Many psychologists ask, "I'm a member of APA, so why should I join RIPA too?

Throughout the country, many psychologists face a dilemma about joining the American Psychological Association (APA) and their state and provincial psychological association (SPPA). Academic and research psychologists wonder about the value of RIPA for them, and clinical psychologists, in this era of stagnant or shrinking reimbursements for clinical services, often choose to reduce their professional dues burden by joining one or the other association. More often the choice has been to join APA.

The work of APA is very important, but APA can not do what RIPA does. If APA is the Interstate, RIPA is the system of local roads that can help to link us to the daily realities of our psychological work. And like the small roads that crisscross the state, the functions and services of RIPA are useful, locally relied-upon, and always present and available.

As availability is not synonymous with visibility (and too many of our small roads are unmarked), below are some of the unique services provided by RIPA, for all psychologists in Rhode Island:

» Lobbying the Rhode Island General Assembly and State agencies on behalf of the profession of Psychology

» Submitting and co-sponsoring legislation to promote and protect the availability of affordable, quality mental health services

» Challenging local insurers when their actions and policies threaten the availability of mental health services and/or the viability of clinicians' practices

» Working closely with other local mental health and advocacy groups in service to the professional and public good

» Raising local public awareness of the findings and principles of the science of Psychology

» Promoting dialogue and collaboration among research, teaching, and clinical psychologists working in Rhode Island

» Developing and sponsoring of continuing education programs of value to local psychologists and others in the health care community

» Representing and advocating for Rhode Island psychologists at APA

» Maintaining a state-of-the-art website for use by psychologists and the public

Unique benefits for RIPA members only

» Free consultation about ethical issues in the practice of psychology

» Advocacy for individual members experiencing difficulty with insurers

» Discounts on RIPA-sponsored continuing education programs

» Topic-focused discussion "Salons"

» The Rhode Island Psychologist, published quarterly

» Special "members only" section of the RIPA website, which includes managed care and legislative action alerts, a member networking database, and other features

» Opportunity for membership in the RIPA listserve, for dialogue and information relevant to the profession and practice of Psychology

» Opportunity for inclusion in the RIPA mental health referral service, available to the public by telephone and searchable through the RIPA website

» The satisfaction that comes from knowing that you are supporting your local professional association!

Please consider lending your support to the Rhode Island Psychological Association by becoming a member.

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