Help Alliant International University support the efforts of APA Divisions 55 and 18 to highlight the contributions of psychology to the physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being of native Americans, and to launch an initiative to improve health services to all Native Americans. Join the celebration at the 2010 APA convention with a program including a symposium, a cultural festival, and a luncheon. Contributors of $10 or more will be registered for the celebration events including the luncheon at APA, but larger contributions are also welcomed. The program will take place on Saturday, August 14, from 10:00AM to 3:00PM.

 

The Indian Health Service (IHS) has extended a welcome to Medical Psychologists (psychologists with prescribing privileges) as additional members of their primary behavioral health care teams. This is based on existing IHS policy that allows psychologists who are licensed to prescribe in another jurisdiction or state to prescribe in any IHS facility. The addition of the Medical Psychologist will lead to a significant improvement in the quality and accessibility of mental health services within the Indian Health Service. Last year, Dr. Rose Weahkee (a psychologist, a CSPP alumna, and a member of APA's Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs) was appointed Director of Behavioral Health in IHS. With the APA convention taking place in San Diego this year, we have the opportunity to highlight CSPP and the importance of the RxP agenda in increasing the availability and quality of health and mental health care for Native Americans. Division 55, along with Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service), has scheduled a five hour series of programs for the convention. The programs include:

• A two-hour symposium featuring a keynote address by Dr. Weahkee outlining her vision for comprehensive enhancements in accessibility to integrative, culturally appealing mental and behavioral health care in the Indian Health Service. Other symposium speakers will address specific topics of concern in Indian Country, e.g., increases in domestic violence, suicide clusters, alcohol and drug dependency, and the need for culturally-specific approaches to wellness. Speakers will include:
• • Dr. Melba Vasquez, President-elect of APA
  • Karen Williams Biestman, J.D., a lecturer in American Studies (Native American law and Native American tribal culture) at UC Berkeley and Stanford and, herself, a Cherokee Indian from Oklahoma
  • Professor Felicia Hodge (Wailaki), Professor of Nursing and Public Health at UCLA, who will talk about the "Talking Circle," the model of native health service delivery that she developed
  • Dr. Teresa LaFromboise (Turtle Mountain Chippewa), a psychologist from the School of Education at Stanford
  • Dr. Winona Simms (Creek/Euchee), a psychologist and Director of the Native American and Alaska Native Center at Stanford
• A one-hour Cultural Celebration with local San Diego area tribal members. The event will include dancing, drumming, story-telling, and other related activities.
• Luncheon with speakers addressing political issues

The procedures for authorizing psychologists to prescribe in the Indian Health Service could be a model for all tribal governments. A specific plan for tribal government(s) in California and other states is under study.

CSPP has been the RxP training program most closely connected to training IHS psychologists, and the expansion of RxP throughout the IHS and to other Native American entities is consistent with our University mission.