The SCRA Public Policy Committee in Action
Transcript of The SCRA Public Policy Committee in Action
The SCRA Public Policy Committee in Action: Advocacy, Collaboration, and Capacity Building
J’Vonnah Maryman Melissa Strompolis Kenneth I. Maton Douglas D. Perkins
Wichita State University
Children’s Trust of South Carolina
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Vanderbilt University
Keywords: Public Policy, Advocacy, SCRA, community psychology, Society for Community Research and Action, collaboration, capacity building
Author Biographies: J’Vonnah Maryman is a doctoral candidate in the Community Psychology Program at Wichita State University and holds a Masters of Public Health from the University of Kansas. She is a member of the Society for Community Research and Action’s Public Policy Committee. Melissa Strompolis, PhD, is Director of Research and Evaluation at Children’s Trust of South Carolina, an affiliate investigator at the Yvonne & Schuyler Moore Child Development Research Center in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina, and is past-chair of the Society for Community Research and Action's Public Policy Committee. Kenneth Maton, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Psychology and Affiliate Professor in the School of Public Policy at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is past-president of the Society for Community Research and Action, and past-chair of its Public Policy Committee. He is co-author (with Keith Humphreys, Leonard Jason, and Marybeth Shinn) of a forthcoming chapter on social policy for the Handbook of Community Psychology and author of a forthcoming book, Influencing Social Policy: Applied Psychology Serving the Public Interest. Douglas D. Perkins is Professor of Human and Organizational Development at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, USA. He is the Founding Director of the PhD Program in Community Research & Action and also teaches in the Masters Program in Community Development & Action and the B.S. Track in Community Leadership & Development.
Recommended Citation: Maryman, J., Stromopolis, M., Maton, K.I., Perkins, D.D. (2016). The SCRA Public Policy Committee in action: Advocacy, collaboration, and capacity building. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 7(1S), pages 1-15. Retrieved Day/Month/Year, from (http://www.gjcpp.org/).
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 2
TheSCRAPublicPolicyCommitteeinAction:Advocacy,Collaboration,andCapacityBuilding
AbstractInterestinsocialpolicyworkhasbeenontheriseintheSocietyforCommunityResearchand Action (SCRA). SCRA’s Public Policy Committee aims to affect local, state, andnational policy on topics relevant to community psychology through advocacy,collaboration, and capacitybuilding.To communicate SCRA’sperspectiveonpressingsocialissues,thePublicPolicyCommitteecreatedapolicypositionstatementproceduretoaddressongoingproblemsandarapidresponseactionprocedureforurgentmatters(e.g., advocacycampaigns).Options fordisseminationofpolicy initiatives includeTheCommunityPsychologist(TCP),AmericanJournalofCommunityPsychology(AJCP),SCRAlistservs,andothers.Examplesofpositionstatementsapprovedorunderdevelopmentinclude mass incarceration, juvenile justice, immigration reform, and global climatechange. Examples of past rapid response actions include the areas of gun legislation,sequestercuts,andpsychologists’involvementintorture.ToexpandSCRA’spolicyreach,SCRAhaspartneredwithotherorganizationsincapacitybuildingefforts.Forexample,SCRAandthePublicPolicyCommitteepartneredwiththeSocietyforthePsychologicalStudyof Social Issues (SPSSI) to conduct aShort Course inPolicy Involvement and anadvocacytrainingdayonCapitolHill(UnitedStatesCongress).Finally,thePublicPolicyCommitteehasengagedinstrategicinitiativestoincreasethecapacityofSCRAmembersto engage in policy and advocacywork. Strategic initiatives include the annual SCRAPublicPolicy SmallGrantsProgram, studentpracticumpositionson thePublicPolicyCommittee,surveysofSCRAmembershipregardingpolicyandadvocacyengagement,andapolicytrackatSCRAbiennialconferences.ForatleasttenyearstheSocietyforCommunityResearchandActionhasseenariseininterestinsocialpolicywork(SCRA;Division27oftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation[APA]).Thisisevidentinthesignificantincreaseinmemberinvolvementandpolicyactivitiesundertaken.Aspastco-chairsandagraduatepracticumstudentoftheSCRAPublicPolicyCommittee(hereinCommittee),wewilldiscussrecenteffortstoaffectpolicychangethroughadvocacy,collaboration,andcapacitybuilding.
Recently,theCommitteeembarkeduponanumberofnewmethodstospreadthereach
ofSCRA’spolicyinfluence.AdvocacyisanintegralcomponentoftheworkoftheCommittee.Throughthecreationofpolicypositionstatementsforongoingproblemsandrapidresponseactionproceduresforurgentmatters,theCommitteeisabletocommunicateSCRA’sperspectiveonpressingsocialissuesandmattersofpublichealthandwell-being.Policypositionstatementsprovidesummariesofscientificresearchandaccumulatedknowledgefrompracticeaccompaniedbyrecommendationstopolicymakersandthegeneralpublic(e.g.,SocietyforCommunityResearchandAction,2013).Thepolicypositionstatementsandrapid
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 3
responseactionsarepublishedinsummaryforminTheCommunityPsychologist(TCP)newsletter.PolicypositionstatementsarepublishedincompleteformintheAmericanJournalofCommunityPsychology(AJCP).Policypositionstatementsandrapidresponseactionscanincludeadvocacycampaignstohelpachievethedesiredchanges.Inadditiontopublicpolicystatementsandrapidresponses,anotherimportantCommitteeinitiativetoenhancepolicyinfluence,aswellascontributetocapacitybuilding,istheSCRA-fundedPolicySmallGrantsProgram,whichisalsoopentoapplicantsoutsidetheUnitedStates.
TheCommitteeincreasinglyexploreswaystoenhancecapacitybuildingandpolicyinfluencethroughcollaborationwithothergroups.Thishasincluded,forexample,partneringwiththeSocietyforthePsychologicalStudyofSocialIssues(SPSSI;Division9oftheAPA)toconductaShortCourseinPolicyInvolvementandanadvocacytrainingdayonCapitolHill(UnitedStatesCongress)inWashington,D.C.TheCommitteehasalsoworkedwiththeNationalPreventionScienceCoalition,agroupadvocatingforthegovernmentaladoptionofaPreventionModelforuseinmultipledomainsofpublicpolicy.
