As the new co-chairs of the IARPP Chapters Committee, we serve as the vital link between the Chapter chairs and the IARPP Board. Our primary focus is to enhance communication and clarity about Local Chapters’ function and relationship to the IARPP organization.

IARPP’s vision for Chapters is a collaborative one. It is designed to unite individuals in isolated communities, enabling them to actively participate in our international community. We aim to assist our Chapters in developing their local communities with a clear bidirectional purpose: supporting Chapter development so that Chapter members can become active participants in our larger international community.

During our recent international conference in Mérida, Mexico, we met many of our Chapter chairs, with representatives from three countries attending in person and an additional six countries via Zoom. Some Chapter chairs even attended this meeting during the middle of the night for them, and we were very grateful for their participation.

During the meeting, we reaffirmed our commitment to supporting all types of Chapters: newer developmental Chapters with smaller communities—sometimes also with economic or political challenges—and established Chapters well-positioned to promote IARPP’s vision and expand our international membership. We encouraged Chapter chairs to become involved in IARPP committees, believing the best way to promote Chapter development is to become a part of creating opportunities for the entire international community.

Going forward, we plan to have two Chapter meetings annually, one in person at our international conference and another via Zoom. At these meetings, we will discuss upcoming IARPP events, encourage members to participate, and hear about the kinds of local events sponsored by Chapters. We will also discuss creating unique opportunities for panels to be presented at conferences devoted to developmental Chapters and Chapter-specific issues, such as sociopolitical and economic constraints.

Finally, we would like to welcome our newest IARPP Chapter from Iran, with special thanks to Amir Hossein Jalali Nadoushan for all his hard work.

Hilary Offman & Karen Rosica, IARPP Chapters Committee Co-Chairs

Hilary Offman, MD, FRCPC (Board Liaison)
Toronto, Canada
Email Hilary Offman

Karen Rosica, Psy.D.
Denver, Colorado, USA
Email Karen Rosica