Monitor on Psychology - October 2011 - (Page 78)

APA’s strategic plan goes live At its meeting during APA’s Annual Convention, the Council of Representatives approved funds for APA’s top priorities, including an analysis of psychology’s workforce and an expansion of the association’s public education campaign. BY RHE A K . FARBERMAN • Monitor executive editor t its August meeting during APA’s 2011 Annual Convention, the Council of Representatives set in motion the implementation of APA’s new strategic plan by funding seven initiatives. In addition, the council approved plans to streamline programming during the annual meeting and ensure that APA reports and policy statements are grounded in the best available science. The strategic initiatives plan sets aside $2.1 million for 2012 to fund seven initiatives designed to support and advance APA’s three strategic goals: maximizing organizational effectiveness, expanding psychology’s role in advancing health, and increasing the recognition of psychology as a science. The seven initiatives are: • Improve APA business models, member communications and the convention to increase member engagement. • Analyze the psychology workforce to meet national needs. • Continue to develop and promulgate treatment guidelines to promote the translation of psychological science into health interventions. • Continue to expand the APA public education campaign to include the entire discipline of psychology. • Expand opportunities for graduate education and continued professional development for psychologists and psychology students in order to advance the discipline’s participation in interdisciplinary health delivery and interdisciplinary science. 78 A • Increase support for research, training, public education and interventions that address and reduce health disparities among underserved populations. • Forge alliances with health-care organizations to increase the number of psychologists working in integrated health-care settings. Each of the strategic plan initiatives is designed to be multiyear projects. Their progress will be evaluated and further funding provided on a year-by-year basis. In other action that is expected to have a long-term impact on the public’s understanding of psychology, the council adopted a process to ensure the “scientific merit” of all APA motions, resolutions and reports and approved new national standards for the teaching of high school psychology. The new National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula replace the previous standards produced in 2005. The 2011 standards include seven learning domains: scientific inquiry, biopsychology, development and learning, sociocultural context, cognition, individual variations and applications of psychological science. In addition, the number of standards areas within the document was increased from 15 to 20 and student performance indicators are no longer included in the curricula standards. Newly developed student performance indicators will be provided online to allow for a continually evolving assessment resource. The national standards and the performance indicators are available and the revision will be MONITOR ON PSYCHOLOGY • OCTOBER 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - October 2011

Monitor on Psychology - October 2011
President’s Column
Subtle and stunning slights
Contents
From the CEO
Live science on the showroom floor
Zimbardo re-examines his landmark study
Ready, set, mentor
Attention students and ECPs: Self-care is an ‘ethical imperative’
Suicide risk is high among war veterans in college, study finds
Psychotherapy is effective and here’s why
From toilet to tap: getting people to drink recycled water
What’s ahead for psychology practice?
A push for more accountability is changing the accreditation process
Peer, parental support prove key to fighting childhood obesity
Popular media’s message to girls
Bullying may contribute to lower test scores
A consequence of cuckoldry: More (and better) sex?
Manatees’ exquisite sense of touch may lead them into dangerous waters
Building a better tomato
How will China’s only children care for their aging parents?
‘Spice’ and ‘K2’: New drugs of abuse now on the market
Many suspects don’t understand their right to remain silent
In Brief
Boosting minority achievement
Where’s the progress?
And social justice for all
Helping new Americans find their way
Segregation’s ongoing legacy
A new way to combat prejudice
Retraining the biased brain
Suppressing the ‘white bears’
How to eat better — mindlessly
Protect your aging brain
Must babies always breed marital discontent?
Outing addiction
Flourish 2051
The danger of stimulants
Keys to making integrated care work
Is technology ruining our kids?
Facebook: Friend or foe?
The promise of Web 3.0
NIMH invests in IT enhanced interventions
Science Directions
Science Directions
PsycAdvocates work to safeguard key programs
The psychology of spending cuts
APA’s strategic plan goes live
Visionary leaders
Bravo!
Vote on bylaws amendments

Monitor on Psychology - October 2011