TrainingisanotherwaytheCommitteebuildscapacity.TheCommitteecreatedapolicypracticumprogramforstudentmembersofSCRA.Thepracticumgoalsare:1)toprovideopportunitiesforstudentstogainexperienceinaspecifiedpolicyarea,2)todevelopcorecompetenciesinpublicpolicyanalysis,development,andadvocacy,and3)todevelopatemplatethatcouldbeadoptedandusedbyfacultyofcommunitypsychologytrainingprogramstoenhancepolicyexperience.Finally,theCommitteeisdevelopingresourcesthatdepictthecriticalcomponentsofapolicyadvocacycampaign.Theseresourceswillbeavailabletostudents,
faculty,professionals,andthepublicviawww.SCRA27.org.
InthispaperwewilldiscusstheserecentdevelopmentaleffortsoftheCommitteetospreadSCRA’sinfluencetoaffectchangethroughpolicy,advocacy,collaboration,andcapacitybuildinginmoredetail.Presentedfromtheuniqueperspectiveofcommunitypsychologists,theseeffortscanbereplicatedbyotherswishingtoadvancelearningandexperiencesaroundpolicy.Butfirst,letusexaminetherelevanceofpolicyworktocommunitypsychology.
NeedforPolicyandAdvocacyWorkinCommunityPsychology
PolicymakingintheUnitedStatesisnotasimpletask.BogenschneiderandCorbett(2010)assertthat“policymakingisoneofthemostcomplexundertakingsknowntohumankind”(p.264).Policymakingisinfluencedbyprocessesandproceduresaswellasevidence.Theprocessoccursnotinisolationbutisinfluencedbyanecologycomprisingmultiplephases,levels,domains,sourcesofpower,andusesofevidence(Aber,Bishop-Josef,Jones,McLearn,&Phillips,2007;Bogenschneider&Corbett,2010;Kingdon,1984;Kraft&Furlong,2010;Maton,Humphreys,Jason,&Shinn,inpress;Phillips,2000).Thepolicycyclecanbeactivatedoninterrelatednational,state,andlocallevelsofgovernment(Kraft&Furlong,2010).
TheUnitedStateshasseenamultitudeofrecentsocialpolicyissuesatalllevelsofpolicymakingofinteresttocommunitypsychologists.TheseincludefederalpolicyseekingtoprovideequitableanduniversalhealthcarecoveragethroughtheAffordableCareAct;statelegislationencouragingemployersto“BantheBox”(removingthecriminalrecordcheckboxfromhiringapplications),thusincreasingopportunitiesforpersonsconvictedoffeloniestoattain
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 4
gainfulemployment;andlocalordinancestoprovidehousingand,asappropriate,treatmentforpeoplewhohavebeenhomelessorhavesufferedfromaddiction.Nomatterwhatthesocialpolicyissue,affectedindividuals,communities,andorganizations,whomaybepowerless,oppressed,vulnerable,andlackinga“voice”orrepresentation,maybecomewillingpartnersinpushingtheirpolicyagendasforward.Communitypsychologistsarewellpositionedtoassistintheseefforts(Matonetal.,inpress)andcanhelpprovideavoiceandparticipatorymechanismforchangeforvulnerableindividualsandpopulations.
Equippedwiththevaluesofsocialjustice,empowerment,citizenparticipation,andresearchskillsaswellasanunderstandingofecologicalframeworks,communitypsychologistsstrivetoenhancethequalityoflifeforindividualswithincommunities.Thisworkwouldbeincompleteifitdidnotincludeadvancingtheworkofpolicyandadvocacy.Advancingpolicyagendasisacriticalmechanismtoaffectchangeatthepopulationlevel(Kingdon,1984).
TheCommitteeseekstoaffectchangethroughpolicy,advocacy,collaboration,andcapacitybuilding.InitiallynamedtheSocialPolicyCommittee,itwascreatedin1989,byDeborahPhillipsandBrianWilcox,thefirstco-chairs.BasedonCommitteecolumnsintheTheCommunityPsychologistovertheyears,aprimaryactivityoftheCommitteeuntilrecentlyhasbeeneducational,informingmembersaboutsocialpolicyprocesses,socialissues,policydevelopments,andtheinvolvementofSCRAmembersinlocal,state,national,andinternationalpolicyendeavors.AnumberofdistinguishedSCRAmembers,manyofwhomhavebeenactivelyinvolvedinpolicychangeefforts,haveservedaschairsoftheCommittee,includingDeborahPhillips,BrianWilcox,TrudyVincent,Andrea
Solarz,CarolynFeis,AnthonyBiglan,BrianSmedley,SarahCook,SharonPortwood,StevenHowe,JenniferWoolard,PrestonBritner,JosephFerrari,StevenPokorny,andNicolePorter.
IthastakendecadesfortheCommitteetobecomeasdirectlyinvolvedinadvocacyeffortsonpolicymattersasitiscurrently,butanearlyturningpointwasthe1997BiennialConferenceonCommunityResearchandAction,heldinColumbia,SouthCarolina.Atthatconference,therewereseveralsymposiumsheldonpolicywork.Communitypsychologistsdescribedtheirpolicyengagementsatthelocal,state,andfederallevels,relatedtoaplethoraofissuesincludingchildprotectionandsupport,communitydevelopment,disabilityrights,HIV/AIDSandotherglobalhealthpolicyissues,homelessness,juvenilejustice,mentalhealth,sexualviolence,andwelfarereform.Whatwasmostgroundbreakingatthatconference,however,wastheopenandlivelydebateattheheavilyattendedbusinessmeetingoverwhetherSCRAshouldtakeamoredirectroleasanorganizationinpolicyadvocacy.
ThemostcontentiousissueraisedwaswhethertakingapublicstandoncontroversialissuescouldbedivisivetotheorganizationorjeopardizeitsnonprofitstatusoritsrelationshiptotheAPA.Thosequestionsstillariseasinstitutionalconstraints,buthavebeensubstantiallyaddressedinrecentyearsbytheCommitteecreatingclear,step-by-stepprocessesfordevelopingandvettingpolicypositionstatementsandmembercallstoactionrequiringapprovalbytheCommitteeandSCRAExecutiveCommittee,andinformingtheAPA’sPublicInterestGovernmentRelationsOffice(seebelow).
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 5
JudahViolaservedaschairforseveralyears,beginningin2011,withthemissionofre-energizingtheCommittee.Beginningin2011,theCommitteeembarkeduponanumberofnewandchallengingendeavors,includingpolicypositionstatements,rapidresponseactions,andasmallgrantsprogram,creatingavenuestospreadthereachofpolicyandadvocacywork.OverthepasttwoyearstheCommitteehasseengrowthinitsmembership.Currentlythereare104individualswhohavejoinedtheCommittee(i.e.,addedtothecommitteelistserv),with15-20activelyparticipatinginmonthlyCommitteeconferencecallsand/oremaildiscussions.
Gainingexperienceinpolicyworkcanbechallengingforcommunitypsychologistsinbothacademicandappliedsettings,andopportunitiesfortrainingfuturecommunitypsychologistsinpolicymaybelimited.Beforeinitiatingstepstoenhancecapacityinpolicyanalysis,organizing,andadvocacy,theCommitteeneededtoidentifyandunderstandtheneedsofSCRAmembership.In2012,theCommitteeconductedasurveyofSCRAmembers(279completedsurveys,approximately25%ofthoseontheSCRAlistserv)whichfoundthatrespondents(74%)viewedintegratingpolicyrelevantcourseworkintograduateprogramsandprovidingworkshopsortrainingsessionsatconferences(70%)ascriticalforbuildingcapacityaroundpolicyandadvocacywork.RespondentsalsofeltthatcollaborationwithanumberoforganizationstoexpandpolicyrelatedactivitieswasessentialtoSCRA’smission.AmongthoseorganizationsweretheSocietyforPreventionResearch(58%ofrespondents),SPSSI(57%),PsychologistsforSocialResponsibility(53%),andtheAPA(51%;Maton,Strompolis,&Wisniewski,2013).TheCommitteediscussedtheseandrelatedfindingsandidentifiedwaysto
addressthepolicyandadvocacyneedsofSCRA’smembership,includingmanyoftheinitiativesdiscussedbelow.
ExpandingourReach:BuildingCapacityforPolicyandAdvocacyWork
BelowwedescribeinmoredetailoureffortstobuildthecapacityofSCRAmembersforpolicyandadvocacywork.Twoprimarymethodsusedhavebeeninterdivisionalcollaborationsandthedevelopmentoftaskforcesandworkinggroups.
InterdivisionalCollaborations
PolicyWorkshop
OnJune30andJuly1,2013,theCommittee,SPSSI,theSocietyforPersonalityandSocialPsychology(SPSP),theSocietyforEnvironmental,Population,andConservationPsychology(SEPCP),andtheAmericanPsychology-LawSociety(AP-LS),withfinancialsupportfromanAPAinterdivisionalgrant,hostedahighlysuccessful,well-attendedpolicyworkshoponCapitolHill.Theworkshopincludedbothcommunicationsandapplicationscomponents.Thecommunicationsportion(Day1)addressedthevitalimportanceofeffectivetranslationofscientificfindingsforavarietyofnon-scientistaudiences.Thiscomponentfeaturedseparatesessionsonhowtocommunicatepsychologicalresearchtothegeneralpublic,topolicymakers,andinlegalsettings.Theapplicationscomponent(Day2)focusedonthemyriadofwaysthatpsychologistsapplypsychologicalresearchincommunitysettingsandin(federal)legislativerealms.Inaddition,someoftheothersessionsonthisdaypresentedinformationontrainingfellowshipssponsoredbytheAPAandothers,andalsoonpolicycareersingovernment,thinktanks,andmission-drivenadvocacyorganizations.Theworkshopalsofeaturedmanynetworkingopportunitiesduringwhichparticipantswithcommoninterestscould
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 6
meetandinteractinformallyacrossDivisions,careerstages,andresearchandsub-disciplinaryfoci.Inparticular,therewasanopeningreception,agroupdinner,andgrouplunchesandbreaksbetweensessions.
Theworkshopwashighlyanticipatedandexceptionallywell-received.Thevastmajorityofthe203applicationswerefromhighlyqualifiedcandidates.Ofthe44selectedparticipants,41acceptedtheinvitationtoattend.Atotalof14participantsreceivedtravelscholarshipsfromSCRAorSPSSI;thus,thevastmajorityofparticipantspaidtheirowntravelexpensesandtheregistrationfee($150)inordertotakepart.Ourexperiencesuggeststhereisastronginterestinthiskindoftraining,especiallyamonggraduatestudentsandearlycareerprofessionals.
Intheshort-term,attendees’enthusiasmforgreaterinvolvementinpolicyworkwasclear.Presentersweresimilarlyenthusiasticabouttheirparticipation.TheCommitteebelievesthecollaborationbetweenthesponsoringDivisionswaspositive,andthatitwillhelpbuildastrongfoundationforfuturejointprojects–including,potentially,APAConventionprogrammingandotherjointmeetings/workshops.
AdvocacyTrainingDayonCapitolHill
TheCommitteeco-sponsoredanAdvocacyTrainingDayonCapitolHill,heldonAugust6,2014.Thiseventbroughtover50psychologistsandgraduatestudentsontoCapitolHilltolobbyforpaidfamilymedicalleave.Theco-sponsorsincludedSPSSIandtheAPAPublicInterestGovernmentRelationsOffice(APA-PI).
ParticipantsspentthemorninginatrainingworkshopduringwhichtheylearnedaboutTheFamilyMedicalInsuranceLeaveAct(H.R.3712/S.1810)andabouthowtoeffectivelyadvocateonCapitolHill.TheythenspenttheafternoonmeetingwithstaffoftheirSenators
andRepresentatives(atotalofmorethan75differentoffices),askingthemtoco-sponsorthelegislationusingmanyoftheargumentssummarizedinaleave-behindsheetprovidedbythetrainers.
