I’ve been “teasing” you about a partnership on which I’ve been working but which I couldn’t divulge until formal agreements were signed.  Well, now the ink is dry on the Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), and I can let you in on what I believe is a partnership which can serve as a model for future collaborations and which has much potential to benefit the public, the profession, and independent practice over the next several years.  Division 42 and the YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) have entered into a mutually favorable partnership to “benefit individuals and families in improving their overall health and well-being.”  In addition, as part of APA’s ongoing public education campaign on Mind/Body Health, there is an MOU between APA and the Y-USA “to collaborate on joint efforts for each organization’s public education initiatives addressing health and wellness.”   Imagine the possibilities!

While there are numerous ways in which our members and the public will benefit from this partnership between the Y-USA, Division 42, and APA’s Practice Directorate, let me tell you about the starting point we’ve chosen.  We will begin by identifying two test sites—Y facilities in different geographic locations and in which psychologists, APA, and Y staff will co-create two pilot workshops that support parents in achieving improved family behaviors related to healthy eating, physical activity, and family connectedness. The workshops will be structured for parents. One workshop will focus on obesity and weight issues in children. Another workshop will focus on general lifestyle and behavior issues. The two pilot workshops are expected to occur in early summer. Following feedback and evaluation from the workshop audience and all those engaged in the development, the workshops will be fine-tuned for a larger, nationwide launch of workshops at YMCA’s across the country in October 2008, immediately following the release of APA’s annual Stress in America survey, part of the Mind/Body Health campaign.

Y-USA has several exciting initiatives which are natural connecting points for psychologists.  Their Activate America and Healthy Family Home initiatives are a response to the growing health care crisis in the nation and focus on influencing and motivating “health seekers” to make changes in their understanding and pursuit of well-being.  Y-USA is using its network to “influence decisions that impact health”—psychologists certainly need to be a part of that, don’t you think?!  The Y-USA also has a Diversity Collaborative which is a national initiative targeting Hispanic/Latino and African American under-resourced communities.  Our own Jo Johnson and Jennifer Kelly represent psychology on this national panel.  We’ll highlight their work in our next issue.  What are the possibilities?

Remember that many Y’s have after school and summer youth programs and camps as well as other programs for all ages.  The plan is to develop a model which can then be replicated in participating Y facilities throughout the United States.   There will be many opportunities for psychologists in their local communities to collaborate with Y staff in developing materials, consulting on projects, designing workshops which show how psychology can improve health and well being, and jointly marketing events, workshops, and the partnership.  Start thinking about the possibilities resulting from psychology being so prominent in your community—talk about grassroots efforts!

I’ve worked hard to create tangible benefits for Division 42 members in this partnership aside from the obvious advantages, and I wish they could all happen at once!  I’m most appreciative of the support of my teammates in the process:  APA’s Practice Directorate, especially Luana Bossolo, Assistant Executive Director for Public Relations, and Y-USA Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer, Lynne Vaughan. I also want to thank Dr. Russ Newman, former Executive Director of APA’s Practice Directorate, and Audrey Haynes, MSW, Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Policy, YMCA of the USA, who both helped make this partnership become a reality. Here’s a preview of what will unfold as we develop the partnership: 

• The Y has identified a need for assistance for many of their members who require services which fall outside of the Y’s expertise. We will be working to facilitate collaboration between local Y’s and Division 42 members in their areas who can help in any way.
• We will provide guidance on effective ways to use Division 42 psychologists as paid consultants to Y’s in areas such as behavioral challenges in youth programs, personnel issues, retreats, training workshops, etc.
• We will encourage partnering to plan and implement community health fairs and other community/neighborhood events.
• We will exchange information shared in websites, newsletters, mailings, etc.
• We will encourage inclusion of Division 42 psychologists on local Y Boards.

As we build this relationship with a national organization with a large, diverse membership and a staff which is beginning to see how psychologists can add value to their services and their message, I’m looking forward to how this and other partnerships will energize our efforts in the area of healthcare reform and issues critical to the survival of independent practice.  There’s much work to be done, but it’s so exciting! 

Profiting from partnerships?  “Y” of course!  Division 42—making things possible for practitioners.