On March 3, 2026, Shannon Beach, PhD, Kim Reynolds, PhD, ABPP, Royleen Ross, PhD, and Jonnie Williams, PsyD, advocated on Capitol Hill alongside APA Services staff and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Native American Child Health (CONACH) to support the health needs of Native children and families. This advocacy effort is in its third year, and a critical partnership between the Society for Indian Psychologists (SIP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and APA Services presses for vital programs that help address gaps in Native American health needs.
The four psychologists engaged 14 Democratic and Republican offices in both the House and Senate, marking the largest joint initiative in the history of the APA-AAP partnership. The group advocated for maintaining advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service (IHS), investing in the Native workforce, and protecting access to vaccines.
Jonnie Wiliams, PsyD (L) and 
Shannon Beach, PhD (R)
In describing his experience, Beach said, “This year’s visit to the Hill to advocate for Native children was filled with so much hope and promise for the future. While it always has a feeling of accomplishment from hard work, this year also had with it a feeling of success. These successes are truly the embodiment of the work that began with Indigenous psychologists and physicians long ago. We are immensely fortunate we can carry on the work.”
Reynolds added, “It is a wonderful thing to see the teamwork of APA staff and psychologists from across the country elevating the importance of Indigenous youth health in Washington each year. It remains very important to keep these legislative pieces visible, especially in the midst of a variety of high-priority legislative topics. The congressional offices we visited were eager to learn more about how to support IHS and workforce development to increase the number of pediatric providers in Indian Country. Also, this is really fun, and I would encourage every psychologist to find an education or advocacy role that they can play to optimize their important expertise!”
Williams said, “Participating in advocacy on Capitol Hill as a health service psychologist and an Indian Health Service Health Professions Scholar was a meaningful opportunity to elevate the urgent needs of Indigenous youth. Advancing stable funding through advance appropriations for IHS is essential to strengthening behavioral health services, supporting Native families, and ensuring that the next generation of Native children can thrive.”
Ross added, “Throughout the lifespan, tribal leaders constantly remind us that our children are our future. The Hill visits provide an incredible opportunity to invest in our American Indian/Alaska Native children and for APA and AAP to advocate for the health and wellbeing of Indigenous children.”
For more information, contact Serena Dávila.