Figure1:ParticipantsinAdvocacyTrainingDayonCapitolHill
Theparticipantshada“funfilled”dayoflearning(SeeFigure1).Asnotedbyoneoftheparticipants:“Thetrainingemphasizedthatitispossibletohavefunwhileadvocatingforagoodcause–anditwasfun.Asweleftthetrainingtoheadtoourrespectivemeetings,wewereinvigoratedbythenumerouspsychologists,students,andaffiliateswhoworktoseethatourresearchstrengthensoursocietyanddirectlybenefitsourpeople”(Kurzbahn,Buckingham,&Mahdi,2014,p.14).
ThiswasasignificantaccomplishmentforSCRA,theCommittee,andourpartners,notonlybecausewebelieveintheimportanceofthelegislation(currentlyunderconsiderationinCongress),butalsobecauseoftheexperienceweprovidedtoourmembers,encouragingthemtocontinuetoengageinthelegislativeprocess.OrganizingthetrainingdaywasatrueactofcollaborationbetweenSPSSI,APA-PI,andtheCommittee.
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 7
TheCommitteeexpectstoworktogetherwithSPSSItoholdsimilareventsinthefuture.
ToolsforPractice
Aroundthetimethecompetenciesforcommunitypsychologypracticewerereleased,theCommitteebeganstrategicconversationstostrengthenengagementwithintheCommitteebymembersofSCRAandtobuildthecapacityofcurrentCommitteememberstotakepartinpolicyandadvocacyactivities.Aspartofthisdialogue,theneedwasnotedforpoliciesandproceduresforSCRAandCommitteememberstocommunicatepositionsonimportantsocialissuesandtodraftcalls-to-action.Thisresultedintheapproval(bySCRA’sExecutiveCommittee)ofthePolicyPositionStatementandtheRapidResponseActionsprocedures.Theprocedurescanbefoundatwww.scra27.org/what-we-do/policy/,andtheyoutlineboththecontentnecessaryforpositionstatementsandcalls-to-actionandtheprocessestogainapprovalfortheseactivities.
PolicypositionstatementscommunicateSCRA’sperspectiveonpressingsocialissuesandmattersofpublichealthandwell-beingthroughtheprovisionofclear,succinctsummariesofscientificresearchandaccumulatedknowledgefrompractice(Maryman,Maton,&Perkins,2014).Thesestatementsofferrecommendationsthatcanbeadoptedbypolicymakersorthegeneralpublic(seehttp://www.scra27.org/what-we-do/policy/policy-position-statements/).Whenissuesaretimesensitive,rapidresponseactionsallowfortheevaluationandadoptionofactionsthatcanbeengagedinbythemembership(Maryman,Maton,&Perkins,2014).CallstoactionthatweresubmittedandapprovedbytheCommitteeandtheSCRAEChaveaddressedsequestercuts(UnitedStates’budgetcutstoprograms
essentialforthehealthandwelfareofvulnerablecitizensandcommunities),gunlegislation(changestoUnitedStates’guncontrol,safety,andresearchlaws),self-helpsupportgroups(changestoAPApoliciesandproceduresontheinclusionofself-helpsupportgroupstoimprovehealthandwellness),andglobalviolenceagainstgirls(implementationofinternationalhumanrightsstandards).Twentyindividualsrepresenting16statescompletedthecalltoactionregardinggunlegislation(trackingwasnotavailableforthesequestercuts).AlthoughSCRAmembersparticipateinotheradvocacyactivities(e.g.,calls-to-actionfromtheAPA),theserapidresponseactionswerespearheadedbySCRAmembers.TheCommitteeiscurrentlyexaminingvariouscalltoactionplatformstoincreaseengagementwithSCRAmembersandtrackcalltoactionresponses.
SmallGrantsProgram
Withthedevelopmentofcommunitypsychologycompetencies(Dalton&Wolfe,2012),policyandadvocacyskillswereformallyrecognizedaspartofcommunitypsychologypractice.ThePublicPolicyAnalysis,DevelopmentandAdvocacycompetencystatesthatcommunitypsychologistsshouldhave“theabilitytobuildandsustaineffectivecommunicationandworkingrelationshipswithpolicymakers,electedofficials,andcommunityleaders”(Dalton&Wolfe,2012,p.12).Withtherecognitionofpolicyandadvocacyskillsasnecessaryforcommunitypsychologists,membersoftheCommitteerealizedtheneedforenhancedopportunitiesforSCRAmemberstoengageinpolicyandadvocacywork.TheCommitteeproposedandadvocatedforgrantfundstosupportpolicyandadvocacyactivitiesofSCRAmembers.TheCommitteesecured$15,000forannualgrantstosupportpolicyandadvocacy
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 8
activitiesofSCRAmembersandreleasedarequestforproposalsforsmallgrantsworthupto$5,000.Fifteensmallgrantshavebeenawardedsinceinceptionoftheprogramin2011,threeperyear,totalingcloseto$75,000(someproposalsrequestedunder$5,000).TheprojectsfundedbytheCommittee’ssmallgrantsprogramrepresentthediversityofSCRAmembershipandtheirfocusareasofinterest.Examplesoffundedprojectsincludeanevaluationofadvocacyeffortsofanonprofitorganizationservingchildrenandfamiliesinpoverty(Miles,2011);creationofapubliceducationandadvocacywebsiteoncostsofincarceration(http://chicagosmilliondollarblocks.com/;Lugalia-Hollon&Cooper,2012);amulti-methodapproachtoimprovingmobilityofwomenexperiencinghomelessness(Matson,2012);animplementationinvestigationandinterventionregardingtheAffordableCareAct(Boyd,2013);genderresponsivityinthejuvenilejusticesystem(Anderson&Davidson,2014);andaninternationalexaminationofananti-frackingmovementinBulgaria(Mihaylov,2015).
