REPORT OF THE PRIORITIES TASK FORCE ON THE DIVISION 42 2001 GOVERNANCE RETREAT

APPENDIX E: Report of the Communications Breakout Group

GROUP MEMBERS: Mike Brickey, Carol Goodheart, John Stuart Currie, Rona LoPresti, Mike Murphy (Facilitator), Marty Williams, Barbara Wainrib

GOAL 1: Division 42 is primary source for information critical to the functioning of independent practitioners.

• STRATEGY 1: Enhance the appearance and focus the content of the Independent Practitioner.
  • ACTION 1: Develop revenue for developing and enhancing the appearance by selling advertising in the IP. Initially this will be done by contracting a person to generate new advertising following procedures developed but not implemented in the past.
  • ACTION 2: Seek consultation and advise on the design of the IP
  • ACTION 3: Focus content on the issues related to business, insurance, reimbursement, advocacy affecting private practice, marketing, and deal with clinical services only insofar as they address practice operation and development.
• STRATEGY 2: Develop information around areas of interest and emphasis of members. Areas might include graduate students and new professionals, forensic practice, group practice, neuropsychology, coaching, business consulting, greropsychology, collaborating with physicians, psychopharmacology, practice with diverse groups, child and family oriented practice, marketing
  • ACTION 1: Identify members who would serve to organize each area
  • ACTION 2: Develop columns and sections in the IP to address issues of interest to practitioners in the areas
  • ACTION 3: Develop sections on the Website to address these issues
  • ACTION 4: Develop separate list servers for the areas and opportunities to meet at convention.
• STRATEGY 3: The Editor will take steps to enhance the Book Series.
  • ACTION 1: The editor will review and revise the editorial focus of the book series.
  • ACTION 2: The contract with APA will be examined to ensure that it is in the interest of the authors and the Division.
  • ACTION 3: The editor will publicize the series and develop a plan for developing topics and recruiting authors.

GOAL 2: Division 42 reaches out to members and prospective members by effectively providing information to members about its programs, services, products and initiatives.

• STRATEGY 1: The website will provide current information about the Division‘s activities and the work of the committees, task forces, and liaisons. The report would be forwarded at the completion of an activity and ongoing tasks would provide reports at least quarterly
  • ACTION 1: Each committee, task force, and liaison will be charged with providing information regarding activities in a regular and timely manner.
  • ACTION 2: The web editor will send regular reminders requesting reports to chairs and liaisons.
  • ACTION 3: The treasurer will provide means for monitoring completion of charges as part of the reimbursement process.
• STRATEGY 2: Members will be regularly informed about the reports.
  • ACTION 1: Chairs will announce on the list server that a report is available and provide the URL.
  • ACTION 2: The Internet Editor will place an announcement in the IP directing members to the website and giving brief description of information available.
  • ACTION 3: Chairs and liaisons will post important information of the list server and make reports to the IP.
• STRATEGY 3: Activities central to the work of the Division will be placed in all the communications vehicles available to the Division and be repeated.
  • ACTION 1: Programs will develop a plan for communicating with the members as part of development.
  • ACTION 2: The Finance Committee will monitor the communications plan when it reviews the budget request.
  • ACTION 3: The Internet and IP Editors will be informed of the plans and develop plans to follow-up.

GOAL 3: Division 42 maintains an active two-way communication process between governance and members.

• STRATEGY 1: The Division will make maximum use of the Internet to keep members and prospective members informed and solicit feedback.
  • ACTION 1: The Division will develop a process for database emailing that communicates to all members. This would be used as a supplement for mailings and be used to bring members attention to important information or sources for information.
  • ACTION 2: The Internet Editor will give regular posting to the 42 list and quarterly announcement through the database email regarding new material and services available on the website.
  • ACTION 3: Membership on the list would be automatic and members could then withdraw.
• STRATEGY 2: Governance will be involved in list server.
  • ACTION 1: Governance members will be assigned to specific times to monitor the list and respond to posting and refer issues to appropriate and interested members of governance.
  • ACTION 2: Governance members will be regularly encouraged to participate on the list discussions.
  • ACTION 3: Governance members will contact list participants back channel to obtain information and opinion.
  • ACTION 4: Through the public side of the website, psychologists who are not members of the Division will be able to access information about the Division’s activities, products, and other offerings and apply for membership. Surveys of non-members will also be conducted to determine their needs and interests.
• STRATEGY 3: Surveys of membership will be developed and reported
  • ACTION 1: The EC will ensure that governance is regularly polled to determine needed feedback.
  • ACTION 2: Surveys will be conducted through the Web site and members requested to respond by announcements on the list and the Division’s publication.
  • ACTION 3: The Independent Practice Research Network will collect information relevant to governance.
  • ACTION 4: Results of the surveys will be distributed to members and governance.

GOAL 4: Division 42 makes optimum use of communications technology to inform, deliberate, and make decisions to advance the work of the Division between semi-annual annual Board meetings

• STRATEGY 1: The Internet Editor will develop a plan to increase the ability of governance members to use technology for accomplishing the goals of the Division
  • ACTION 1: The current skill of members of governance will be assessed.
  • ACTION 2: More skilled members will be paired as mentors to less skilled members.
  • ACTION 3: Sections of the Web page will be devoted to education of governance on the Internet use.
• STRATEGY 2: Enhanced features for use of the Web site will be developed and governance trained in their use.
  • ACTION 1: A system for taking board votes will be developed
  • ACTION 2: Applications for processing documents by groups will be developed.
  • ACTION 3: Procedures for asynchronous comment on issues will be developed – web based discussions.

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