To: APNS Executive Committee
From: Gwen Sterns, CPAP Representative
Date: June 28, 2002
Re: Highlights from the CPAP Board of Directors Meeting, June 2-3, 2002

Winnipeg Conference (Organizing Psychology in Canada Conference)

• The steering committee requests feedback from provincial associations on the conference document before the next CPAP meeting in January 2003. Opinions expressed at the meeting indicated general support for the goals identified at the Conference with reservations that the proposed organizational structure may be unwieldy and difficult to establish. (Action Executive Committee)

Professional Advocacy

• Proposals from APNS and PAA have been approved for $2000 grants from APA for the purchase and distribution of TV advertisement videos. The funds will be available soon. (Attention Advocacy Committee)
• Funds are still available for Advocacy projects and member organizations were encouraged to submit proposals.
• The funding organizations (the Committee for the Advancement of Professional Psychology (CAPP) and the APA Practice Directorate) are pleased with the projects undertaken by CPAP members.

Professional Affairs Roundtable

• A Professional Affairs Roundtable (PAR) was proposed during the part of the meeting where the associations and representatives from CPA met separate from the regulatory bodies. The goal is to collaborate in sharing information and resources relating to areas of professional practice, including but not limited to topics like GST rules, health reform issues post-Romanow, potential mandating of various psychological services by government agencies, and practice guidelines.
• The PAR is proposed to work in conjunction with the CPA Professional Affairs Committee (PAC). Under the leadership of Lorraine Breau, CPA Board member and CPA Liaison to CPAP, the PAC will further the CPA goal of developing a practice directorate. Lorraine requested that the associations appoint representatives to the PAC as well. CPA will provide the infrastructure for the activities of these groups. Most communication will be via email, and a website will be developed to share educational resources. The benefits of having CPAP representatives also participate in the PAR and PAC were discussed (i.e., there will be the opportunity to meet at CPAP meetings, thereby limiting costs) but this will be up to the individual associations. The associations were asked to submit the names of representatives to Lorraine by email. (Action Executive Committee)

National Psychology Week

• The week following the winter CPAP meeting, held each year in Ottawa on the last weekend in January, was recommended for a national Psychology Week. This would take advantage of the opportunity for representatives of CPAP to launch the week with a press conference at a time of year when it is often easier to get the attention of the press. The goal is to have materials available for all associations to promote psychology with a unified theme. The recommendation was accepted and the committee was asked to investigate whether that week is Aavailable@ and not overlapping with time already designated to other related associations/professions. The goal is to introduce the week in 2004.

Rowland's Insurance Update

• Liability and disciplinary claims have increased over the past three years but are still within acceptable limits. 80% of claims relate to independent assessment (disability cases where clients sue the psychologist when they are denied disability benefits), custody and access cases, and, to a lesser extent, sexual impropriety (where complaints against female psychologists are increasing).
• The 9% rate increase is apparently low compared to other insurers.
• There is no change in office policy fees but two new exclusions have been added - terrorism and computer viruses. Insurers world-wide are dropping claims against losses from viruses.
• In response to the 9/11 disaster, a novel out of country extension has been added at no charge that would allow limited liability protection for psychologists to assist in emergency situations where professional psychologists are needed. Rodney Hancock of Rowlands offered to submit an article to Psynopsis explaining this issue.
• The Extended Health Care package available to psychologists has a limit of $200 for psychological services. Increased coverage for psychological services would necessitate higher premiums.
• There has been a 35% increase in policies in BC due to liability insurance being mandatory as of January 2002.

Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)

• The transition to computerized testing for the EPPP has resulted in an unexpected drop in the number of candidates registering for the exam (down by 1500). Financial cut-backs have been necessary and there may be an increase in fees as of January 2003 if the situation does not improve. The association hopes to continue the policy of accepting Canadian funds at par for EPPP fees but, given the financial situation, this cannot be guaranteed. The penalty fee for candidates who don=t test within the 60 day window has been increased to $150, which, for Canadian candidates will be $150 CDN.
• Attention Candidates: Plan to take the EPPP within this calendar year if possible to ensure benefit from the Aat par@ fee policy.
• Mobility and reciprocity advances are continuing. CEQ applications can be downloaded from the website, which has been revamped.
• The 3rd International Congress is being held in Montreal in 2004. The theme is Advances in Credentialing and Regulations around the World.
• CE guidelines are still in draft form. Supervision guidelines are now available.

Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)

• Activities related to the Romanow Commission
• Appeared before the Commissioner in Sudbury in March, 2002.
• Attended a Stakeholders/Experts Workshop in Ottawa in March.
• Cosignatories of a letter requesting a meeting with the Commission from the Group of Seven Health professions (psychology, pharmacy, speech and hearing, occupational therapy, dieticians, social work and physiotherapy).
• Working on a co-ordinated response to the final Romanow report from a mental health point of view with psychiatry, CMHA, social work, family practice, CMA, and occupational therapy.
• Developing responses to two of the three discussion papers recently published by the commission.
• One of the many organizations that contributed to and supported the brief from the Canadian Institute for Child Health.
• Preparatory work for a response from psychology to the Commission's final report.
• Reported on numerous (14) consultations and collaborations with various government, university and health professional organizations.
• Announced 5 new CPA policy documents, including Cost-effectiveness and Medical Cost Offset Considerations in Psychological Services Provision and Guidelines for Professional Practice of School Psychologists.
• Announced the granting of charitable status to the Canadian Psychology Foundation, established to disseminate psychological knowledge and provide support to students, research and applied pilot projects. The endowment campaign is expected to begin in the fall of 2002. (Attention Executive Committee) The Foundation has been structured such that provincial associations who wish to use it as a vehicle can do so.
• Four workshops have been organized (Attention CE Committee):
• ADHD
• CANSTART
• Consultation skills for clinicians
• Practice evaluation skills for practitioners

Canadian Register of Health Services Providers in Psychology (CRHSPP)

• A practitioner-friendly education package on empirically supported interventions (ESI's) will be available for distribution in early fall.
• The effectiveness of various follow-up strategies, and how they may enhance practice, is also being researched.
• How to develop and support the Business Advisor Role related to the Workplace Health Initiative is another priority.
• The role of the Internet in CE and workshop planning is also being considered.
• The issues of telehealth and prescription privileges are being monitored, although no specific action is planned for now.

Tri-organizational Planning Group

• This group consists of CPA, CPAP a CRHSPP for the purpose of highlighting issues of common interest, including inter-organizational co-operation, GST issues, ESI, and prescription privileges.

Election of CPAP Officers

• Chair (Joe Rallo), Treasurer (Brian Wilson) and Secretary (Neil McLure) were reelected by acclamation.

CPAP Name

• The name of the Council no longer reflects its make-up since it includes, in addition to the provincial associations, representatives from North West Territories association and the provincial regulatory bodies. The committee has tried to find names that met the criteria of clarity (references to Council, Psychology, Canada, Associations and Regulatory), equivalency in English and French, and ease of communication with respect to an acronym. This has proved difficult, with no suggestions so far meeting all criteria. The presented options (Psychological Regulatory Organizations and Provincial Associations in Canada (PROPAC), Canadian Council of Psychology Regulatory and Provincial Associations (CCPRPA) and Council of Psychological Professional and Regulatory Organizations in Canada (COPPROC) all met with lukewarm enthusiasm. The current name has advantages over all, given that none met all the criteria. The committee will continue to search for a name and the treasurer was asked to investigate the costs entailed in a name change.

CPAP Online Database

• ·Gordon Butler has developed a database of CPAP member organizations with respect to membership qualifications, number of members, fees, private practice fee schedules, etc.

Application for CPAP membership by NWT Regulatory Body

• There was agreement in principle that the NWT should be represented On CPAP by both its association and regulatory body but a definite vote was deferred until the necessary information is provided and the legal and financial ramifications are explored.
  

Back to Main CPAP Reports Page
CPAP Homepage