ThecreationofthesmallgrantsprogramhasbenefitedSCRAinanumberofsignificantways.First,astherecognitionofpolicyandadvocacyskillsascorecompetenciesforcommunitypsychologistscontinues,manyeducationalprogramsarelookingforwaystoengagecommunitypsychologystudentsinthepolicyandadvocacyarena.Infact,inthefirstfiveyearsofthesmallgrantsprogram,ninestudentshaveappliedforandreceivedgrantsforpolicyandadvocacyworkwithinandoutsideofacademicinstitutions(outof15totalfundedgrants).Second,thesmallgrantsprogramhasledtosignificantaccomplishmentsforthegrantees.Forexample,Martínez(2012)providedtwotechnicalreportstotheConnecticutStateDepartmentofEducation,presentedthework
atregionalandnationalconferences,andsubmittedapublicationtoAJCP.Additionally,StrompolisandBranham(2013)builtadvocacycapacitywithinastate-widecoalitioninSouthCarolinathatledtothepledgebyfourlegislatorstointroduceorco-sponsorlegislationtopreventchildpassengerinjuriesandfatalities.Finally,thesmallgrantsprogram,beyondbuildingthepolicy-relevantcapacityofSCRAmembers,hasprovidedanoutlettovoiceSCRAvalueswithinthepolicyandadvocacyarena.
StudentPracticum
The2012surveyhighlightedtheneedtoincreasepolicyskillsamongSCRAmembers.Inpartwiththatgoalinmind,inearly2013,then-PolicyCommitteeChairJudahViolaandMelissaStrompolis(thenastudentmemberandlaterChairoftheCommittee)developedthePublicPolicyCommitteeStudentPracticum.ThePublicPolicyCommitteeStudentPracticumwasdesignedtoprovideSCRAstudentswithopportunitiestoengageinpolicyandadvocacyactivitieswithstructuredsupportandguidancefromidentifiedmembersoftheCommittee.StudentswhoareselectedtoparticipateinthePublicPolicyCommitteeStudentPracticumcanreceivecreditfromtheiracademicinstitutions(communitypracticaareoftenrequiredbyprograms)andallowforthecustomizationofpolicyandadvocacyexperiencesthatalignwiththestudents’interests,goals,anddesiredexperience.
Twostudents(TaylorBishopScottfromtheUniversityofNorthCarolina-CharlotteandJ’VonnahMarymanfromWichitaStateUniversity)wereselectedtoparticipateintheinauguralpracticumin2013-2014andweresupervisedbytheco-chairsoftheCommittee,DougPerkinsfromVanderbiltUniversityandKenMatonfromtheUniversityofMaryland,BaltimoreCounty.Thestudentsengagedina
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 9
numberofactivities,includinganexaminationofsocialmediainthepolicyandadvocacyarena,contributingtoTCParticles(seeMaryman,Maton,&Perkins,2014;Scott&Wollman,2014;Scott&Maryman,2015),facilitatingcollaborationwithotherinterestgroups,andhostingawebinartoconnectwithotherstudentsinterestedinpolicyandadvocacy.Theirpracticumexperiencealsoaffordedthemtheopportunitytoserveasreviewersforthesmallgrantsprogram.TheCommitteecontinuedwiththestudentpracticumbyselectingthreestudentsinthe2014-2015academicyear.Thesestudentscontributedtothedevelopmentofcall-to-actionproceduresandpolicypositionstatements(massincarcerationandfamilydetention).TheCommitteeiscurrentlyreviewingapplicationsforthe2015-2016academicyear.
TaskForcesandWorkingGroups
AnintegralaspectoftheCommittee’sworkissupporting,collaboratingwith,andhelpingtodeveloptaskforcesandworkinggroupstoadvancepolicyandadvocacypriorities.Someofthetaskforcesandinterestgroupshavecompletedoraredevelopingpolicypositionstatementsand/orrapidresponseactions.Severalofthetaskforcesandinterestgroupsaredescribedbelow.
CollaborationwiththeNationalPreventionScienceCoalition
TheNationalPreventionScienceCoalitiontoImproveLives(NPSC)beganaspreventionscientistsandadvocatesjoinedtopursueacommonvision:theprioritizationofproactive,preventionstrategiesinpublicprogramsandpoliciesoverreactive,treatment-orientedpracticesthattendtogenerategreatercoststohumansufferingandtotaxpayers.NPSCisanationalnetworkofresearchers,policymakers,organizations,andadvocatesthatfocusesonthreegoals:1)
translationalscienceinthepreventionarea,2)enhancingprevention-relatedimplementationandsystemschange,and3)advocacy/policytopromotegovernmentaladoptionofa“preventionmodel”toreduceexpendituresandbenefitsociety(www.npscoalition.org).TheNPSChasdevelopedanumberofwrittenproducts,includingblogsandopinioneditorials,aswellashostedanumberofCongressionalbriefingsonCapitolHill(learnmoreatwww.npscoalition.org).SCRAPolicyCommitteememberTaylorBishopScotthasbeenactivelyinvolvedintheNPSCandservesastheliaisonbetweentheCommitteeandNPSC.TheNPSCandCommitteeworktogetheronopportunitiesthatarisebasedoncommoninterestsamongmembersandthecurrentpoliticalclimate.Forexample,thegroupsshareaninterestinadvocacyeffortsforreauthorizingandenhancingthefocusofempiricalapproachesintheJuvenileJusticeDelinquencyandPreventionAct(seebelow),whichhasbeentheprimaryfocusofRobinJenkins’work,whoalsoservesasamemberoftheNPSCandtheCommittee.
