District of columbia psychological Association

DCPA Achievements in 2017

Awards

• DCPA was awarded a grant by the American Psychological Association (APA) that will help fund the effort to get psychologists reimbursed for Medicaid
• Dr. Giselle Hass, DCPA board member and Federal Advocate, was elected Member of the APA Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice
• Dr. Stephen Bowles, DCPA member, elected as the APA Council Representative as well as President Elect of Military Psychology
• Parmis Khosravi won the DCPA Student Grant Research Award
• Candidate for the Early Career Psychologist Committee award

Federal Advocacy, Legislative

• ·         DCPA’s priority has been to collaborate with APA PO efforts to work with policymakers to enact and implement health care reform that fully integrates psychological services into primary care, prevention and benefits packages.
• ·         DCPA has continued the advocacy for legislative solutions for the independent practice of psychologists under Medicaid.
• ·         DCPA collaborated with APA to conduct the APA-PO Summit on Innovative Practice Models.

Community Outreach:

• RAINN 5k walk for Sexual Assault Prevention. We raised over $600
• Free support groups - DCPA has been engaged in the provision of support groups that provide a healing environment designed to promote safety, understanding, anxiety reduction, and unity for:

• Mental health professionals
• General public
• Journalists (2018)

Professional Development:

·         Relevant CEs that include diversity and ethics licensing requirements

·         Listserv – job opportunities, news updates, local events, etc.

·         Mentorship program

·         Free online referral directory service

·         Mock Interviews for doctoral students applying for internship

·         Research grants for graduate students

·         Skill development programs:

·         An integrated approach to Mind/Body principles and techniques to improve clinical practice for students and ECP

·         Psychotherapy integration program for advanced clinicians

Communications

·         Quarterly Newsletter

·         DCPA is now on Instagram & Twitter: @DCPsychAssoc

·         Survey of Members to tailor opportunities and programming for members

2017 Networking/Social events:

3/2017 – Annual Membership cocktail party at APA

6/22/2017 – Sudhouse on U st

7/28/2017— Ellington club room

12/8/2017 – Holiday party

DCPA workshops for 2017:

·         8^th Dec, 2017       Holiday Party 5:00pm to 8:00pm

·         18 Nov 2017	Student Social: Mocktails and Mock Interviews
·         17 Nov 2017	Beyond Compliance: The New Ethical Environment
·         27 Oct 2017	Affirmative Therapy with LGBTQ Clients
·         20 Oct 2017	"Mediation: A Valuable Skill for Mental Health Professionals"
·         20 Oct 2017	The Truth About Public Speaking: An Essential Skill for Clinicians
·         29 Sep 2017	Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
·         15 Sep 2017	What Would Gandhi Do?
·         28 Jul 2017	DCPA Summer Social
·         23 Jun 2017	DCPA Networking Social
·         16 Jun 2017	Mindful Self-Compassion
·         12 May 2017	Rethinking Sexual Addiction
·         28 Apr 2017	East-West and In Between
·         27 Apr 2017	April Book Club
·         24 Mar 2017	Annual Membership Cocktail Reception
·         23 Mar 2017	March Book Club
·         23 Feb 2017	February Book Club
·         26 Jan 2017	January Book Club

Future initiatives for 2018:

• DCPA is in the process of collaboration and implementation of joint programs of mutual interest and benefit with:

• • The national association of Social Work, Metro DC chapter
  • APA Division 19 Military Psych
• Community Outreach
• • Racing for Rose 5k, supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health challenges and other social barriers to lead self-determined lives and reach their full potential, 4/19/2018
  • RAINN 5k -- 5/2018, Sponsoring and walking it again!
  • Sponsoring the Suicide Prevention 5k - 10/2018
• The Center for Learning and Professional Development plans to provide programs designed to facilitate the professional development of mental health practitioners as fellows:
• • An integrated approach to Mind/Body principles and techniques to improve clinical practice for students and ECP
  • Psychotherapy integration program for advanced clinicians
  • Colleague assistance and support group for journalist and interested members of the media