Monitor on Psychology - October 2011 - (Page 76)

psychology of spending cuts Now more than ever, key federal programs need psychologists’ support on Capitol Hill. BY JAMIE C HAMB ERLI N • Monitor staff The A s Congress looks to trim $2.4 trillion from the country’s budget over the next decade, it’s an especially important time for psychologists to reach out to their legislators to advocate for federal psychology initiatives such as the Graduate Psychology Education program, said speakers at the annual Education Advocacy Breakfast held during APA’s 2011 Annual Convention. “Everything is on the table in this process,” said legislative consultant Brent Jaquet, a senior vice president at the lobbying firm CRD Associates in Washington, D.C. He applauded psychology leaders for visiting their lawmakers as part of the convention on 2011 PsycAdvocate Day (see article, page 72) at a time when legislators from both parties are thinking about which government-funded programs are most worth preserving. “At some point, [Congress’s super committee] will start killing whole programs rather than bleeding everything to death,” said Jaquet. “It’s so important that you all went to the Hill and are reinforcing such programs at this time.” The outlook for GPE — the only federal program dedicated 76 to psychologists’ education and training — is relatively good, said Jaquet. “We could be ‘held harmless,’ and that’s the definition of winning in Washington right now.” It’s also a crucial time for supporting the reauthorization of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, said Kate Mevis, a legislative aide to Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.). Mevis has worked closely with APA’s Education Government Relations Office staff on the legislation, which funds a campus suicide prevention grants program, a state and tribal grants program to prevent suicide and a technical assistance center that deploys experts on youth suicide prevention to schools and health departments across the country. The legislation supports mental health and substance use disorders services and suicide prevention programs on college campuses and authorizes funds for the education and training of mental health service providers for college campuses. The legislation to reauthorize the act calls for $4 million more than the original law allowed in 2004 — $2 million for state grants and $2 million for campus grants. “Training is something that we want to encourage,” Mevis said. “We need more qualified individuals working with young MONITOR ON PSYCHOLOGY • OCTOBER 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - October 2011

Monitor on Psychology - October 2011
President’s Column
Subtle and stunning slights
Contents
From the CEO
Live science on the showroom floor
Zimbardo re-examines his landmark study
Ready, set, mentor
Attention students and ECPs: Self-care is an ‘ethical imperative’
Suicide risk is high among war veterans in college, study finds
Psychotherapy is effective and here’s why
From toilet to tap: getting people to drink recycled water
What’s ahead for psychology practice?
A push for more accountability is changing the accreditation process
Peer, parental support prove key to fighting childhood obesity
Popular media’s message to girls
Bullying may contribute to lower test scores
A consequence of cuckoldry: More (and better) sex?
Manatees’ exquisite sense of touch may lead them into dangerous waters
Building a better tomato
How will China’s only children care for their aging parents?
‘Spice’ and ‘K2’: New drugs of abuse now on the market
Many suspects don’t understand their right to remain silent
In Brief
Boosting minority achievement
Where’s the progress?
And social justice for all
Helping new Americans find their way
Segregation’s ongoing legacy
A new way to combat prejudice
Retraining the biased brain
Suppressing the ‘white bears’
How to eat better — mindlessly
Protect your aging brain
Must babies always breed marital discontent?
Outing addiction
Flourish 2051
The danger of stimulants
Keys to making integrated care work
Is technology ruining our kids?
Facebook: Friend or foe?
The promise of Web 3.0
NIMH invests in IT enhanced interventions
Science Directions
Science Directions
PsycAdvocates work to safeguard key programs
The psychology of spending cuts
APA’s strategic plan goes live
Visionary leaders
Bravo!
Vote on bylaws amendments

Monitor on Psychology - October 2011