MassIncarceration
MassincarcerationrepresentsoneofthemostglaringandalarmingproblemsintheUnitedStatesandanareaofinteresttocommunitypsychologists.TheUnitedStatesleadstheworldinpercapitaprisonpopulation.In2012,MatonandPerkinssolicitedapolicypositionstatementonthisissue,andKeithHumphreysrespondedbydraftinganinitialpositionproposalonreducingthesizeoftheprisonpopulationintheUnitedStates.TheCommitteeenthusiasticallyapprovedthedevelopmentofapolicypositionstatement,andleadershipwastakenoverbyBradOlson.Bradproposed,formed,andleadsaSCRATaskForceonMassIncarceration(whichwasapprovedbyboththeCommitteeandthen-
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 10
SCRAPresidentFabricioBalcazar).TheworkoftheMassIncarcerationTaskForceculminatedinawell-attendedparticipatorytownmeetingonthetopicandstatementatthe2015SCRABiennialConference,andacollaborativelywritten,draftpolicypositionstatement.Thestatementcoversmanyaspectsofthiscomplexproblem.Theseincludethedegradingsocial,psychological,economic,andhealtheffectsofmassincarcerationattheindividual,family,andcommunitylevels;racialandotherdisparitiesinthecriminaljusticesystem(Alexander,2010);andspecificpolicyrecommendationsatthefederal,state(particularlyimportantforcriminallaw),andlocallevels.TheMassIncarcerationTaskForcehopestohavethestatementapprovedin2015,publishedin2016,andthenbeginaconcertedadvocacycampaignwithhelpfromtheAPA,SPSSI,andotherinterestedorganizations.
GlobalClimateChange
In2013,Maton,Perkins,andStrompolisexploredpolicyissuesofmutualconcernwithSPSSIleaders.Thediscussionsrevealedthatmembersofbothorganizationswereinterestedincollaborationonclimatechange.Priortothediscussionsrelevantworkhadalreadybeenconductedbymembersofthetwodivisions(e.g.,AmericanPsychologistspecialissue,May-June2011;aSPSSIpolicystatement;APACouncilResolution;andaspecialissueorganizedbySCRAEnvironmentandJusticeInterestGroupmembers:Riemer&Reich,2011).AcollaborativeGlobalClimateChangegroupdecidedtofocusnotonpoliciestopreventormitigateclimatechange(astheyjudgedthat“horse”tohavealreadyleftarapidlysinking“barn”),butinsteadtofocusonpoliciesandotherwaystohelpindividualsandcommunitiesadaptanddevelopresiliencytowardinevitableclimatechange.TheGlobalClimateChangegroupdevelopedaclimate
changeadaptationtheoreticalmodel,reviewedpastpolicystatements,andplanstodevelopanewpolicypositionstatementfocusedonindividual,community,andsocietaladaptationtoclimatechange.
Immigration
TherehasalwaysbeeninterestamongSCRAmembersaboutissuesrelatedtoimmigration.TheCommittee’snewinitiativetosupportpolicypositionstatementscreatedanopportunityforpursuingthistopic.TheprocessstartedaboutayearagoandledFormerSCRAPresidentFabricioBalcazartomobilizeanefforttogenerateapolicystatementonthetopic.BalcazarutilizedthesupportofPatriciaEsparza,aCommitteepracticumstudentwhowasinterestedinthetopicandBrintonLykes,acolleaguealsointerestedinimmigration.Lykesbroughttotheteamaveryexperiencedimmigrationlawyer,JessicaChico,andanothergraduatestudent,KevinFerreira.ThegroupdecidedtofocusthepolicypositionstatementontheincarcerationofundocumentedmigrantfamiliesintheUnitedStates.AdraftstatementwasreviewbytheAPAandapprovedbytheCommitteeandSCRA’sExecutiveCommitteejustastheObamaadministrationwasorderedbyaFederalcourttoclosemostofthefamilyprisonsthathavebeenopenedoverthelastfewyears.TheworkgroupwillcontinuetowatchthisissueevolveandhassubmittedthepolicystatementtotheAJCP.
JuvenileJustice
SCRAhasanumberofmemberswithexpertiseandpolicyexperienceintheareaofjuvenilejustice.Severalofthem,ledbyJenWoolardandCommitteememberRobinJenkins,areworkingonapolicypositionstatementrelatedtoreauthorizationofthefederalJuvenileJusticeandDelinquencyPreventionAct(JJDPA).Firstpassedin1974,
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 11
theJJDPAauthorizesanationwidejuvenilejusticeplanningandadvisorysystem,includingfundingfordelinquencypreventionandimprovementsinjuvenilejusticesystemprogramsandpractices.JJDPAwaslastreauthorized2002,withoutmajorsubstantivechanges.Thelastsubstantivereauthorizationwasin1992,whenafocusonracialdisparitieswasadded.Thepolicypositionstatementwillbuilduponthegrowingbodyofresearch-basedknowledgeinthejuvenilejusticearea,includingbutnotlimitedto,afocusonprevention,removalofjuvenilesfromadultjails,improvedmentalhealthandsubstanceabuseservices,andracialdisparities.
CommunityHealthWorkers
Since2014,VenonciaM.Baté-AmbrushasbeenparticipatingonmonthlyCommitteecallstoupdateitsmembersonthestatusofCommunityHealthWorkers(CHW)policy.Baté-AmbrusservesasthelinkbetweentheSCRACommunityHealthInterestGroupandtheCommittee.SCRAhasavestedinterestintheprogressofCHWpolicydevelopment,especiallyinlightoftheCommittee’sandtheEC’sapprovalofarapidresponseactionendorsingeffortstopassIllinoisHouseBill5412,abilltoimprovetheIllinoisCHWinfrastructurebyappointinganadvisoryboardtomakeworkforcedevelopmentrecommendations.ThebillwassignedintolawbyGovernorPatQuinnonJuly31,2014.Baté-Ambruscurrentlyservesasanun-appointed,communityrepresentativeontheIllinoisCHWAdvisoryBoardandaco-chaironitsWorkforceDevelopmentandBehavioralHealthCoreCompetencyworkgroup.Sheco-authoredanarticleintheJuly-Sept2015volumeoftheJournalofAmbulatoryCareManagemententitledManyIngredients,OneSublimeDish:TheRecipeforthePassageofIllinoisHB5412IntoLaw.Baté-Ambrushasalsobeenthechief
planner/coordinatoroftheRegionVGreatLakesCHWSummitheldinChicagoonOct30-31,2015.TheSummitconvenedCHWsandstakeholdersfromIllinois,Indiana,Ohio,Michigan,Minnesota,andWisconsinwhosharedbestpractices,sharpenedadvocacyskills,promotedmulticulturaldialogue,andexploredotherwaystostrenghtentheCHWworkforce.
