In this year’s Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology (LIWP), APA Advocacy staff trained participants to conduct virtual visits with local Senate offices while Congress is developing new COVID-19 legislation. The participants are informing policymakers about how the pandemic, and the necessary public health measures to contain it, have led to an increased risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sharing the psychological science demonstrating the effect these traumatic experiences can have on the mental health and wellbeing of victims and survivors. Accordingly, they will advocate for emergency funding for federal programs that prevent and respond to IPV to be included in the next COVID-19 relief legislation.
APA’s annual LIWP aims to prepare, support, and empower women psychologists to promote positive change and expand the number, diversity, and effectiveness of women psychologists as leaders. The LIWP is focused on mid-career and senior women in psychology and nearly 400 women have participated in the program since its inception. Critical components of the LIWP program are training in advocacy skills and strategy and an opportunity to advocate for a policy issue at the federal level.
For more information, contact Aaron Bishop.