Women's Programs Office, American Psychological Association

Contact

750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Ph. (202) 336-6044
Fx. (202) 336-6117
http://www.apa.org/pi/women/index.aspx [1]
khill@apa.org [2]
[3]

The Women's Programs Office (WPO) works to improve the status, health, and well-being of women psychologists and consumers of psychological services. Activities of the office span the science, practice, education, and policy arenas. On a daily basis, WPO provides staff support for the Committee on Women in Psychology (CWP) and related task forces and working groups; serves as an information and referral resource on women's issues; and develops and disseminates reports, pamphlets, and other materials addressing research, practice, and consumer concerns relevant to women's lives.

Recently Posted

Employment Opportunities

Principal Staff

Shari E. Miles-Cohen, PhD, Senior Director
E-mail: smiles@apa.org

Tanya L. Burrwell, Assistant Director
E-mail: tburrwell@apa.org

Kari A. Hill, Program Assistant
E-mail: khill@apa.org

Areas of Expertise:

Women's Networks [4]

Member Experts:

Projects & Campaigns

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Working Group [5]

The United States is one of just seven countries that has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which affirms principles of fundamental human rights and equality for women around the world. APA has been strongly advocating with the executive branch for U.S. ratification for over 10 years.

APA recently joined the CEDAW Working Group. WPO Senior Director Dr. Shari Miles-Cohen represents APA in this national coalition of 125-plus member organizations. WPO continues to educate members about CEDAW and explore methods for increasing awareness about global issues at the state and local levels.

SPARK Summit: Challenging the Sexualization of Girls and Women [6]

The “SPARK Summit: Challenging the Sexualization of Girls and Women” was held at Hunter College in New York City on October 22, 2010. The summit brought together girls, women, and media professionals, thought leaders, funders, researchers, and activists – and served as a national call to action and campaign for change. An interactive web site was developed to support and amplify the summit’s ongoing impact. Follow activities on Twitter: @SPARKsummit [7].

Trafficking of Women and Girls

The APA Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest (BAPPI) approved the establishment of a Task Force on Trafficking of Women and Girls. The Task Force will review the state of the literature of theory, research, and practice relevant to the trafficking of women and girls. This review will include definitions, prevalence, nature, psychological, physical, and social effects, prevention, identification, intervention, and recommendations for future research, training, practice, and policy. The Task Force will produce a report summarizing its findings. Of the 70 nominations received, ten experts were selected to serve on the task force.

Inequity to Equity: Promoting Heath and Welness of Women with Disabilities Conference [8]

Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology pleased to announce Class of 2011 [9]

APA is pleased to announce the 43 members of the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology (LIWP) Class of 2011. The 4^th LIWP will be held from August 1-3, 2011 in Washington, DC. A major focus of the Institute is to ensure that leadership training opportunities are available for mid-career and senior women psychologists in all of their diversities.

APA Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion [10]

Mental health problems are not a direct result of choosing to have an abortion, an American Psychological Association task force has concluded.

Elective abortion is a difficult decision for most women. Symptoms of sadness, grief and feelings of loss are common. But there is no evidence that abortion itself is the cause, according to the Report of the APA Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion [11].

Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology [9]

The mission of the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology (LIWP) is to prepare, support, and empower women psychologists as leaders to promote positive changes in institutional and organizational life, and to increase the diversity, number, and effectiveness of women psychologists as leaders. One of the primary priorities of the LIWP is to ensure that leadership training opportunities are available for mid-career and senior women psychologists in all of their diversities, including race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability.

Division 35 Task Force on Women, Poverty, and Public Assistance [12]

The estimates of the numbers of women on welfare who experience major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and agoraphobia, as well as serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, vary a good deal. Generally, however, most reports find that poor women experience these mental health disorders at much higher rates than the general population.

Postpartum Depression [13]

It’s common for women to experience the “baby blues” — feeling stressed, sad, anxious, lonely, tired or weepy — following their baby’s birth. But some women, up to 1 in 7, experience a much more serious mood disorder — postpartum depression. The WPO has dissimenated over 4,000 copies of its Postpartum Depression (PPD) brochure. It is now available in Spanish, in addition to English. The brochure will soon be available in French and Chinese.

Task Force on the Changing Gender Composition of Psychology [14]

APA Task Force on Male Violence Against Women [15]

Click here for more information on current programs and projects. [16]

Reports & Resources

Academe

Women in Academe: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back [17] explores the characteristics, roles and status of women psychologists working in academic settings and documents the continued need for improvement in women's standing in academic institutions. (2000).

