Alan D. Entin

It’s the 25th Anniversary of Division 42, and I have had the wonderful honor of serving the Division over our entire existence and hope that you will allow me to continue by re-electing me to Council.

We face threats to our practice on a number of fronts.  Rising costs of health care, eroding health care benefits, technological advances, blurring boundaries between psychology and of lesser trained individuals all pose significant challenges.  We need legislative changes, such as prescriptive authority, educational changes including marketing and public education for the community, and reinventing the Division, and APA, to be more responsive to the needs of the Independent Practitioner.

To confront the threats to our ability to practice, we need experienced Council Representatives who are knowledgeable about the needs of you, our members, the workings of APA, and who will be strong voices for independent practitioners.  We must take control of our profession by confronting all attempts to industrialize healthcare and limit our attempts to practice.  Our strategies for survival and success must be built on political advocacy, litigation, marketing, research and collaboration.  We must educate our members about new market niches, expanding practice opportunities, and the diversification of your practices.  We must advocate for expanding the outer limits of the practice of psychology through the ability to prescribe and hospitalize, establishing standards for education and training and securing research funding.  We must engage in political and policy processes so that our voice is heard in APA, state and federal government.  Standing on our own right to practice in a competent, ethical manner is vital to our survival.

I have extensive local, state, Divisional and APA governance experience to help accomplish these goals which would be an asset for our division within council.  I am an experienced Council Representative, having served for five terms, representing our Division, Family Psychology and Media Psychology, and mentored many new Council Representatives.  I have had the honor of serving as the 1994 President and receiving the Distinguished Psychologist of the Year Award in 2001.

I was awarded the Heiser Award in recognition of my advocacy activities in Virginia.

In addition, I have served as President of the Divisions of Family Psychology and Media Psychology, and the Virginia Psychological Association.  My extensive media and marketing experience will be an asset for the Division and APA.  The Division, and APA, must enlarge and expand the marketing and public education campaign to provide relief for our besieged profession and to make certain that consumers understand the value of our services.  I know how APA works and how to work effectively with other groups to accomplish projects within APA.

Stanley R. Graham

I left my position as council representative in midstream, because I felt that it was important to spend some time as treasurer of our division.

We have acquired through fortunate investments and savings something approaching half a million dollars. Plans had to be made to utilize these funds in service of practice. I would like to return to a seat at council representing the division of independent practice. I have always managed to be involved in the creation of significant events. I helped to form the practice directorate. I was founder and first president of the division of independent practice. I developed and served as first president of the college of professional psychology, which subsequently developed the protocols for substance abuse and addiction certification, and is now developing the criteria for prescription authority for psychologists and I have been active in helping to bring about a practice majority in APA council. The last term I was in council I reintroduced a motion to eliminate the postdoctoral year from the licensing laws, so as to eliminate the exploitation of young psychologists. I am currently sitting in with a group that is creating domains for the prescriptive authority for psychologists to be recommended to all schools and state licensing boards. My specific focus is to make sure that there is no unnecessary obfuscation by academia, which would complicate the efforts of practitioners who have already completed training and those who will hereafter attempt to qualify in this area.

I am currently serving as the chair of the practice caucus, which I also helped to found, and which continues to make sure that practitioners have fair representation on every board and committee of APA. We usually manage to elect 93 to 97 percent of our candidates who run for boards and committees.

As I have said before, I want to return to council because despite tremendous efforts of the practice directorate and APA, the doctoral level psychologist continues to be shortchanged in his or her efforts to earn a fair living.

Something must be done. We cannot be afraid to attempt new ventures and new alliances, and I have already begun with a number of wonderful people to explore the possibility of such ventures and alliances. APA is going to have to reach out and be a partner to those who are attempting to reform the health delivery system. We are entitled by our education and experience to play a greater role in the health needs of this country. I would like to return to council because I believe I have a good record in terms of innovation and creativity. I therefore ask you to vote for me for Division 42 Council Representative.

