Welcome...


A welcome message from APA Division 31 

Division 31 is the APA home for all State Provincial and Territorial Psychological Associations. Our goal is to provide you and your psychological associations with useful resources, services and benefits as well as being your voice for psychological association issues within APA.  



Benefits of Membership
Among our many benefits, resources and services, Division 31 provides a Guidebook for getting involved in APA governance activities, an abridged version of Keesey’s parliamentary procedures, our mentoring program, advocacy alerts as well as notes about what other psychological associations are doing throughout the states, provinces and territories. Future resource projects earmarked for this year will include a primer for psychological association officers, a handbook on how to create a diversity program in psychological associations and a clearinghouse type resource for innovative programs that psychological associations would like to share with us all. In addition, initiatives concerning licensing board issues will also be coming down the pike. If you have any further ideas about these projects or other projects that you would like Division 31 to explore, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Additional benefits of Division 31 include our Fellowship and Awards programs. Division 31 is the best division to apply for APA Fellowship status for all of you who have worked so hard on state, provincial and territorial issues. I encourage all of you to apply for Fellowship status. Just click onto the Fellowship link for further information.

Division 31 Awards
Our Awards Program recognizes psychologists, Executive Directors as well as psychological associations for their many important professional contributions. Be sure to nominate deserving colleagues so that we may honor them. Our commitment to Diversity issues is evidenced by our recognition of psychological associations who have outstanding Diversity programs as well as our contribution to sending a diversity delegate to State Leadership Conference. Out commitment to students/early career psychologists is also evidenced by our contribution to the APAGS student award for those students who have significantly contributed to state, provincial or territorial issues. Division 31 also coordinates and administers the APA Karl F. Heiser Presidential Award for Advocacy. Presented each year at the APA convention by the APA President, this important award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the profession or to society through their advocacy efforts. Please be sure to nominate deserving colleagues for this important recognition.




Mission Statement
The mission of Division 31 is to provide advocacy for state, provincial and territorial associations and state issues within the governance structure of APA; to facilitate communications among SPTAs. Their staffs and their members; and to promote and recognize the activities of individual SPTAs and their representatives.

A Message from the President ...

Dear Colleagues,

Greetings!  I am just returning from the 2009 State Leadership Conference.  As always, it was an amazing, energizing experience.  The main highlight for me was being able to fellowship with my friends and colleagues, and being able to share events of our SPTA’s.  Of course, the Practice Directorate did an amazing job—as always.

During the Conference I was able to get up-to-date on Federal Advocacy and other very important practice related issues.  Division 31 was well integrated into the program.  On the day prior to the Conference, the Division sponsored the first Diversity Leadership Development Workshop.  Eight diversity delegates participated in the workshop, which was led by Drs. Sandra Shullman, Jessica Henderson Daniel, and Cathy McDaniels Wilson.  The purpose of the day long workshop was to provide leadership development training with the goal of helping these Diversity Delegates advance into leadership positions within their SPTA.  Based on comments received so far, it provided an experience that would allow them to move forward.  Hopefully, it will be more than a one time event.  All the Diversity Delegates were provided with a copy of the revised handbook, “implementing a Diversity Initiative within SPTA’s”.  The Handbook will also be placed on the website.

Another highlight for me was the visit to our lawmakers.  Maybe it’s just me, but there seemed to be more hope and optimism—hope that there would be access to adequate mental health care.  Hope that we will be a part of health care reform.  It was certainly a pleasure to see Dr. Mike Sullivan return to the Conference—this time as the FAC for Division 31.  I am looking forward to his continued involvement in the Division.

One of the areas Division 31 has focused on was finding a way to assess the impact of policies adopted by APA on SPTA’s.  In many cases the SPTA’s will be the ones to implement the policies.  It has been agreed that Division 31 will work with CAPP in addressing the items as they are to go to Council to determine their impact on SPTA’s.  Another area we will continue to address relates to Ethics and what to do with the grant provided by the Ethics office.  You will soon be hearing more about that.  We are also in the process of putting the final touches on the annual convention program.  You will soon have a copy of the program.  

As always, we are a very dynamic Division.  I look forward to working with you this year.  Remember, we will only be as strong as our members.  If you have any questions, please contact me at jfkphd@aol.com.

Jennifer F. Kelly, Ph.D.
President
Division 31

Contact Us
APA Division 31
Bonnie Staiger, Hon. AIA
PO Box 7370
Bismarck , ND   58507-7370
Office:(701)223-9045
Email: stacy@bis.midco.net

View full articles referenced in your Division 31 Newsletter: LGBT Public Policy Efforts and the revised version of Diciplinary Actions by a State Board of Psychology.

Gerald Bubis presented to CESPPA at last year's SLC. Follow the links to view his presentation or works cited information.


View past issues of the Division 31 Newsletter.

Division 31 Announces Endorsements for APA President!

Newsletter Coop is back!  Great resources for your SPTA!

Images from the 2009 State Leadership Conference and APA Convention in the Gallery.

Being an Effective President/ President-Elect and SPTA Board Member in Resources