The American Psychological Association’s (APA) strategic priorities are rooted in equity, diversity, and inclusion. In keeping with these strategic priorities, the APA’s advocacy priorities encompass the guiding principles of non-discrimination, health equity for underserved and vulnerable populations, and health promotion across the lifespan and settings. Keeping the guiding principles at the forefront of advocacy for psychology ensures the greatest impact on the many challenges facing society.
Priorities unique to APA
Access to health services, including mental and behavioral health services
Ensure access for evidence-based health and behavioral health services within public and private healthcare delivery systems. Expand the role of psychologists on interprofessional, integrated teams.
Issues that advance this priority include: Affordable Health Care; Children, Youth, and Families; Immigration; Medicare Reimbursement and Access; Mental Health Parity; Military and Veterans; Race, Ethnicity, and Religion; Telehealth
Funding for basic and applied psychological research
Advocate for increased funding for basic, clinical and applied psychological research within key agencies, foundations, and funding sources (e.g., NIH, NSF, CDC, VA, DoD, Ed, EPA). Expand opportunities for application in public and private sectors.
Issues that advance this priority include: Climate Change; Federal Funding for Scientific Research; Future of Work; Military and Veterans
General applied psychology promotion
Educate APA membership and advocate across key private sector stakeholders regarding the various contributions of psychology and roles of psychologists in areas such as human performance, motivation, leadership and personnel assessment, conflict resolution, and civic engagement.
Issues that advance this priority include: General Applied Psychology; Pre-K to 12 Education
Psychology education and training financing
Improve access to graduate study for psychology, including student financial aid programs, loan repayment, and loan forgiveness programs.
Issues that advance this priority include: Higher Education
Psychology workforce development
Improve training and leadership skills of next generation of culturally competent, diverse psychologists, engage students, and secure federal funding for psychology workforce training programs, including accredited internships, and post-doctoral fellowships that expand interprofessional training opportunities working with underserved populations. Increase opportunities for basic and applied psychology trainees.
Issues that advance this priority include: Workforce Development
Reimbursement and scope of practice
Ensure equitable reimbursement for the full range of psychologists’ services, including psychotherapy, health and behavior, testing, and telehealth services. Promote psychologists in federal health programs, such as ensuring psychologists provide Medicare services to the full scope of their licensure and supporting VA recruitment and retention of psychologists. Leverage federal with state efforts promoting licensure and credentialing and fighting encroachment from other providers.
Issues that advance this priority include: Affordable Health Care; Medicare Reimbursement and Access; Mental Health Parity; Telehealth
Priorities where APA makes a significant contribution
Application of psychological science to Pre-K, K-12, and higher education
Ameliorate education disparities from pre-K through higher education, including universal pre-K and supporting social and emotional learning programs, psychology as a STEM discipline, and APA high school psychology curricula standards.
Issues that advance this priority include: Higher Education; Pre-K to 12 Education; Workforce Development
Criminal justice
Use psychological research to advance criminal justice reform, police-community relations, and to address the disparate impact of mass incarceration on minority and low-income communities.
Issues that advance this priority include: Children, Youth, and Families; Criminal Justice and Policing
Future of work
Advance the role of applied psychology in preparing society and the workforce to manage significant impacts from emerging changes in demographic trends, technological innovation and global competition.
Issues that advance this priority include: Future of Work
Health equity for underserved and vulnerable populations
Promote health equity for diverse populations by reducing disparities in health attributed to race, ethnicity, sexual and gender identity and orientation, geography, disability, age, socioeconomic status and poverty, and underserved and vulnerable populations, including tribal communities, children, immigrants, veterans, and individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Issues that advance this priority include: Affordable Health Care; Climate Change; Health Equity; Immigration; Military and Veterans; Substance Use Disorders; Telehealth
Health promotion and prevention throughout lifespan and settings
Support the wellbeing and healthy development of children and adults, including access to developmentally appropriate mental health services and population-based prevention and health promotion programs across the lifespan and settings.
Issues that advance this priority include: Climate Change; Health Equity
Science infrastructure and regulatory environment
Promote ethical, non-human animal and peer-reviewed psychological and interdisciplinary research.
Issues that advance this priority include: Criminal Justice and Policing; Federal Funding for Scientific Research
Substance use disorders and opioid and other drug epidemics
Advocate for policies and increase opportunities that promote the role of psychology and psychologists in the prevention and treatment of opioid and other substance use disorders, including non-pharmacological interventions for pain management.
Issues that advance this priority include: Federal Funding for Scientific Research; Mental Health Parity; Substance Use Disorders
Violence and suicide prevention
Utilize psychological research to reduce suicide and interpersonal violence, including gun violence. Increase school safety and educate the public, policymakers, and law enforcement about non-violent conflict resolution, impact of trauma exposure, and the need for trauma-informed interventions.
Issues that advance this priority include: Children, Youth, and Families; Federal Funding for Scientific Research; Military and Veterans; Race, Ethnicity, and Religion
Priorities in collaboration with coalitions and partner organizations
Climate change
Educate the public and apply psychological research to combat climate change and address its impacts.
Issues that advance this priority include: Climate Change
Discrimination
Combat discrimination in all forms and settings, including education, healthcare, and workplace. Oppose efforts to curtail rights of women, sexual and gender minorities, individuals with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, and other marginalized populations.
Issues that advance this priority include: Federal Funding for Scientific Research; Health Equity; Race, Ethnicity, and Religion; Substance Use Disorders
Immigration
Continue advocacy around federal immigration policies, and inform policies related to humane treatment of immigrants and refugees.
Issues that advance this priority include: Children, Youth, and Families; Immigration; Race, Ethnicity, and Religion
Protect and strengthen safety net programs
Protect and strengthen safety net programs, such as Medicaid, CHIP, child-care, family leave, nutritional assistance, economic stability, and housing programs.
Issues that advance this priority include: Affordable Health Care; Children, Youth, and Families; Health Equity; Medicare Reimbursement and Access; Mental Health Parity; Substance Use Disorders
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