LiasonReports

Liaison Reports: Highlights from CUDCP, NCSPP, APA , & CCTC

Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP)
Liaison: Lee Cooper, VA Tech
Acronym Guide

The annual Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (code for DCTs) Midwinter Meeting in (unseasonably cold) Albuquerque, New Mexico, on January 23-24, 2015. The theme of meeting was “Training the Next Generation: Contemporary Challenges.” There were excellent key-note speaker presentations on developing women leaders, multi-generational work environments, working with transgender people, social media, and use of technology, all within a graduate training context. There were also presentations and “chat and chew” sessions on current issues in the training field including accreditation, internships, and licensure. The issues that appeared to raise the most “debatable” discussion were the standardized internship letter of recommendation format and the potential “divisive wedge” impact of PCSAS (Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System) accreditation. CUDCP also annually sponsors a “Diversifying Clinical Psychology” open reception for DCTs to meet with minority undergraduate students from various institutions.

The National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP)
Liaison: Hasse Leonard-Pagal, Alliant International University/CSPP
NCSPP’s annual conference was entitled “Positioning Professional Psychology in Today’s Healthcare: Ensuring Our Graduates’ Relevance”. The conference focused on:

The impact of the Affordable Care Act on the present and future of psychologists.
What it means for our programs to educate and train “Health Service Psychologists”.
Our roles and responsibilities in addressing health disparities and the needs of the newly insured.
Strengths and areas of opportunity for graduate program health curricula.
Internship experiences that can more effectively prepare students.
Where the jobs are and will be for psychology graduates.
Additional competencies and methods of assessment for a variety of healthcare environments.

Ronald Rozensky, the keynote speaker, noted that in order for future psychologist to position themselves for a changing field, academic institutions need to review their curricula and begin to integrate the following educational objectives: Societal Trends: Psychology and Public Health; Inter-professional Training and Practice; and, Accountability and Finances. Other presenters provided examples of necessary tools that psychologist need to be familiar with that are in the primary health care settings, such as the PHQ-9 and the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale. Gwen Keita, the Executive Director of the Public Interest Directorate, discussed the Health Disparities affecting African-Americans and Latinos.

Congress Increases Graduate Psychology Education Program to $7.9 million in FY 2015
From the APA Education Directorate
The President signed the Fiscal Year 2015 Consolidated and Further Appropriations Act (aka the Omnibus Resolution), which includes a $1 million increase to the Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Program. Over the past two years, Congress has increased funding for GPE by $5 million−during a time of sequestration and severe budget constraints− thanks in large part to your ongoing engagement in our education advocacy efforts. Your active participation in advocacy, whether in our annual visits to key appropriators, our GPE Hill Day during the Education Leadership Conference, or as part of the Federal Education Advocacy Grassroots Network has truly made a difference by increasing federal investments in the psychology workforce by more than $40 million since 2002. In its accompanying report language, Congress directed the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to, “devote the increase to the Graduate Psychology Education Program for a special effort to focus additional grants on the inter-professional training of doctoral psychology graduate students and interns to address the psychological needs of military personnel, veterans and their families in civilian and community-based settings, including those in rural areas.”

Council of Chairs of Training Councils (CCTC)
Liaison: Tony Cellucci, East Carolina University
APTC is one of 13 training councils in psychology that meet as the CCTC. Discussion highlights:

The APA internship stimulus grant program is entering its 3rd year with 109 programs funded. The emphasis is shifting to helping programs seek APA accreditation and providing technical resources such as webinars.
The HSPEC blueprint document and self-regulation of profession was advanced with the approval of the new COA standards for accreditation.
ASPPB reported on their successful efforts to advance a Telepsych Compact which defines and allows temporary and telehealth practice across states.
The CoA report reviewed the major changes in the standards of accreditation (SoA) and the gradual process of reform. These new standards will go into effect for programs submitting a self-study in September 2016. There has been growth in the number of accredited programs (384 doctoral and over 1000 total including internships and post-docs).
The adoption of a Standardized Letter of Reference for internship which CCTC/APPIC Board have done. It will take effect next year. Benefit of standardizing information and making references transparent.
Although a greater portion of students matched in 2014-2015, this was partly due to a drop in students enrolling. There is also a need for more accredited sites. APPIC has been promoting an accreditation readiness tool and also reported on a competency assessment initiative.