Kari Oyen Receives NASP President's Award
“It was an incredible honor to receive the President’s Award, recognizing the collaboration between the NASP, the APA and our incredible accomplishments. I am grateful for the support of all the people around me who have helped me along this journey,” said Oyen.
Appointed by NASP President Peter Faustino, Ph.D., in July 2024, Oyen is the liaison to the APA Model Licensure Act task force. The task force investigates and provides information to update the Model Licensure Act at the master's and doctoral levels. The Model Licensure Act serves as a template for states to draft state legislation regulating psychological practices at the state level across the nation.
As the liaison, Oyen has met with the team weekly to work on the scope of practice for master’s level health service psychology and has begun to update the doctoral Model Licensure Act. Specifically, she and the APA task force have been working to emphasize the unique role of school psychologists within the field of psychology, ensuring their contributions are recognized within the Model Licensure Act and that school psychologists can appropriately use their titles in the settings where they are qualified to practice. The work from the task force is expected to continue into the summer.
During this time, their collaborative partner, the Association of State Provincial Psychology Board (ASPPB), has adopted model language from the task force that underscores title protections for school psychologists.
“It’s a privilege to share with other professions the invaluable contributions that school psychologists make to our world. Our work continues, and I feel blessed to participate in so many meaningful discussions as we advocate for our future,” said Oyen.
Oyen credits relationship-building as a factor in her success, along with her core message: "All children can learn and are entitled to high-quality mental health support where they spend most of their time, in schools.” She also prioritizes sharing the story of rural practice, highlight the needs of rural communities and actively seeking support from decision-makers to address urgent needs.
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