WSPA Summer Newsletter | July 2022 |
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On the Overturning of Protection for
Reproductive Freedom
Washington State Psychological Association stands in solidarity with all people, living in any gendered body, and to medical privacy, body autonomy, and the freedom to live in dignity without fear of the government. The Supreme Court of the United States does not currently represent the beliefs of the majority of Americans, nor does it seek to. The danger imposed at the hands of the current Court Justices and their accomplices in corporations, politicians, special interest groups, and radicalized individuals is felt by many.
For the past fifty years, the ruling concerning Roe vs. Wade has promised that individual states could not fully obliterate the right to abortion. With the Supreme Court overturning that decision, we are experiencing an increased sense of danger, along with intense stress and anxiety about how the current decision impacts all of us. There are additional legitimate concerns about the next group of human rights that will be taken.
Washington has been a leading state in its pursuit of reproductive freedom and equity in healthcare access for all. The hard fought protections that many rely on in Washington State are not a matter of fact; rather, they are a matter of privilege. In the states of Texas, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Ohio, Montana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, a ban on abortion is already in effect. A number of states will follow suit, with trigger laws on their books and ready to go. Residents of these states who are most impacted are primarily dependent on state resources and have the least ability to find care elsewhere. Those most impacted by this decision will have greater difficulty recovering financially, legally, or emotionally from state interference. The psychological messaging to the public stating that bodies with uteruses are subject to government control emphasizes and legitimizes violent misogyny. The messaging will disempower many of us, as privacy in our bodies is lost.
If you are so moved, your help is needed in many ways, including: - Be clinically and personally prepared to hold grieving space of the women, girls, transgender, and non-binary people in your life, including clients.
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Attend a virtual mass training through Abortion Access Front on July 17, 2022 to learn how to protect abortion access.
- Donate! There are countless organizations that rely on your help, including the following:
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https://www.ineedana.com/ Ineedana.com is an organization that uses minimal information to help people find access to a safe abortion.
- www.plannedparenthood.org is a national healthcare provider.
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National Organization of Women.
- Abortion Funds provides funding and support for people needing assistance to access abortion.
- The Northwest Abortion Access Fund, an organization providing local funding and support.
- Surge Reproductive Justice, a Black-led organization supporting reproductive justice and based in Seattle.
Share this statement and the APA statement throughout your networks. WSPA appreciates the leadership of the American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2022/06/scotus-abortion-decision In solidarity,
Washington State Psychological Association |
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WSPA 75th Anniversary Stories |
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WSPA Stories from past president Dr. Chris McCurry and Emeritus member Dr. Albert Paige have been added for your reading pleasure. With over 700 members it is not possible to interview everyone, but if you would like to add your story, please download this questionnaire and we will edit your answers down to about 500 words. |
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2022 Northwest Psychological Fall Convention Save the Dates: Nov. 4, 5, 2022
WSPA and Alaska Psychological Association will team up again this November for this virtual convention. Each workshop being recorded if allowable by the speaker. This will allow everyone to be able to set their own schedules attending live workshops and recorded home-study workshops to gain their CE Credits. The 2023 Convention is planned to be a hybrid of in-person and streaming. |
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Call for CE CommitteeReview Members |
The WSPA Continuing Education (CE) Review Committee is currently recruiting new members. Continuing Education is a fundamental part of ethical psychology practice, supporting psychologists in: - Staying up-to-date on the emerging science, evidence based practice, ethics, and practice guidelines, etc.
- Maintaining and building professional competence
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Knowledge and skills for increasingDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in professional practice
CE committee members are responsible for closely reviewing applications for CE programs to ensure that the workshops meet quality standards and APA requirements.New CE committee members can build their CVs by helping the committee improve the CE committee review processes, ensuring that CEs have a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion emphasis, identifying relevant CE topics and/or qualified presenters, and more.
If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved with WSPA's CE Committee, please reach out to the CE Committee Chair, Jenna DelVentura (dr.delventura@gmail.com) |
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| Christen A. Carson, Ph.D., ABPP |
| Samantha Slaughter, Psy.D. |
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Summary of the 2022 Washington State
Legislative Session
The Washington State Legislature concluded the 2022 legislative session. The short 60-day session is always a whirlwind, and this year was no exception. The Washington State Psychological Association (WSPA) can list many great successes in the short session. -
PSYPACT – Rep. Chambers (R-25) continued her sponsorship of “Adopting the psychology interjurisdictional compact” (SHB 1286), and WSPA assisted strongly to get this bill through the Legislature and to the Governor’s office. This is a huge legislative win! Once it goes into effect (tentatively scheduled for June 9, 2022), SHB 1286 will allow most psychologists in Washington to practice telehealth (and some limited in-person practice) in the other states who are a part of PSYPACT. You can learn more about the application process on the WSPA website.
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SSB 5753 – For those of you who were or are negatively impacted by delays in approval to sit for the EPPP, this bill is one part of the solution. WSPA is thrilled that “Increasing board and commission capacities” passed and will go into effect this summer. This bill allows the Examining Board of Psychology to add two new professional members to their Board, thereby increasing the number of Board members available for as needed application reviews.
- ESHB 1821 – This bill (“Concerning the definition of established relationship for purposes of audio-only telemedicine”) clarified the requirements for in-person visits when utilizing audio-only methods to provide services.
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E2SHB 1736 – Effective this summer, “Establishing a state student loan program” mandates the Washington Student Achievement Council to design a student loan program for which graduate students in Washington State will be eligible. These loans will have interest rates below current federal subsidized student loan interest rates and other benefits to the recipients.
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SHB 1773 – “Concerning assisted outpatient treatment for persons with behavioral health disorders” updates and improves current law language for assisted outpatient treatment for persons with behavioral health disorders.
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E2SHB 1688 – Effective March 31, 2022, “Protecting consumers from charges for out-of-network health care services, by aligning state law and the federal no surprises act and addressing coverage of treatment for emergency conditions” makes sure state and federal laws work together when it comes to surprise billing. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner plans to create informative webinars about this law. WSPA will forward the notice about the webinars to members when it is received.
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SHB 1735 – “Modifying the standard for use of force by peace officers” modifies and clarifies language regarding the use of force while giving officers the certainty they need to perform investigations and respond to behavioral health calls. These new laws maintain people’s right to protection from unreasonable searches and seizures without compromising the safety of the public or law enforcement; they are effective as of March 4, 2022.
- SHB 2057 – Effective this summer, this bill (“Strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion in the state patrol workforce”) outlines the oversight and other needs of the Washington State Patrol's (WSP) development and ongoing implementation of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Recruitment and Retention plan.
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SHB 1725 – This bill (“Concerning the creation of an endangered missing person advisory designation for missing indigenous persons”) mandates the Washington State Patrol to add a new designation to the AMBER Alert system specifically for indigenous persons and goes into effect this summer.
Next year, WSPA will continue our work on the prescription privilege bill, HB 1863 (Authorizing the prescriptive authority of psychologists). Rep. Nicole Macri (D-43) introduced HB 1863 in the 2022 session, and WSPA looks forward to preparing for its reintroduction in 2023.
WSPA sincerely appreciates the advocacy work completed by our member volunteers – Casey Ward & Julie Johnson Sharrette (Co-Chairs of the Legislative Advocacy Committee (LAC)), the LAC members who reviewed and vetted all relevant legislation, and individual members who volunteered their time to testify before the State Legislature. Thank you! We had so many great wins! If you want to be involved, consider joining the LAC.
Respectfully submitted, Samantha Slaughter, Psy.D. Legislative Coordinator & Director of Professional Affairs |
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