United Psychologists Political Action Committee

WSPA is a non-profit professional trade association with restrictions on directly supporting political candidates through membership dues. In the late 1980’s a charter was written for the United Psychologists Political Action Committee (UP-PAC), adopted by the WSPA Board, and filed with Washington state. Through separate fundraising, the PAC provides  WSPA access to state legislators to educate them on mental health issues and legislation that would affect the field of psychology or the clinical practices of all psychologists in the state.

UP-PAC is politically nonpartisan and membership is open to any person with a doctoral degree in psychology or persons enrolled in graduate training programs working toward their doctoral degree in psychology. Membership is renewed annually by making a donation to UP-PAC. UP-PAC encourages psychologists to participate actively and effectively in governmental affairs and promotes a favorable climate for the science and practice of psychology through political action.

Each election year UP-PAC identifies legislators who support mental health legislation on both sides of the aisle and makes donations to their campaigns. Washington State has 49 legislative districts that elect two representatives and one senator. These 147 state legislators regulate the practice of health care in our state. Because most legislators know very little to nothing about the practice of psychology they rely on WSPA and others to educate them on why they need to support – or not support, legislation that impacts disciplinary laws, insurance regulation, and psychology licensing law. 

Donations to UP-PAC make a big difference!

A majority of UP-PAC donations come from WSPA members and are hand delivered to a legislative candidate by a Grassroots UP-PAC member. The grassroots UP-PAC also lobbies the candidates, informing and educating them of legislation that will affect mental health laws. Through these efforts, WSPA has helped to pass bills that affect practice, such as including required reimbursement by insurers for telemental health services, transparency requirements for insurers when coverage for health care has been denied, and increased access to mental health care.

Making personal contact with a legislator makes a big difference in gaining their support!

UP-PAC encourages psychologists to make a donation of at least the equivalent value of one hour of their clinical time.