Update from Division 53 Representatives to APA Council

Update from Division 53 Representatives to APA Council

By Mary Louise Cashel, PhD & Timothy Cavell, PhD
SCCAP Representatives to APA Council

By Mary Louise Cashel, PhD & Timothy Cavell, PhD
SCCAP Representatives to APA Council

Mary Louise Cashel and Tim Cavell serve as APA Council Representatives for SCCAP.  The Council met in Washington, DC, on August 1-3, 2023.  We voted to adopt as policy these statements and guidelines: 

• APA Policy Statement on the Developmental Risks and Opportunities of Adolescent Employment. The purpose of this statement is to advocate for safe labor practices for adolescents, to prevent exploitation and abuse, to protect educational attainment and opportunities for future earnings, and to strengthen families.
• APA Guidelines for Operational Psychology. The purpose of these guidelines is to standardize and enhance the professional delivery of services of psychologists working within the areas of national security, national defense and public safety, and other related consultation.
• APA Policy Statement on Equitable and Inclusive Student Admissions in Higher Education. The intent of this document is to express support for equity and inclusion in higher education and provide options for addressing the underrepresentation of students of color with the goal of achieving diverse student bodies at educational institutions across the country, creating pathways to expanded career opportunities, and strengthening U.S. society overall.
• A resolution was also passed on the consent agenda to Oppose Mental Health Screening Questions on Character and Fitness Examinations for Licensure to Practice Law.

Council voted to receive (accept) the following reports:

• Board of Educational Affairs (BEA) Racial Disparities Task Force Report: Racism and Bias.  The focus of this report was a review of published studies on educational disparities, interventions that have demonstrated success in addressing these gaps, and recommendations for practice, policy and research.
• Council Leadership Team Evaluation Report*
• Council Effectiveness Implementation Oversight Task Force (CEIO) Task Force Report and Recommendations*

*The latter two reports were internally focused on Council policy, procedures and by-laws, which comprised much of COR discussion at this meeting. 

Mary Louise Cashel is a member of the APA Committee on Rural Health (CRH), which met on August 3rd.  We discussed aligning our efforts with the Rural Health Section of Division 31 (State, Provincial and Territorial Psychological Association Affairs) and the COR Rural Health Interest Group and Caucus.  Mary Louise was appointed as Secretary for the Rural Health Caucus. We hope to lead the way for a national needs assessment of rural health practitioners.

The Child, Adolescent and Family (CAF) Caucus, for which Mary Louise Cashel serves as Chair, also met prior to the COR meeting in July. Mary Ann McCabe, PhD, ABPP spoke in support of the APA Policy Statement on Adolescent Employment. We welcomed the new Director for the APA Center for Psychology in Schools and Education, Nicole Barnes, PhD, who gave updates on the APA taskforce for safety of schools and the BEA Racial Disparities Task Force.  Also, representatives from APA Advocacy and the Office on Children, Youth and Families (CYF) discussed current priorities focused on school-based mental health, youth mental health research, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives. APA is partnering with Sesame Street (Sesame Workshop) to provide resources for supporting children in learning about race and racial justice, emotional development, mental health, and well-being. Cookie Monster attended the APA Convention and took photos with attendees (see photo).

Also, Tim Cavell chaired APA’s Council’s Education & Training Caucus meeting. Attendees heard reports from Cathi Grus, PhD, APA’s Chief Education Officer, including updates on APA’s efforts regarding the Master’s Initiative. APA’s Commission on Accreditation (COA) will soon begin accrediting master’s training programs and a recent APA Task Force on a likely title and scope for those with a master’s in health service psychology. Dr. Grus also shared that her office will soon be engaging in efforts to issue more broadly updated communications about these efforts, including plans to draft a Model Licensure Act for states considering licensure of providers with a master’s in health service psychology.