The work of the Advisory Steering Committee (ASC) includes:
- Design and assessment of the policies and procedures by which APA develops clinical practice guidelines.
- Selection of topics for development of clinical practice guidelines.
- Recommendations to the APA Board of Directors of individuals to serve on clinical practice guideline development panels.
- Formulation of policies for commissioning and utilizing independent systematic reviews of empirical research to inform the development of clinical practice guidelines.
- Planning of the structure and format of guideline documents and related products.
- Designing strategies for enhancing the dissemination and implementation of clinical practice guidelines.
- Evaluation of the effectiveness and impacts of clinical practice guidelines.
- Provision of progress reports to the Board of Directors and other APA governance groups.
The ASC provides direction to APA’s overall efforts in clinical practice guideline development, but does not itself engage in the writing of guidelines or the conduct of systematic reviews. It reports to the Board of Directors, with additional oversight by the Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) and Board of Scientific Affairs (BSA). Staff from the APA Practice Directorate and Science Directorate support the ASC’s activities.
As currently authorized, the ASC has positions for nine individuals. Each member serves for a term of three years, with the possibility of renewal for a second term. All future work of the ASC is contingent on APA policy and funding.
ASC members are expected to travel to Washington, D.C., or other cities for no more than three meetings per year (one or two ASC meetings and one or two guideline development panel meetings if serving as a liaison), participate in monthly conference calls and commit additional time and effort to the ASC as needed. Travel expenses are paid by APA. All nominees should have 10 or more years of professional experience in clinical practice or clinical research (or combination thereof) and documented expertise in the general arena of clinical practice guidelines or evidence-based treatment development or implementation. Additionally, nominees should be nationally recognized via publications, professional awards, advanced credentials or involvement in professional organizations. Nominations of individuals who will enhance the diversity of the ASC are encouraged. Nominees should be members of the APA. However, current members of the Board of Directors, BPA and BSA are not eligible to serve on the ASC.
In addition to the areas noted above, candidates should have a strong background in one or more of the following areas:
- Clinical practice guidelines development.
- Direct provision of psychological care in diverse practice settings or with diverse populations.
- Systematic reviews.
- Federal agency policies and programs related to guidelines.
- Contemporary methods for evaluation of psychotherapy and assessment processes.
- Experience applying clinical practice guidelines in clinical settings.
- Experience applying evidence-based practices in clinical settings.
- Dissemination/implementation research.
- Evaluation research.
- Health care systems finance or administration.
- Relevant expertise in research design and statistical analysis.
- Public health issues and settings.
- Experience with clinical trials.
- Comparative effectiveness research.
Nominees’ materials will be reviewed initially by the ASC and by BPA and BSA. A final list of candidates will be submitted to the Board of Directors for it to make a selection and appointment.
Review will include attention to nominees’ areas of expertise, as well as their experience working with diverse patient populations (across race, ethnicity, language, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, class status, education, religious/spiritual orientation and other cultural dimensions, as well as adult, adolescent and child patient populations) and within various clinical settings.
Nomination materials should include:
- Letter from the nominee indicating willingness to serve a three-year term.
- Brief statement of the nominee’s expertise and qualifications related to the criteria described above.
- Nominee’s current curriculum vitae.
Nomination materials should be submitted by the nominees themselves. Endorsements from other individuals or groups are not expected.
Nomination materials should be sent via email by Nov. 1, 2017. Please call (202) 336-5911 in the event of questions or difficulties regarding email transmissions.