How to influence public policy: A blueprint for activism.

Public interest advocacy and political activism are vital to the guild interests of psychology, just as they are essential to the evolution of any discipline that seeks professional recognition outside of the university laboratory. Division 38 (Health Psychology) of the American Psychological Association (APA) has conducted monthly policy dinner meetings featuring national health policy experts as speakers to develop an appreciation within the division for the complexities of formulating public policy. Groups of psychologists outside the structure of the APA Central Office need to make efforts to build political support if psychology is to play a larger role in public policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Proceedings of the American Psychological Association, Incorporated, for the legislative year 1997: Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council of Representatives, August 14 and 17, Chicago, Illinois; and June, August and December 1997 meetings of the Board of Directors.

Reports minutes representing the official record of the actions of the American Psychological Association (APA) taken during 1997 by both the Board of Directors and the Council of Representatives. These proceedings reflect association business conducted during the March–December 1997 legislative year. Main topical headings regarded the following topics: (1) minutes of meetings, (2) elections, awards, membership, and human resources; (3) ethics, (4) Board of Directors, (5) Divisions and State and Provincial Associations, (6) organization of APA, (7) publications and communications, (8) convention affairs, (9) educational affairs, (10) professional affairs, (11) scientific affairs, (12) public interest, (13) ethnic minority affairs, (14) international affairs, (15) central office, (16) financial affairs, and (17) communications concerning outside organizations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The 105th Congress: A time for renewed enthusiasm.

States that the November, 1996, elections were gratifying for psychology in political terms. In state races across the country, psychologists won, including legislators who have participated in the American Psychological Association (APA) Practice Directorate State Leadership Conferences. Pennsylvania elected 2 psychologists; it is the only state with a psychologist in each chamber. Most significant were the unprecedented campaigns of 2 psychologists for Congress. Nonelective retirement for Presidential nominees and future legislative initiatives in health security are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Federal recognition of psychology in rehabilitation programs.

Notes that because psychology is a relatively young profession, it has only recently begun to achieve express statutory recognition. However, throughout 2 landmark federal rehabilitation initiatives—the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) and the Education of All Handicapped Children Act—psychology has been deemed a full partner. Programmatic initiatives under both acts that should be of direct interest to psychologists are outlined. It is clear that the congressional committees that drafted the rehabilitation legislation hold psychology in high esteem. Not only are psychological services viewed as being important to all handicapped persons, but the profession's active participation in the political process has ensured that the underlying legislation will be truly interdisciplinary and inclusive in nature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Increasing the societal contribution of organized psychology.

Encourages greater political involvement by psychologists and offers commentary on the experiences of 25 psychologists who have recently served on Capitol Hill. The current and potential contribution of psychology to a selected series of policy areas, including child health issues, care for the elderly, functional illiteracy, and criminal justice, is discussed. Also examined are the role and associated responsibilities of psychologists with regard to the health care field. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adolescent health care: A public policy perspective.

Focuses on the importance of psychosocial and behavioral components of health care in the area of adolescent health care. The authors contend that it will ultimately be as a direct result of psychology's tangible (and visual) successes in areas such as adolescent health that will lead to psychological services becoming fully accepted within the overall health care system. The underlying policy notion is that if psychology addresses society's perceived needs, society (i.e., the nation's public policy/political leadership) will strive to meet the mental health profession's needs. The majority of problems adolescents face, regardless of apparent physical symptomatology, are essentially behavioral (psychosocial) in nature. The symptom distress model provides for a school-based integration of psychological knowledge with clinical and educational expertise. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Political aspects of peer review.

Discusses professional psychology's increasing recognition in federal health-care legislation. Whether psychology is eventually included in a national health insurance bill will be primarily determined by political considerations, including psychology's relationship with organized medicine, its credibility within the federal bureaucracy, and its performance in the development of standards for care and assurance of quality. It is concluded that psychology's success in developing a workable system of quality assurance through peer review may be the profession's most important asset in determining its role in future legislation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health policy.

The charge to the task force on health policy was to consider policy relevant to health and behavior. Legislative initiatives, private sector initiatives, and the interface among professional societies were addressed. More specifically, the task force discussed ways in which research must be conducted and presented to maximize its usefulness to policy makers, areas of interface between the behavioral sciences and health policy, and methods of training scientists to be more effective in shaping policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)