In my last column I shared some of the mindsets that I often recommend to help colleagues get through professionally challenging times. I did not share what gets me through my own hardest professional times. It’s actually a good thing I left that part out, because just yesterday I got a deeper understanding of what keeps the light on at the end of my tunnels.
If I had written this into last issue’s presidential column, I would have written that knowing there are other smart, good-hearted folks working towards solutions is what keeps me going when I falter. That’s still absolutely true. If I’m feeling overwhelmed and fatigued by how much work we have left to do to support children and families, I can look at the Div. 37 membership list as one reminder of how many smart, good-hearted folks are fighting these same battles with me. Some of you are folks who’ve been at this work longer than I have, and I am heartened by your unwavering commitment to these issues. Others of you are mid-career folks like me, surprised that we’re having to fight for issues we thought were relegated to the history books, coming at these issues with a fierceness we didn’t think we’d have to have. And some of you are early career folks and students, bringing new tools and skills and energy to the fight. So it feels less overwhelming when I remember that I’m not alone.
What I didn’t realize, until a colleague made a Star Wars joke yesterday, was that the key ingredient in what keeps me going is actually hope. Reminding myself how many amazing people are fighting for children and families gives me hope that we can help heal those who’ve been traumatized and protect those who are vulnerable. Regardless of whether you can join us at convention, the array of sessions we have lined up should bring you that same hope.
We have a packed program this year, in part because we had three proposals accepted to the Collaborative Programming Group, which means that those program hours don’t come out of our division’s allotment of 15 substantive program hours. (Kudos to Mirian Ofonedu, Yo Jackson and Jennie Noll for their roles in those program submissions!) Six of our sessions have continuing education credits, which should draw more audience and help spread knowledge and skills to an even broader group of psychologists.
Not to be missed is the Div. 37 Awards Presentation, Saturday at noon. This year’s Nicholas Hobbs Award winner is Jodi Quas, who will be there to give an address. We are also honoring the lifetime achievements of Karen Saywitz, who we lost shortly after the board voted on the awards. Gail Goodman will be there to accept on Karen’s behalf, and provide remarks in remembrance of Karen. Please plan to attend if you can, as these women exemplify the ideals and the mission of both the division and its Section on Child Maltreatment. If anyone can show us the hope and the promise of sincere commitment to children and families, they can.
All of our topical sessions feel especially relevant right now. Two sessions specifically highlight issues with underserved populations: “Treatment Engagement and Intervention Strategies for Underserved Children, Youth, and Families” and “Health Disparities: Improving Care Outcomes for Underserved Children, Youth and Families.” Two other sessions focus on child maltreatment and child welfare: “Future Directions for Research in Child Maltreatment: Innovation in Science, Education, and Policy” and “Psychologists' Unique Roles and Contributions to Child Welfare – Examples from the Field.”
One pair of sessions focuses on the common challenges in raising safe children and finding affordable and effective treatment: “Parenting Methods across Cultures – Implementing the ACT Raising Safe Kids Program Internationally,” and “Walk a Mile – Understanding Challenges Faced by Families Struggling to Find Assessment and Treatment.” Another pair focuses on low-frequency but high-impact issues: “Demonstrating Psychology's Contributions – Healing Children from Disasters and Traumas” and “Do Prevention Interventions Delivered Early in Life Prevent Later Psychosis Behaviors?”
Rather than a presidential address, we have an invited symposium, Saturday at 9 a.m.: “A Researcher, a Clinician, and a Lawyer Walk into a Bar – Using Psychology to Advance the Greater Good.” You’ll hear from Mary Ann McCabe, Barbara Fiese, Eve Brank and Jodi Quas – four powerhouses in the realm of advocating for children, youth and families. They will share their stories and engage in interactive discussion about how psychologists can work within their spheres of influence to improve lives. Also, although not listed on our program, I’d also encourage attendance at a plenary session I’ll be introducing featuring Kelly Kelleher, who received Div. 37’s Distinguished Contribution to Child Advocacy Award last year. The transformative initiative about which he will speak – “Housing: A Vaccine for Child Mental Health in Ohio,” Saturday at 2 p.m. – is incredibly inspiring.
You won’t want to miss out on the many networking and collaboration opportunities. There will be two mentoring events for students, a social hour especially for early career psychologists, and one scientific poster session. In conjunction with APA’s Committee on Children, Youth and Families, we are co-hosting a social hour Thursday night during which we will honor the lifetime achievements of Diane Willis – another inspiration for all who know her.
Please join us in these fellowship activities and introduce yourself to me if we haven’t yet met. If you can’t make it to convention, I hope you will introduce yourself to me by email. Nothing fills me with more energy and hope than connecting and reconnecting with others who share similar goals, so I’d like to return the favor if I can.