The American Psychological Association’s Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) is seeking nominations for two new members for the Training Advisory Committee (TAC) of its Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MHSAS) and Services for Transition Age Youth (STAY) Fellowship programs. The term of service is three years, beginning February 2017, with the possibility of serving a second term consecutively.
Both programs aim to identify, select, and support the training of psychology students who plan to work as behavioral health service providers, helping reduce health disparities among ethnic minorities in the United States. The MHSAS Fellowship is designed for doctoral students and postdoctoral trainees whose career goals and prior experience clearly suggest they will make significant contributions to the mental health and substance abuse services needs of ethnic and racial minorities. The STAY Fellowship guides students in terminal master’s programs in providing leadership for mental health services delivered primarily to transition age youth (ages 16-25) who are racial/ethnic minorities.
The TAC plays a key role in selecting new Fellows and advising the MFP office regarding policy and program issues. Committee members make policy and program recommendations; review fellowship and related applications; review Fellows’ progress reports; mentor Fellows; and plan, attend, and assist with MFP activities at the APA Convention and other conferences. Members also perform other duties as requested by the MFP director or TAC chair.
The TAC seeks one person with lived experience of a mental health condition to serve on each TAC section (MHSAS or STAY). These individuals must be active in the community and demonstrate professional experience in ethnic minority behavioral health treatment, prevention or training. Eligible applicants are not required to be psychologists. A stipend of $1,500 for each year of service will be provided and meeting travel expenses will be covered.
Selected candidates are required to participate in two committee meetings per year, our Psychology Summer Institute in July of each year, and conference calls as needed. Winter meetings are convened at the APA headquarters in Washington, DC, and fall meetings are hosted by TAC members at their institutions.
Nomination materials should include the nominee’s letter of interest and qualifications (including a statement of applicable experience and a demonstration of relevance to SAMHSA’s mission and priorities as well as a commitment to serve the entire term on the TAC if appointed), a current curriculum vita, and at least one letter supporting the candidate’s nomination. Candidates may not submit more than two letters of support. Self-nominations are encouraged.
Nominations and supporting materials should be submitted no later than October 20, 2016 at http://mfp.TAC-Nominations-Lived-Experience-Only.sgizmo.com/s3/. Nominees and recommenders may use this link to submit materials separately. Nominees will be notified of their status in November.
For more information on the Minority Fellowship Program, visit APA’s website at http://www.apa.org/pi/mfp.