LettertotheAPAonTorture
SeveralSCRAmembers,includingCommitteememberBradOlson,havebeeninvolvedineffortstoreversetheAPA’spolicyonpermittingpsychologists’participationinDepartmentofDefenseandCentralIntelligenceAgencynationalsecurityinterrogations.AlthoughthathasnotbeenanissuetheCommitteehasbeenasdirectlyinvolvedin,ifthereisacall-to-action,rapidresponseactionrequests,orpolicypositionstatementsdeveloped,theCommitteewilllikelybedrawnintothoseprocessesmoredeeply.Recently,theECsentalettertotheAPAsharingthedivision’sconcernsinresponsetotheHoffmanReport(http://www.scra27.org/who-we-are/apa/),andBradandotherswereactivelyinvolvedinadvocacyactivitiesattheAPAconventionthatcontributedtosweepingchangesinAPApoliciesandprocesses,includingthebanningofpsychologists’participationinnationalsecurityinterrogations.
Discussion–FutureDirections
Withinthepolicyarena,communitypsychologistshavecontributedtosocialchangethrougheffectiverelationshipbuilding,communication,strategicanalysis,anduseofresearch(Matonetal,inpress).Eachofthesecriticalelements,inturn,hasprovedintegraltotheworkoftheSCRAPolicyCommittee.Takentogether,theyhavehelpedtopromoteacommonagendaandasetofinitiativeswiththepotentialto
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 12
influencepoliciesandpracticesthatimpactcommunities,groups,andindividuals.Thetaskforces,workinggroups,rapidresponses,policystatements,grants,studentpractica,andothercapacitybuildingeffortsdescribedabovehaveprovidedanumberofopportunitiesforthePublicPolicyCommitteetoexpanditspolicyreachandimpact.Inthepast,aswithmostvoluntarygroups,theactivityleveloftheCommitteehaswaxedandwaneddependingontheinterestofmembersandavailabletimeoftheChair.ThecurrentCommitteeiscommittedtomaintainingand,ifpossible,increasingthemomentumforSCRApolicyandadvocacyworkandimpact.
OneareaforfutureworkinvolvespotentialcollaborationbetweentheCommittee,theSCRAPreventionandPromotionInterestGroup,andtheNPSCtosupportanefforttoadvanceAffordableCareActregulationsfornonprofithospitalsthatrequirethehospitalstospenddollarson"communitybenefit"projects.Thecommunitybenefitprojectsarenotclearlydefinedbutcouldpresentopportunitiesforcollaborativeworkthatincorporatepolicyand/oradvocacycomponents.AsecondareaiscollaborationwiththeSCRACouncilforEducationPrograms(CEP).CEPisinterestedinenhancingtheopportunitiesforgraduatestudentsinourtrainingprogramstogainfurthereducation,competence,andexperienceinpolicywork.TheCommitteeplanstoworkcloselywithandcontributetoCEP’sworkinthisimportantarena.Toaddressthepotentialfortheseandrelatedactivitiesto“fallthroughthecracks”,theCommitteehasidentifiedliaisons(membersoftheCommittee)tocontactandattendmeetingsoftheNPSCandCEP.TheliaisonsnotonlyreportonactivitiesofthegroupsbutalsoidentifyareasforpotentialcollaborationwiththeCommittee.
YetanotherarearepresentingbothgreatprogressbutalsofuturepotentialisthePolicypageontheSCRAwebsite(http://www.scra27.org/what-we-do/policy/),whichhasbeengreatlyimprovedasaresourceforpolicytrainingandadvocacywork,thanksespeciallytotheeffortsofMichaelBrubacherandJeanHill.Somenewwebresourcesinclude:1)autobiographicalprofiles,2)successstoriesandadvicefromSCRAmembersengagedinpolicywork(particularlyhelpfulforstudentsandearlycareercommunitypsychologists),3)apageofideasandinformationonhowtogetinvolvedandbeaneffectiveissueadvocate,compiledbyRebeccaRodríguezandTaylorBishopScott,4)avideorelatedtotheSCRApolicypositionstatementdraftedbyLeonardJason,and5)variouslinkstoimportantresources(e.g.,informationfrompastSCRApolicyworkshops,externalpolicywebsitesandblogs,policyinternshipsandfellowships,policyandadvocacytermsanddefinitions,policycoursesyllabi,relevantbooksandwebsites,andthereportofthe2012Surveynotedabove).SimilartotheNPSCandCEP,theCommitteehasaliaisontoSCRA’sWebsiteCommitteetoassistwithimprovementsforpolicy-andadvocacy-relatedengagement.TheCommitteealsokeepsthewebsiteasaregularagendaitemtomonitorandtrackideasandchanges.Lookforupdatesandnewresourcesonthewebsiteinthefuture!
Mostimportantly,theCommitteeneedsmemberstostepforwardwithideasforpolicyinitiatives,rapidresponseactionrequests,policypositionstatements,andcapacitybuildingopportunities.TheCommittee’sfuturevitalityandcontributionstosystemandpolicychangewilldepend,asalways,ontheactiveinvolvementofabroadspectrumoftheSCRAmembership.Tothatend,Committeemembersconsistentlyseek
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 13
newopportunitiestoengagememberstoserveontheCommittee.Thisoutreachincludesrespondingtopolicy-andadvocacy-relatedemailsontheSCRAlistserv,talkingtointerestedmembersatregionalandnationalconferences,andpromotingtheaccomplishmentsandactivitiesoftheCommittee.Comejoinus!
