Monitor on Psychology - March 2012 - (Page 40)

Driving out disparities With a $1.7 million CDC grant, APA is rallying communities and psychologists to bring cancer prevention and care to underserved populations. B Y A MY N OVOTNEY very year, millions of people die from cancer simply because they are minorities. While cancer deaths have declined among whites and African-Americans in the United States, blacks, for example, continue to experience the highest rates of every one of the most common types of cancer. Further, according to the National Cancer Institute, the death rate is 25 percent higher for blacks than for whites among the three most deadly types of cancer: lung, prostate and breast. Research suggests that this disproportionate death rate stems from a complex array of factors, including stress, access to healthy food and good health care, and living in crime-ridden neighborhoods. Complicating matters is the dearth of cancer prevention efforts targeted toward minorities. 40 cancer E Recognizing the need for change, APA is spearheading a $1.7 million initiative funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that promotes evidence-based cancer prevention programs in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Now in its fourth year, the Socioeconomic Status Related Cancer Disparities (SESRCD) program, administered by the Public Interest Directorate’s Office on Socioeconomic Status, is helping community-based organizations throughout the United States reach out to underserved populations in targeted and culturally specific ways, in an effort to reduce the disproportionate rate of cancer among these populations. “The program aims to encourage community-based M o n i to r o n p s yc h o l o g y • M a rc h 2 0 1 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - March 2012

Monitor on Psychology - March 2012
Letters
President’s column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court rejects eyewitness protections
New member benefit: prevention screenings
A psychodynamic treatment for PTSD shows promise for soldiers
Was ‘Little Albert’ ill during the famed conditioning study?
New research identifies ways to improve eyewitness identifications
In Brief
‘Our health at risk’
Perspective on Practice
APA endorses higher education guidelines
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Help for struggling veterans
Driving out cancer disparities
In the Public Interest
SCIENCE WATCH
Practice, virtually
The legal and ethical issues of virtual therapy
Psychologist PROFILE
EARLY CAREER PSYCHOLOGY
Bringing life into focus
Pay attention to me
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Division Spotlight
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - March 2012