THE IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL DEVOLUTION FOR PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Recent years have witnessed a major transformation in public policy th at has significant ramifications for health care professions. Through a process known as devolution, the federal government has shifted majo r amounts of money and decision-making authority to state governments. In health care, this shift places resources closer to the local level s, where practitioners have opportunities to influence their use. Vary ing perspectives on devolution are presented by 4 experts in slate and local government to suggest some possible ways that professional psyc hology can become more involved in this process.