Will these changes affect the next generation of
psychologists?
Kaslow: That’s very much by design. In addition to positioning
the organization to thrive in a changing world, the new
structure will create avenues for new voices to participate in
APA governance. It ensures that the early career and graduate
student constituent groups have seats on APA’s Board of
Directors. It will provide new opportunities for participation
and engagement, and hands-on and virtual leadership skills
training. In short, the new structure will position APA to grow
and thrive for another century.
How is this connected to the association’s Strategic
Plan?
Bersoff: The seven Good Governance Project proposals —
now adopted motions in the case of the first six — were a
direct outgrowth of the Strategic Plan goal of maximizing
APA’s organizational effectiveness, which includes
optimizing APA’s governance structures and functions.
Our new structure will also support other Strategic Plan
goals, including increasing member engagement, advocacy
for science, practice and education issues and public and
member communications.
When should we expect to see the effects of these
changes?
Kaslow: The council must adopt an implementation plan for
each change. An Implementation Work Group (see sidebar)
has been appointed, and those plans are being developed. Some
changes may go into effect by mid-2014, others in 2015, and still
others will need members’ approval.
What is the role of the Implementation Work Group?
Bersoff: The Good Governance Project team and the Board of
Directors recognize that identifying the need for change and
desired changes is one thing; implementing change is another.
The Implementation Work Group is charged with developing
the specific steps and details necessary to implement the
motions adopted by council — in other words to move us from
concepts to reality. The group will be chaired by Melba J. T.
Vasquez, PhD, and co-chaired by Bill Strickland, PhD. The goal
is for the group to complete the bulk of its work this year so
that the council can review implementation recommendations
in February and, I hope, officially approve the implementation
plan at its August 2014 meeting.
Will the members be asked to approve these
changes?
Kaslow: Yes, members will need to approve any new direction
that requires a change to APA’s bylaws. However, there
are other changes that can be put into place with only the
council’s approval. The proposals that do not change the
bylaws are those to increase the use of technology, to develop
more leadership training opportunities and to create a
governance-wide issue triaging system. They are on deck for
2014 implementation.
Building support for these changes is important and part
of our job, but I also see my role as being a conduit between
members and governance. We want members to understand
ways in which we are working to make APA governance more
effective and we also want to make sure governance hears and
understands members’ expectations of APA. n
Steering the Good Governance changes
APA President Donald N. Bersoff, PhD, JD,
announced the members of the Implementation
Work Group (IWG) in September. The group will
recommend to the council how to put the Good
Governance motions into practice.
The group will also formulate
recommendations on how to proceed with a
motion council did not have time to fully discuss:
one that presented several models related to
restructuring the council itself. The council did
vote to make significant changes to its structure,
but was unable to reach a conclusion within the
allotted time on which model would be best.
As a result, the council directed the
Implementation Work Group to study and make
recommendations on two possible restructuring
models. One would reduce the council’s size
by having one seat per state or division while
also creating opportunities for input for other
perspectives and members who are not currently
represented. A second proposed model would
combine the original concept with one focusing
on a “pillars” model based on the APA mission:
science, education, practice, human welfare and
health. The Implementation Work Group will
create detailed versions of both models for the
council’s further consideration.
The members of the Implementation Work
Group are: Chair: Melba J. T. Vasquez, PhD; Vice
chair: Bill Strickland, PhD; Mark Appelbaum,
PhD; Martha Banks, PhD; Armand Cerbone, PhD;
Ayse Ciftci, PhD; Helen Coons, PhD; Paul Craig,
PhD; John Hagen, PhD; Jo Johnson, PhD; Linda
Knauss, PhD; Bonnie Markham, PhD, PsyD;
Ali Mattu, PhD; Marsha McCary, PhD; Gilbert
Newman, PhD; Allen Omoto, PhD; Vivian Oto
Wang, PhD; Mitch Prinstein, PhD; Nancy Sidun,
PsyD; Kristi Van Sickle, PsyD; Emily Voelkel, MA;
and Milo Wilson, PhD.
