Div. 38 and 42, as well as the Committee on ECPs, Board of Professional Affairs, and APAGS for a collaborative proposal titled “Serving the Underserved & Expanding the Training Pipeline: Opportunities in Medicaid for Impact.” Expanding on the successful proposal from last year, this session will discuss the expansion of a project to increase access to integrated mental healthcare for the underserved by partnering with internships, primary care practices, state psychological associations and Medicaid managed care companies.