Public service essentially means work that serves the public interest and is typically publicly funded. Public service settings are some of the largest employers of licensed psychologists and other mental health professionals.
Public service psychologists are practitioners, researchers, university professors, legislators, program developers, clinical coordinators, managers, administrators and more. Their clients include consumers of mental health services, organizational managers, administrators, policy makers, elected officials, and the public. Public service psychologists can be found working for or with clients in state and community psychiatric facilities and clinics, medical centers, veteran’s affairs hospitals, correctional institutions such as jails and prisons, Indigenous Nations, community safety departments such as law enforcement and first-responder emergency services, state legislatures, and academic institutions. In general, the services they provide are as varied as the persons they serve and the places they work. Public service psychologists also help train more than half the clinical and counseling psychologists in the nation through public service pre-doctoral internship sites; many of these sites end up hiring their interns.
Working in public service settings can be stressful sometimes because you’re often required to navigate and challenge systemic barriers. However, public service psychologists find their work rewarding and view it as a way to live out their core values.
Yes, most public service settings qualify for the federal public service loan forgiveness program. Learn more about this program and whether you would qualify here: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.
Members of Division 18 are a diverse and skilled group of psychologists and psychologists-in-training who have a rich history of placing social justice issues and advocacy at the forefront of our work. Through the work of its members, Division 18 has the potential to touch the lives of most people living in the United States. Because our work impacts so many underserved people, we act as a voice within the larger organization of APA to ensure policies and practices are in line with real-world issues. We also make sure our work with clients and workplace environments reflect current science and best practices in the profession. Check out this video showcasing some of the amazing work our members do every day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaXzM7RUbNg.
Division 18 is entirely volunteer-driven. Some positions are appointed by the Division president while others are elected positions. The Executive Board includes approximately 17 voting and non-voting positions including the President, Immediate Past President, President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Members-at-Large, Representatives to the APA Council, a Student Representative, the Newsletter Editor, as well as Section and Committee Chairs. Click here to learn more about the members of our Executive Committee. If you are interested getting involved in Division leadership, email president@publicservicepsych.org. Division leadership positions require membership in the Division.
The Division of Psychologists in Public was established in 1946 as a founding division of APA.
Our Division was created in response to the needs of the public in such areas as psychological practice, research, training, program development and outcome evaluation. Among its goals, Division 18 works to protect and advance the profession, foster ethical practice, advocate for persons with mental illness and promote quality care.