Sally Horwatt

I am interested in being Division 42’s Representative at the Council in order to continue contributing to the field.  In the past, I was Chair of the Division 42 Taskforce on Guidelines.  As such, I contributed to making the Guidelines for Geriatric Psychology more aspirational than it originally was.  Additionally, I was Member-At-Large on the Board.  I am currently planning to attend the trip to China and Tibet sponsored by the People to People Ambassador Program headed by Dr. Comas-Diaz.
 
For psychologists in general, I was an original plaintiff in the VACP v. Managed Care lawsuit that we brought and which I supported by the APA.  Although, as this shows, I am not afraid of confrontation, I prefer approaches that are more inclusive.  I am currently President-elect of the VACP and, as such, active in the Prescriptive Authority effort in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  I hold the MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology from Nova Southeastern University.
 
As Council Representative, I would vote to foster any measure which would 1) expand the scope of practice.  This would include sponsoring measures which would enable practicing psychologists to enhance their skills; 2) educate the public about psychologists’ contributions to public policy and to health;  3) support measures designed to protect psychologists from assaults on our livelihoods by ill-conceived federal measures.
 
Thank you for considering me.

Josephine Davis Johnson

I would be thrilled to be one of Division 42’s Council Representatives. I promise to bring a strong, new voice to Council that is seasoned with experience in Division 42 governance. I have been your Diversity Member-at-Large, your Program Chair, member of the Diversity and Membership Committees, and currently your Membership Chair. I have organized Div42 presentations at the National Multicultural Conference, presented at Conventions, written an article for the IP and web, and have recruited several new members. I may not be the longest serving but I am certainly one of the hardest working candidates.

I have not officially been on Council, though I served as a Michigan alternate for half a term. I understand the politics of APA governance, having been elected twice by Council to serve on CAPP (Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice). I am currently the Chair of the Task Force on the Implementation of the APA Multicultural Guidelines. I have been Chair of the Committee of State Leaders and member of the Task Force on Evidence Based Practice. I am a member of several other APA divisions and caucuses and member of AAP. At the state level, I am Michigan’s Federal Advocacy Coordinator; was elected President and Secretary, served as Chair of the Minority Affairs Committee, Nominations and PAC Chair. Perhaps of equal importance to governance positions are my 20+ years of experience as an independent practitioner.

The critical issue facing independent practitioners is simply that, independence. Independence in the 21st century means income rather than reimbursement (a focus that CAPP is taking). It means diversifying our skills, services, and yes, our locations. It means changes in the sequence of training leading to licensure. It means political advocacy—recognizing the increasing influence that government has over the ‘degrees of freedom’ we have in our practices. It means maturing in our understanding the power of politics and the politics of power. It still means parity in prescriptive authority and hospital privileges.

Division 42 is, in many ways, already addressing these issues. We offer niche guides, convention programs, and listserv advice on practice building that emphasize diversification and outreach into novel markets. We can partner with the APA Practice Organization’s Center for Professional Development that will offer myriad CE and business of practice products and services. We can support efforts to change the sequence of training that will allow psychologists to become independent practitioners at a point that is commensurate with other doctoral level professionals. Ask an early career psychologist. The Division, through its FAC keeps the membership apprised of legislation requiring action. As individual members we should financially support candidates who support psychologist/practitioner interests. We have and should continue to back prescriptive authority as a measure of independence for psychologists as well as establishing and enforcing state laws expanding hospital privileges. We can do all this if we have the will.

I will be a “Force for 42” on Council. I would appreciate your vote. Don’t make me run again

Robert Resnick

To answer the questions posed:

My service in Division 42 has been extensive: President, Board Member-at-Large, three terms as Council Representative, author of a niche guide on ADHD, ad hoc committee member, and contributor to The Independent Practitioner. I have, also, been involved in the mentoring programs for members and for Fellows candidates, and most recently, Division 42’s representative to the organizing committee for the National Advocacy Summit.

In order to be an effective Council Representative, one must have an understanding of the APA governance and the machinations of Council. My APA and Council experience is, similarly, extensive: APA Board of Directors followed by an additional three years in the presidential cycle [1995 President]. Six years on CAPP, member and Chair of the Board of Professional Affairs, and a member on the Committee on Professional Practice. Additionally, I was the Board of Directors representative to the prescription privileges taskforce and an APA delegate to the Surgeon General’s Conference on Children’s Mental Health. In summary, I have been involved in every APA practice initiative since 1980. Additional experience would include elected positions in other divisions including the Presidency of Division 29. Several years prior to the Division 42 terms on Council, I represented the Virginia Psychological Association for 6 years providing me with a practitioner and state association view of Council.

