This document was produced by the APA in advance of their 2009 PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT ON THE FUTURE OF PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE: COLLABORATING FOR CHANGE. Jim Cook of SCRA is attending and will represent SCRA interests there. Here are Jim's comments on the Summit:

According to the information I've received, "The mission of the Summit is to assemble leaders in the practice of psychology, and other professionals who are critical stakeholders:
o       To develop a greater voice and visibility for APA members so that the broader public and public policymakers will better understand how the work we do can play an even greater role in solving serious social issues.
o       To develop a roadmap from current practices to new innovations so that APA members have state-of-the-art practice options."

A description of the summit from APA President James Bray's announcement indicates that:
"The Summit will be a medium for development of new models and venues for practice, to expand opportunities and to identify opportunities that traverse traditional practice domains.  A primary outcome of the Summit is to develop a clear agenda for the future of our multi-faceted and diverse practice community.  "

I will be representing your interests at the summit, and want your input into issues related to practice in psychology.  Attached are the agenda for the summit, a checklist with additional "reading material" that I am to review prior to the summit, and a blog posting describing the APA Practice Task Force, which is planning the summit.
The summit agenda paints a fairly broad view of practice:  "Whether it is access to health care or public health, disaster readiness or response, eliminating health disparities, leadership development, sports training, global warming, family caregiving, or integrating mental and physical health care, the future belongs to  innovation and cooperation among stakeholders in a healthy society".

Yet, a review of the speakers at the summit suggests that a major emphasis will be on practice of psychology within healthcare.  One of my goals is to ensure that the broader range of practice within community psychology is recognized as important in any conceptualization of psychology practice, and that community practice has visibility on APA's roadmap.

I have a general knowledge of the issues that APA addresses related to practice, and I have been part of the SCRA Practice Group/Committee.  I invite your input and welcome any comments and/or feedback regarding issues of importance to you and any suggestions for how to address them.