UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jennie Noll, director of Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network and professor of human development and family studies, was recently elected president of the American Psychological Association (APA)’s Division 37, the Section on Child Maltreatment.
Noll’s responsibilities as an APA section president include organizing member webinars, seminars, symposiums and conferences, such as the Convention of the American Psychological Association in Washington, D.C. This year will mark the 125th for the annual event. Noll is looking forward to encouraging involvement in these programs. “Sustained engagement among members and students is very important to advancing the mission of the section on child maltreatment,” she stated.
Another goal Noll aims to accomplish as an APA section president regards the fourth tier of their mission statement: advocacy. She plans to work beyond promoting general awareness to advancing public policy.
“We have reached a level of understanding where science can change the way the public perceives the prevention and treatment of child maltreatment. Having science translated into language that policy makers can understand will help advance the kind of policies that will benefit survivors and produce a larger investment in prevention,” Noll said.
Established 25 years ago, the mission of APA’s Division 37 Section on Child Maltreatment is to “support and promote scientific inquiry, training, professional practice and advocacy” surrounding child abuse and neglect, to improve the overall health and well-being of children and their families.