APA: Psychology's Power to Create Healthier Workplaces

Posted: October 22, 2019

APA is expanding its work to help employees and employers meet today’s challenges and prepare for the future. Earlier this year, APA established a new Office of Applied Psychology as part of our larger commitment to elevate our focus on applied psychology—the branch of our field that uses psychological research, theory and methods to address real-world issues. One of those real-world issues is the changing nature of work. Nearly one in six Americans now works remotely at least part of the time. This month’s cover story explores how psychologists are helping companies to understand and make the most of this shift.

That work represents just one of the many ways psychological science can foster healthier workers and workplaces. Next month, more of that science will be on display at the biennial Work, Stress and Health conference, Nov. 6–9, in Philadelphia. Attendees will discuss such critical topics as how automation is transforming work and how workplace programs can help combat substance use.

How We Elicit What Happens to Us

Posted: October 21, 2019

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines resilience as "the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of stress.” Resilience can be examined from psychological, biological, economical, sociological, and other perspectives (Southwick, Bonanno, Masten, Panter-Brick, & Yehuda, 2014). Two core concepts of psychological resilience consist of adversity (e.g., stressors, ranging from daily hassles, bullying, harassing, to major life traumas) and healthy adaptation (mental coping and thriving despite disadvantage and adversity; Fletcher, & Sarkar, 2013).

A bit of common advice reiterated for enhancing psychological resilience involves the popular statement that, “It is not what happens to you, but how you think about (or react to) it.” Although this assertion is beneficial as a cognitive coping strategy in helping people focus on their reactions to the experienced adverse events for the purpose of alleviating depression, anxiety, and other maladaptation, this advice appears to only view the individuals as a receiver of negativities, but not as the persons who also bear certain responsibility for their unfavorable experiences.

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Early Career Grant to Support Community-based Workshops

Posted: October 14, 2019

The American Psychological Association (APA) Committee on Early Career Psychologists (CECP) and Early Career and Graduate Student Affairs (ECGSA) are pleased to announce a Request for Proposals to award up to 3 grants of up to $3,000 each  to fund community-based workshops or trainings in all areas of psychology (education, practice, public interest and science).

 Deadline for Proposals: Friday, October 25, 2019

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be dues-paid members of APA in any membership category and be an early career psychologist (ECP) within 10 year’s receipt of their doctorate (2009-2019). All practitioners, researchers, educators, and other leaders anywhere in the world who meet the criteria are encouraged to apply for funding. Preference will be given to two or more ECPs working jointly on the proposal. 

Sponsors: APA Committee on Early Career Psychologists and the Early Career and Graduate Student Affairs.

Description

These community-based grants aim to be a source of funding to have the following three purposes:

1. Support interested individuals or groups of individuals to gain or enhance their training, facilitation, and leadership skills while delivering psychological expertise in local communities.  (Note: The APA Citizen Psychologist initiative offers curriculum tools to engage in one’s community through civic service; read more at www.apa.org/citizen.)
2. Provide psychological expertise in local communities so that attendees of the training/workshop learn specific skills from expert(s) in the chosen topic(s).
3. Serve as demonstration models for the participant’s future engagement in their community. 

Applicants are free to identify the audience, format, and the topic(s) of interest. The ECP applicant(s) must be responsible for planning and organizing the training or workshop, even if it is hosted/held under the auspices of an institution/organization, and even if other speakers or experts are involved. Speakers and experts presenting in the workshop may be in any career stage. It is anticipated that the applicants will gain leadership experience in terms of conference organization. The workshop or training must be completed by December 1, 2020.

Submission Materials

Each application should be submitted as three (3) PDF files corresponding to each of the following three sections:

1. Proposal: A personally deidentified statement proposal describing the workshop or training, including the following (in no more than 2 pages, single-spaced):
1. problem to be addressed and goals or impact to be met through the training/workshop, making sure to emphasize the ways that psychological knowledge and expertise contribute to the alleviation of existing problems or concerns in said community, or to the promotion of well-being of people and/or places;
2. justification for how the proposed effort responds to specific needs in the community and may lead to future engagement efforts by the applicant or others; 
3. how these goals are to be accomplished (e.g., procedures, activities, itinerary and location of training, efforts to recruit attendees, etc.);
4. specific expected outcomes or findings for both the individual regarding leadership development, and the community regarding the topic(s);
5. documentation of any additional support/funding which has been offered and/or secured for the proposed project (e.g., in-kind contributions, matching funds, etc.);
6. a detailed timeline with a proposed project end date. 
   
   
2. Budget: A personally deidentified budget justification for the funding amount requested using the template provided and taking into consideration the following budget rules:
1. Use the downloadable excel budget worksheet to create your budget. Save it as a PDF to upload when you are finished.
2. The request for APA funds cannot exceed $3,000.
3. No more than 50% of the total proposed budget can be used for personnel costs, including honoraria/stipends/release time to invited speakers and planners, or payment to the applicant.
4. CECP grant funds may not be used to support indirect or overhead costs.
5. Funding participant travel and/or independent research/study will NOT be considered for support.
6. As part of contingency estimates in your proposed budget, please consider adding a 3% buffer to your estimated project’s expenses. This has been already been incorporated in the template budget sheet. 
7. The workshop or training must not generate any revenue for the participants or their workplace. If participant fees are to be collected, they must be designated to a specific charitable organization. Please describe this in the budget proposal. 
   
   
3. Curriculum vitae(s): A current and abbreviated curriculum vitae (three pages max; ensuring the year a doctorate degree was awarded is clearly stated) for each applicant. 

APA awards and grants may be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding. Grant recipients will need to complete an IRS Form W-9 or a IRS Form W-8BEN (international members) prior to disbursement of funds. 

Reporting Requirements

1. The workshop or training must be completed by December 1, 2020.
2. An update statement must be submitted within 90 days of the start of the project.
3. A final report (no more than 1 page, single-spaced) must be submitted within 60 days of completion of the funded project; the report must make references to the problem addressed, goals accomplished, outcomes reached, and any issues encountered. Pictures or media that CECP can use in its communications are also desired. Please indicate if you plan to collect these in your application.

ALL proposals must be received on or before OCTOBER 25, 2019. Submit all materials in three PDF files via the online portal promptly by 5 p.m. EST, 2 p.m. PST. Name the files with the last name of the person submitting the application and short project title, e.g., "Smith_EducWorkshop.pdf". Please direct all inquiries to Dr. Lucia Gutierrez.

FURNISHED COUNSELING OFFICES AVAILABLE

Posted: October 15, 2019

Nicely furnished counseling office space available for sublease on full or part-time basis. Short term leases available. Office building is conveniently located near the intersection of 6th Ave. and Kipling St. in Lakewood. Lease includes shared waiting area, break room, all utilities and WiFi. For more information, please call 303-356-6721.