Critical issues face practitioners are many; some are reoccurring and others are evolving as practice horizons expand. We must continue to oppose the assault on our practices and patients by managed care and burdensome regulations: negotiate when reasonable, legislate when possible and litigate when necessary. Further, we must continue increase funding and expand our public information campaign informing consumers and policy makers of the importance of psychological services in both traditional and non-traditional settings. As your Council representative, I pledge to pursue these issues aggressively.
At least two new challenges face practitioners: Increasing the viability of APA Practice Organization (APAPO) as it provides needed practitioner products which will, in turn, produce revenue for increased lobbying. APAPO, must mature and flourish if it is to meet the needs of the nation’s practicing psychologists. To accomplish this, Council must, must, support, the fiscal viability of APAPO and Council representatives must be vigilant that new organizations not dilute its mission. Secondly, Council, as the highest deliberative body in APA, must act on proposals coming from the practice divisions and the Practice Directorate, to protect consumers and providers of psychological services. On Council, I would be a powerful advocate to meet these challenges. As Council heard last February, APA is in excellent financial shape. I believe, if practice and APA, as a membership organization, are to thrive, then fiscal policies must be reexamined with consideration to putting additional resources into APA Directorates.

Once again, I seek your support for an elected office in our division. As your Council representative, I would be dedicated, both on and off Council, to protect, defend and enhance psychological practice. Thank you for your support.

Tommy Stigall

My history of service to Division 42 has included serving on the Board of Directors as Member-at-Large (2002) and as APA Council Representative (2004-06). I also have chaired various committees and task forces of the Division. I have served as chairperson of the Program Committee, the Adult Development and Aging Committee, and as coordinator of the Midwinter Convention Committee. I am a fellow of Division 42. Because of my long history with the Division and my belief that APA policy must take into account the interests and concerns of practitioners, I am currently seeking a second term as Council Representative.

Past leadership experience in a wide range of state association, divisional, and APA positions has provided me with a broad perspective on issues of importance to practitioners. My professional background includes direct service delivery in both the public sector and private practice. Throughout my career, I have been an advocate for psychology and independent practice. I am a recipient of the APA Heiser Award for professional advocacy, and in 1995 I was recognized by AAP as an Outstanding Advocate for Psychology. I am a former president of the Division of Psychotherapy, the Louisiana Psychological Association, and the American Association of State Psychology Boards. My past experience in APA governance has included two consecutive terms on CAPP, chair of CRSPPP, and membership on both BPA and BEA. I have been recognized as a Distinguished Practitioner by the National Academies of Practice.

I believe that I am known among colleagues as an independent thinker, but also as a team player. Those who know me well recognize that I seek to facilitate open discussion and transparency in organizational process. Breadth of experience in practice, in leadership roles within organized psychology, and in grassroots advocacy for psychology have prepared me to serve on APA’s highest deliberative and policy-making body.

Issues that I see as critical to the future of independent practice encompass professional preparation and credentialing, and advocacy for scope of practice. I believe it is essential to maintain high standards for education, training, and credentialing for practice. Practitioners cannot afford to remain indifferent about training and credentialing issues, since the future of practice depends upon the relevance and credibility of our training standards, training programs, and license to practice. Practitioners should be encouraged to serve on state licensing boards, BEA, accrediting bodies, and in similar positions of influence and authority.

With the coalescing of practitioner interest around advocacy for RxP, the time is ripe for our Division to become a major player in advocating for prescriptive authority. We can do this by encouraging and supporting state legislative initiatives and by making it known that we are open to proposals from other professional groups and organizations who may wish to partner with Division 42 in this endeavor. In particular, we should explore opportunities to work collaboratively with Division 55 and the APA Practice Organization. An example of this kind of collaboration is the recent Advocacy Conference held in Santa Fe.