Surviving and Thriving in Academia: A Guide for Women and Ethnic Minorities [18] discusses critical incidents and decisions that may confront women and ethnic minorities as they enter and progress through the academic pipeline. (1998).

Toward an Inclusive Psychology: Infusing the Introductory Psychology Textbook [19] With Diversity Content By the Commission on Ethnic Minority Recruitment, Retention, and Training in Psychology Task Force/Textbook Initiative Work Group.Provides suggestions and examples for publishers, authors, and instructors in order to help them advance psychology as an inclusive science. (2003).

Women and Depression

Postpartum Depression Brochure [20]. It's common for women to experience the "baby blues" -- feeling stressed, sad, anxious, lonely, tired, or weepy -- following their baby's birth. Whether your symptoms are mild or sever, recovery is possible with proper treatment.

Postpartum Depression Fact Sheet [21]: Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a serious mental health problem characterized by a prolonged period of emotional disturbance, occurring at a time of major life change and increased responsibilities in the care of a newborn infant. PPD can have significant consequences for both the new mother and family.

Briefing Sheet on Women and Depression [22]

Summit on Women and Depression:Proceedings and Recommendations [23] This report outlines the proceedings and recommendations resulting from the 2000 Summit, which brought together more than 35 internationally renowned experts from a variety of disciplines to provide a state-of-the-art review of research findings on women and depression. (2000).

Published Manuscripts from the Summit on Women and Depression [24]

Women in Psychology

Report of the Task Force on the Changing Gender Composition of Psychology assesses the significance and implications of the increase in the number of women entering the discipline of psychology. (1995). Report available through the Women's Programs Office [1].

Women in the American Psychological Association [25] provides data on the numbers of women participating as members and serving in leadership roles in psychology, including in divisions; in state associations; on the boards and committees that make up APA's governance structure; in the publications process as editors, associate editors, and reviewers; and in APA's central office. (2006).

Welfare

Briefing Paper: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Among Women on Welfare [26]

Making 'Welfare to Work' Really Work [27] looks at the real causes of poverty among women and what the scientific research tells us about issues such as domestic violence, education and training, the structure of work and workplace benefits, child care, and physical and mental health care. (1998).

Violence

Responses to Workplace Violence Post 9/11: What Can Organizations Do? [28] Learn what actions employers can undertake to help minimize the psychological impact of terrorist violence.

Resolution On Male Violence Against Women [29]

Violence against women is a major cause of reduced quality of life, distress, injury and death for women and has serious secondary effects for families, communities, and the economy.

Mental Health and Abortion

Report of the APA Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion [10]. This report reviews the scientific research addressing mental health factors associated with abortion, including the psychological responses following abortion. (2008).

Sexualization of Girls

Report of the Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls [30]. This report explores the cognitive and emotional consequences, consequences for mental and physical health, and impact on development of a healthy sexual self-image. (2007).

Executive Summary [30]

What Parents Can Do [30]

What Girls Can Do [31]

Empowering Girls: Media Literacy Resources

APA Press Releases [30]

American Psychological Association Women's Programs Office: Semi-Annual Reports [32]

Women's Psych E-Newsletter [33]

Click here for more information on resources & publications. [34]

Center News

Opportunities, Grants & Fellowships

Call for Proposals: Deadline July 8, 2011

Inequity to Equity: Promoting Health and Wellness of Women with Disabilities
October 17-18, 2011 in Washington, DC
http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/disabilities-conference/index.aspx

The American Psychological Association invites submissions of proposals for an interactive, interdisciplinary conference, “Inequity to Equity: Promoting Health and Wellness of Women with Disabilities”. We seek proposals for poster presentations, papers, and symposia regarding women with disabilities that address the following topics: Health Disparities and Equity; Access to Healthcare; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Reproductive Health and Sexual Health; Psychosocial Health; Interpersonal Violence and Violence Prevention; Disability across the Lifespan; and Legal Guidance and Public Policy. The conference is cosponsored with the Howard University Women’s Health Institute and Gallaudet University and will be held at the Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC on October 17 - 18, 2011. By promoting the exchange of knowledge and information among psychologists, other health care providers, researchers, educators, policymakers, women with disabilities and advocates, this conference aims to foster an integrated health care agenda that will improve health outcomes for women with disabilities. Call for Proposals deadline is July 8, 2011.