2010 Report Released from the APA Presidential Task Force on Psychology’s Contribution to End Homelessness

The American Psychological Association’s (APA) Public Interest Directorate has recently released a 2010 report from the APA Presidential Task Force on Psychology’s Contribution to End Homelessness. Helping People Without Homes evaluates contributing factors to homelessness in the United States and discusses the role that psychologists can play in alleviating homelessness.

A state report card issued from The National Center on Family Homelessness recently ranked Missouri 32nd (out of 50) in the nation for child homelessness, based upon the number of homeless children, their well-being, risk for child homelessness, and state policy/planning activities. A particularly poignant report from CBS News’ “60 Minutes” airing earlier this year, highlighted the living conditions of homeless children in the United States, and brought to light the continued need for informed action by both the private and public sectors.

An electronic copy of the APA report can be found by clicking here.

Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and Behavioral Health Integration.

APA comments promote mental health screening and integration of mental and behavioral health services in NCQA medical home mode.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recently released a new version of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Patient-Centered Medical Home Survey (CAHPS PCMH Survey) for use beginning in January 2012. Earlier this year, NCQA released its PCMH 2011 standards. Both the PCMH survey and standards reflect efforts to integrate mental and behavioral health into NCQA’s medical home model.

For full story click here.

APA Announces 2012 State Leadership Conference Awardees

Congratulations to Denise H. Bike, MS from the University of Missouri who is the South Central Regional Advocacy Coordinator for the APAGS ACT (Advocacy Coordinating Team).  She is MOPA's former Student Coordinator and is currently an officer in APAGs who is being funded by APA to attend and participate in the 2012 State Leadership Conference in Washington, DC. 

Also, your President and Early Career Psychology Chair has been granted funding to attend and participate in the 2012 SLC as an Early Career Psychologist Delegate.  I look forward to reporting back to MOPA on my experience in DC.  

Monthly Listing from our Sponsor the APA Insurance Trust

To be taken directly to the APAIT website, click here.

Missouri's Efforts re: Evidence-Based Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Follow the link below to check out Missouri's Efforts re: Evidence-Based Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders. 

From the website:

The Missouri Autism Guidelines Initiative is now  focused on developing the first comprehensive guide to evidence-based Interventions. Building on the success of its first publication on Screening, diagnosis, and assessment for intervention planning, An advisory committee of parents, health care professionals, anIndividual with ASD, educators and service providers is working to Summarize the latest evidence-based and peer-reviewed research to helpMake information on interventions more understandable. The documentWill provide the tools for making decisions about selection, implementation,and evaluation of interventions. It will be published in Summer 2012.

MOPA's own Dr. Janet Farmer, Dr. Micah Mazurek and Dr. Dawn Huber are all involved in this much-needed project. 

www.autismguidelines.dmh.mo.gov

Upcoming Conference in St. Louis

The Mental Health in Corrections Conference, sponsored by Forest Institute will take place on March 8-10, 2012 in St. Louis, MO.
For more information:  http://forest.edu/mhcc.aspx

Space for Lease in Springfield, MO

Office space available for office sharing or full-time lease.  Independent, fully licensed clinician desired. Lease includes use of established name of company, kitchen, office supplies, and phone services.  If interested, please call Center of Change at (417) 888-0886.