DISTRESSED CONSTITUENCY TRAINING

Constituents contact their government officials for many reasons. When constituents feel they have been treated unfairly they look to you for understanding and to address their concerns. Other times a constituent just wants to meet you, especially if you are the constituent’s elected official.  In these situations constituents usually know what they want and the communication is generally uncomplicated.

On some occasions, however, constituents may be distressed and can create difficulties for you or your staff. How you respond to an individual constituent who is distressed - whether mildly or more intensely upset - can make the difference between a communication in which a distressed constituent walks away feeling angry, bruised or hurt and one in which the constituent feels understood, heard and helped.

In an effort to assist our state and local law makers with these challenges, The New York State Psychological Association (NYSPA) offers this guide and a training for psychologist to assist their legislative representatives and their staff to communicate effectively with distressed constituents.  We have also developed a training sessions for psychologists to be coached in the presentation, booklets and palm cards to be left with the staff and a coaching module for the trainers to use.

These items can be accessed at the links below:

Dealing with Distressed Constituent Guide (pdf)

Coaching Module (pdf)

Coaching Module (recorded webinar)

Palm Card

NYSPA PAC

NYSPA PAC is the only nonpartisan political action committee formed and governed by psychologists for the sole purpose of advancing our profession's political agenda in New York. NYSPA PAC is the vehicle informed psychologists utilize collectively to exert their influence, politically. NYSPA PAC collects voluntary contributions from psychologists all around our state and then distributes them to the campaigns of candidates for the New York State Legislature.

Support your profession today by making a one-time donation or a recurring subscription donation!

To make a contribution by credit card or PayPal,  click the yellow Donate button.

 

To make a contribution by check or money order,  Click here

Checks should be made out to "PLANY" and mailed to: NYSPA, 555 8th Avenue, Suite 1902, New York, NY 10018

INFORMATION ABOUT NYSPA PAC

Why do psychologists need a PAC?

Psychology is a regulated profession in New York State. This means that as a profession we are subject to the enactment of laws and regulations by state officials which can have a dramatic impact not only on the practice of psychology but on our ability to earn an income as well. Legislative policy typically gets constructed and then "hammered out" within the context of competing groups who have a "special interest" in the enactment (or not) of the policy in question. These special interest groups are organized into political action committees (PACs) for the expressed purpose of gaining access to legislators so that they can be heard and hence have a say in the legislation being proposed.

Why is a contribution through NYSPA PAC valuable?

A PAC can do things for us that a singular psychologist contributing to a campaign cannot. PAC contributions are perceived by legislators as being more valuable than a singular contribution because it does not cost them a cent to solicit for these contributions -- the PAC does that for them. The net affect is that the PAC magnifies your personal contribution by virtually doubling the actual impact of your donation. When a contribution comes from a PAC, the candidate knows what issues are important to you because you are part of the PAC and if they don't know they are highly motivated to find out, because PAC contributions have perceived value and credibility which matters to them. Of course, larger, more well-endowed PACs have a greater value than smaller ones.

Why doesn't NYSPA use dues money support candidates?

NYSPA is a tax exempt, professional organization and as such it is prohibited from using its revenues for political campaign purposes. NYSPA PAC was organized as a PAC so that it could give a voice to psychology in the political arena. This is why we need EVERY PSYCHOLOGIST throughout the state to contribute to NYSPA PAC so that by using our "common cents" we can grow into a PAC that will not only be heard, but listened to!

 **IMPORTANT**

We are required to report whether each contribution is Personal or Corporate and if it is Corporate we are required to report the corporation name. We kindly ask that you please provide this information in the payment form, thank you!

To make a contribution by credit card or PayPal, click the yellow Donate button.

 

 

To make a contribution by check or money order,  Click here

Checks should be made out to "PLANY" and mailed to: NYSPA, 555 8th Avenue, Suite 1902, New York, NY 10018

NYSPA PAC BOARD

OFFICERS
Maury Lacher, Chair
Barbara Meehan, Treasurer
Tom Caffrey, Secretary

MEMBERS
Roy Aranda
Herb Gingold
Les Shad
Barbara Lewis
Gayle Berg
John Northman
Lou Jacobson
Virginia Waters
June Feder
Jerry Grodin ex-efficio
Chris Allen ex-officio