Conclusion
Policyresearch,analysis,andadvocacybyindividualcommunitypsychologistsintheUnitedStatesandaroundtheglobehavebeengoingonfordecades(Matonetal.,inpress).ThatiswhyitissurprisingthatactivepolicyworkbySCRAasaninstitutionissucharelativelyrecentphenomenon.ThePublicPolicyCommitteewascreatedmanyyearsago--andhasbeenmoderatelyactiveattimes(e.g.,highlightingtheappliedpolicyworkofTomWolffandothers);however,ithasneverbeenactiveinasustainedfashiontotheextentthathasoccurredoverthepastthreeorfouryears,startingwithJudahViola’schairingoftheCommittee.Policyworkistimeconsumingandcanbethanklessattimes,buttherewardsaregreatintermsofbothpersonalandprofessionalsatisfaction,andincludehavinganimpactbeyondthetypicallevelofanindividualstudy,program,orotherintervention.Influencingchangeatthecommunity-wide,city,state,ornationallevelsrequiresextensiveeffortandrelationshipbuilding,collaborationswithmultiplegroups,persistence,andalong-termtimeperspective.SCRAandallnationalandinternationalcommunitypsychologyorganizationsshouldbeevenmoredeeplyandactivelycommittedtosuchworkoverthelong-term.TheforegoingactivitiesandresourcesprovidesomeexamplesofhowtheCommitteeisbeginningtoliveuptothatcommitment.
Acknowledgements.Theauthorsofthisarticlewouldliketothankthefollowingindividualsfortheirreview,thoughts,orcontributionstothecontent:FabricioBalcazar,VenonciaM.Baté-Ambrus,RobinJenkins,TaylorBishopScott,JudahViola,DavidLounsbury,DarcyFreedman,andGiovanniAresi.
References
Aber,J.L.,Bishop-Josef,S.J.,Jones,S.M.,McLearn,K.T.,&Phillips,D.A.(Eds.).(2007).Childdevelopmentandsocialpolicy:Knowledgeforaction.Washington,D.C.:APA.
Alexander,M.(2010).ThenewJimCrow:Massincarcerationintheageofcolorblindness.NewYork:NewPress.
Anderson,V.R.,&Davidson,W.S.(2014).Genderresponsivityinthejuvenilejusticesystem.Retrievedfromhttp://www.scra27.org/what-we-do/policy/policy-small-grant-program/.
Bogenschneider,K.,&Corbett,T.(2010).Evidence-basedpolicymaking:Insightsfrompolicymindedresearchersandresearch-mindedpolicymakers.NewYork:Routledge.
Boyd,N.(2013).TheAffordableCareActpolicyeducation,mobilization,andevaluation:ApilotprogramatBucknellUniversity.Retrievedfromhttp://www.scra27.org/what-we-do/policy/policy-small-grant-program/.
Dalton,J.,&Wolfe,S.(2012).Competenciesforcommunitypsychologypractice.TheCommunityPsychologist,45(4),7-14.
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 14
Kingdon,J.W.(1984).Agendas,alternativesandpublicpolicies.NewYork:HarperCollins.
Kraft,M.E.,&Furlong,S.R.(2010).Publicpolicy:Politics,analysis,andalternatives.3rdEdition.Washington,DC:CQPress.
Kurzbahn,L.,Buckingham,S.,&Mahdi,T.(2014).Advocacytrainingday2014:Participantperspectivesandadvocacytips.TheCommunityPsychologist,47(4),14-15.
Lugalia-Hollon,R.,&Cooper,D.G.(2012).Shiftingyouthjusticepolicyparadigms:Fromincarcerationtocollaborativecommunityjustice.Retrievedfromhttp://www.scra27.org/what-we-do/policy/policy-small-grant-program/.
Martinez,A.(2012).BarriersandenablerstotheimplementationofConnecticut’santi-bullyinglegislation.Retrievedfromhttp://www.scra27.org/what-we-do/policy/policy-small-grant-program/.
Maryman,J.,Maton,K.,&Perkins,D.(2014).Advocacy,collaboration,capacitybuildinganddevelopment:Ayearinreviewfromthepolicycommittee.TheCommunityPsychologist,47(2),19.
Maton,K.I.,Humprheys,K.,Jason,L.A.,Shinn,B.(inpress).Communitypsychologyinthepolicyarena.InM.A.Bond,C.Keys,&I.Serrano-Garcia(Eds.).HandbookofCommunityPsychology.WashingtonD.C.:AmericanPsychologicalAssociation.
Maton,K.,Strompolis,M.,&Wisniewski,L.(2013).Buildingadvocacyandpolicycapacity:AsurveyofSCRAmembers.TheCommunityPsychologist,46(2),13-16.
Matson,A.(2012).Themobilevoiceproject:Homelessnessandtransportation.Retrievedfromhttp://www.scra27.org/what-we-do/policy/policy-small-grant-program/.
Mihaylov,N.(2015).Releasingthewaters:Astudyofandfortheanti-frackingmovementinBulgaria.Retrievedfromhttp://www.scra27.org/what-we-do/policy/policy-small-grant-program/.
Miles,J.(2011).ChildrenFirst/CommunitiesinSchoolsofBuncombeCounty:Evaluatingtheeffectivenessofalocaladvocacygroups’efforts.Retrievedfromhttp://www.scra27.org/what-we-do/policy/policy-small-grant-program/.
Phillips,D.A.(2000).Socialpolicyandcommunitypsychology.InJ.Rappaport&E.Seidman(eds.),HandbookofCommunityPsychology(pp.397-419).NY:Kluwer.
Riemer,M.,&Reich,S.M.(2011).Communitypsychologyandglobalclimatechange:Introductiontothespecialsection.AmericanJournalofCommunityPsychology,47(3-4),349-353.
Scott,J.B.,&Maryman,J.(2015).Leveragingsocialmedialtoolsforadvocacy.TheCommunityPsychologist,48(1),18-19.
Scott,T.B.,&Wollman,N.(2014).PublicPolicyCommitteeCollaborateswiththePreventionProject.TheCommunityPsychologist,47(1),23.
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Volume 7, Issue 1S February 2016
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, http://www.gjcpp.org/ Page 15
SocietyforCommunityResearchandAction—CommunityPsychology,Division27oftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation.(2013).Theroleofrecoveryresidencesinpromotinglong-termaddictionrecovery.AmericanJournalofCommunityPsychology,52(3-4),406–411.
Strompolis,M.,&Branham,M.(2013).Influencingpreventionpolicythrougheffectivecommunication.Retrievedfromhttp://www.scra27.org/what-we-do/policy/policy-small-grant-program/.