cpsylist: Fwd: Be part of APA's response to the Orlando tragedy: Your help needed now

Mon Jun 20 11:22:35 PDT 2016

-------- Original Message -------- 

 		SUBJECT:
 		Be part of APA's response to the Orlando tragedy: Your help needed
now

 		DATE:
 		2016-06-20 10:40

 		FROM:
 		"American Psychological Association President and Interim CEO"
<gro at apa.org>

 		TO:
 		kerewsky at UOREGON.EDU

 		REPLY-TO:
 		gro at apa.org

 		 [1]

 APA's Ongoing Response to the Orlando Tragedy and 
What You Can Do Now 

The horrific shooting in Orlando last week that claimed the lives of at
least 49 people and injured 53 others, most of whom were Latino and/or
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, is a tragedy that has deeply
touched our psychology community. As we grieve the loss of life and
recognize the suffering of the survivors and their families, APA has
moved quickly to mobilize our resources in response to this crisis in
the form of trained volunteer psychologists and supportive materials.
Here is what we have done so far and what YOU can do now... 

Actions Taken to Date 

 	* APA immediately sent two special advisories to news media that
included psychologists who have expertise in relevant areas (e.g., LGBT
hate crimes, gun violence, mass shootings and terrorism) to ensure
journalists have access to the best psychological knowledge to inform
the public.
 	* We sent a joint letter from the Presidents of APA and our Division
44, the Society for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues, last
Monday to the Mayor of Orlando and the head of the Orlando GLBT
Community Center, expressing our condolences and offering help via our
DISASTER RESOURCE NETWORK [2] (DRN) and online information. The mayor's
office and the director of the center responded within hours, expressing
appreciation. The Presidents' letter was posted on the APA website that
day and is STILL AVAILABLE [3]. APA also contacted the president and
executive director of the Florida Psychological Association to offer our
condolences and support and to coordinate activities in response to this
tragedy.
 	* We activated the APA DRN through the Red Cross and Florida
Psychological Association. Services being offered include disaster
mental health intervention, spiritual support and canteening (providing
food and beverages for first responders). DRN members have also
distributed online resources on responding to mass shootings for
professionals and the public.
 	* APA Government Relations staff assembled relevant APA information
and resource materials for the Florida congressional delegation
(including how to reach the Florida Psychological Association and DRN)
to assist their staff in addressing constituents' concerns.

 What You Can Do Now 

APA is working to halt senseless gun violence and mass killings. There
are concrete measures Congress can take now to reduce the frequency of
these acts, and we are asking you to push for these needed reforms. 

Gun violence is a serious public health epidemic, resulting in the
deaths of 90 Americans every day. Health care providers and public
health professionals are overwhelmed in emergency departments, clinics,
offices and communities with the victims of mass shootings, homicides,
suicides, accidental shootings and injuries. As we work to address the
devastating and long-lasting emotional effects of gun violence on
victims and their families and communities, our nation would benefit
from additional evidence-based approaches to point our communities
toward proven programs that reduce gun violence. 

GIVEN THESE FACTS:
It is time to tell Congress #Enough! Join us in calling on Congress to: 

 	* immediately expand federal background checks to all gun sales,
 	* remove the barriers to scientific research on violence prevention,
 	* expand the collection and analysis of data related to gun violence
and other violent deaths,
 	* increase funding for violence prevention research,
 	* prohibit those on certain federal watch lists from buying guns.

 Take Action 

 	* PLEASE RESPOND IMMEDIATELY. THE SENATE IS TAKING UP GUN CONTROL
MEASURES TODAY. Follow this link to use the easy online Federal Action
Network (FAN) system to CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES [4].
It only takes a few minutes to add your voice to this important effort.
 	* Ask your colleagues and friends to TAKE ACTION [5]. You do not have
to be a member of APA or the FAN to contact your federal
representatives.
 	* Consider joining your fellow psychologists as part of the APA
Disaster Resource Network to help in future situations
(WWW.APA.ORG/PRACTICE/PROGRAMS/DRN/ [6]), or as a topic expert in APA's
media referral database (contact Jim Sliwa, Director of APA Public
Affairs, at JSLIWA at APA.ORG.).

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our many APA colleagues who have
already volunteered their time and expertise to help during this
difficult period. We appreciate all of you who will join in this Call to
Action to reduce gun violence in America. 

Susan H. McDaniel, PhD 
2016 APA President 
Cynthia D. Belar, PhD, ABPP 
Interim APA CEO 

 [7] 
Government Relations Office
Public Interest Directorate 
Director, Congressional Fellowship Program
American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
Email: gro at apa.org 		You are receiving this message to help you make
full use of APA resources. Your email address was obtained from the APA
Governance Affairs Office. Electronic communication, which costs a
fraction of printing and mailing, is cost effective and timely.

Links:
------
[1]
http://lmail2r.apa.org:1892/trk/click?ref=zp000s09a_1-1777x31929x049343&
[2]
http://lmail2r.apa.org:1892/trk/click?ref=zp000s09a_1-1777x320dax049343&
[3]
http://lmail2r.apa.org:1892/trk/click?ref=zp000s09a_1-1777x320dbx049343&
[4]
http://lmail2r.apa.org:1892/trk/click?ref=zp000s09a_1-1777x320d6x049343&
[5]
http://lmail2r.apa.org:1892/trk/click?ref=zp000s09a_1-1777x320d7x049343&
[6]
http://lmail2r.apa.org:1892/trk/click?ref=zp000s09a_1-1777x320d8x049343&
[7]
http://lmail2r.apa.org:1892/trk/click?ref=zp000s09a_1-1777x31927x049343&
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists-prod.uoregon.edu/pipermail/cpsylist/attachments/20160620/71e35607/attachment.html>