Thanks, Partners!

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Hello Division 42 Members:

I can’t believe that my term as President of Division 42 is coming to a close!  Before it does, I want to thank each and every one of you for your support, your trust in me, your great ideas, and your hard work.  You’ve been the best partners, and together we have accomplished much for our members and for independent practice.

When I started my term, I shared with you that one of my goals was to enhance the practices of members through partnerships—with each other, with APA’s Practice Directorate and other divisions, and with businesses, community agencies, and other professionals.  Now as my term comes to an end, I thought it would be a good idea to
highlight some of the things your Board, EC, Committee and Task Force Chairs have accomplished.

• We’ve begun efforts to improve communication within the division and to facilitate important ongoing work by the Board between our two face-to-face annual meetings.  The Division Board has met by conference call every other month, and the Executive Committee has met additionally on the months there is no Board call.  This has allowed us to work continuously throughout the year, to be more nimble and responsive and to provide members with more efficient follow through.  Also, I’ve been providing weekly reports on the happenings and work of the division in my 42/7 reports on the listserv, I’ve updated messages on the website complete with audio, and I’ve called several Division 42 members personally and invited them to give us input on what we can do to provide better service to our members.  These efforts are in addition to maintaining an active listserv which allows members to consult with each other on clinical issues, provide referrals and resources, and get to know each other better along with our wonderful Independent Practitioner which keeps us informed and challenged.

• We’re beginning to come of age technologically!  Our internet editor Pauline Wallin has been updating the website and has added wonderful features such as audio tracks, ways for members to highlight their books and products, and opportunities for members to receive much needed resources.

• We began a project in which all Division 42 members were given a Board contact person to serve as their direct link to the Board.

• We are in the beginning stages of developing audio power point presentations to help our members with various topics related to marketing their practices and business aspects of their practices.  This is in addition to our over 30 hours of APA Convention programming focusing on issues facing psychologists in independent practice and providing them with useful tools.

• We began using blogtalk radio broadcasts at the APA Convention to communicate with members on topics of interest.  We hope to develop some programs for the public which highlight the advantages of seeking independent practitioners for therapy.

• We’ve begun hosting Virtual Happy Hour programs to allow our members to network by telephone with psychologists in their areas and with similar interests.  This has been a well-received membership benefit which is fun but also provides members with useful information to improve their practices.

• Our Tools for Independent Practitioner Success (TIPS) Task Force provided members with a tip sheet on “Empowering Your Practice During Tough Economic Times.”

• We’re beginning a new group called the Innovations Task Force which will serve as a creative think tank for the division and as a mechanism for exploring the viability of various ideas shared on our listserv and elsewhere.

• The Board has established new funding guidelines to ensure that the majority of our discretionary income is dedicated to practice advocacy, membership benefits, and services.

• The Health Care for the Whole Person (HCWP) Task Force has produced a Practice Development Workbook on Medical Psychology which serves as a self assessment and guidebook for independent practitioners who are interested in but not sure about how to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other health care professionals.

• The Board has begun a regular cycle of reviewing the priorities of the Division, has recently updated them, and is developing action plans for ensuring that the priorities are met.

• Our Interdivisional Task Force on Managed Care and Health Care Policy has continued its phantom panel research; has investigated reports on the listserv about reduced insurance benefits and is exploring the best ways to deal with this; has coordinated with NYSPA in monitoring difficulties with the insurance industry; and has identified a need to develop a CPT code specifically for reimbursement of psychotherapy by telephone.

• The Board has begun a new initiative to learn more about how we can be responsive to the needs of psychologists of diversity and increase diversity among our leadership in a meaningful way. 

• The Membership, Student, and Early Career Psychologist Committees have created significant changes in benefits and services for Division 42 in areas such as mentoring programs, educational programs, and tools for enhancing practice while at the same time beginning to cultivate new leadership.

• Division 42 has begun a partnership with the Y-USA and successfully negotiated two Memoranda of Understanding which will impact practice and the public.  We have partnered with the national Y, and APA’s Practice Directorate to allow psychologists to partner on both a local and national level with Y’s in their communities.  This partnership will allow many opportunities.  Specifically for Division 42 members, the partnership will include providing to Y’s throughout the United States a listing of Division 42 Psychologists in their local area along with their specialties to serve as resources to Y staffs and Y members who can benefit from their services.  I know I’ve talked and talked about this partnership in my different communications to you, but I’m very excited about the potential impact which this partnership can have on practice and for psychologists.

• We’ve begun a working relationship with Vanguard Communications on a branding/marketing project for the Division.  Many 42 members have asked for such a project, and we’re delighted to be working on a new logo and tagline but more importantly, a new approach to marketing independent practitioners and the division.

These are only some of the accomplishments for Division 42 for 2008.  I hope you’ll agree that as a division we are active, we are innovative, and we are relevant!  You are in good hands with the new leadership of incoming President Tammy Martin-Causey and President-Elect designate, Lisa Grossman.  Expect great things from them.  I know they and the Board have what it takes to keep Division 42 a vibrant and valuable home for psychologists in independent practice!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful opportunity to serve.  Thanks to the Board, the EC, committee and task force chairs, Jeannie Beeaff, and my dear friends for helping me to navigate, innovate, and generate this past year.  The journey has been valuable; it’s been empowering; it’s been a time of growth and change.  I’m glad I’ll have the opportunity to continue to partner with you as Past President.  This has been the best, and I have more than profited from our partnership.       

    
Thank you

Jana

Jana N. Martin, Ph.D.
2008 Division 42 President