California School of Professional Psychology "Adopts" Alternative Family Service Agency

First Family Services Agency for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders and their Families to be Housed Within Accredited Graduate School of Professional Psychology

San Francisco, CA - The California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), the oldest and largest graduate school of professional psychology in the US, today announced that it is "adopting" the Alternative Family Project, a leading Bay Area family service agency for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders (LGBT) and their families. Under CSPP, the Alternative Family Project will provide individual and group counseling services for members of the LGBT community and their families, serve as an academic think-tank for social policy research on LGBT family issues, and sponsor community outreach and education programs.

"This arrangement creates the first major center for alternative family services and studies in the nation to be housed within an accredited institution of higher education," said Carol Huffine, PhD, Director of CSPP's Psychological Services Center. "Because of the rapidly expanding number of LGBT couples making commitments, having children, and looking for family-related services and support, alternative family issues are one of the fastest-growing areas of interest among psychologists and other helping professionals. Adopting the Alternative Family Project reflects CSPP's commitment to provide our students with top-notch training and research opportunities to better prepare them professionally."

Founded in 1993, the Alternative Family Project is a San Francisco Bay Area pioneer in the field of LGBT-related family support services, including individual and group counseling, community outreach and education, and advocacy. The organization serves as a focal point in the Bay Area for LGBT family-related support.

"Under CSPP, we can devote new resources to extend the Alternative Family Project's reach in the LGBT community," said Robert-Jay Green, PhD, CSPP faculty member, AAMFT-approved supervisor, and Director of the Alternative Family Project. "We plan to open a new Alternative Family Project office in CSPP's Oakland facility. This will allow us to more effectively serve the East Bay, which has a growing LGBT community. In the future, we hope to expand the Alternative Family Project to CSPP's other three California campuses."

CSPP also announced today that Richard A. Rodriguez, PhD, Director of Multicultural Affairs at CSPP, will become the Clinical Director of the Alternative Family Project, beginning August 15, 2000. Dr. Rodriguez was formerly a counseling psychologist at University of California at Berkeley's Counseling Center, where he did extensive outreach and clinical work with the LGBT and Latino student populations.

Under CSPP's auspices, the Alternative Family Project will continue to provide services in San Francisco near the Castro district. In addition, services will be added in the East Bay, through CSPP's Psychological Services Center in downtown Oakland.

About Alternative Family Project

The Alternative Family Project is a leading community-based family service agency for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders and their families. AFP is operated under of the auspices of the California School for Professional Psychology, the oldest and largest graduate school of psychology in the nation. AFP provides counseling services for members of the LGBT community, conducts social policy research with respect to LGBT family issues, and sponsors community outreach and education services. AFP has offices in San Francisco and the East Bay and can be reached on the web at www.altfamilyproject.org or by dialing 415/436-9000.

About CSPP

The California School of Professional Psychology is the oldest and largest independent nonprofit APA-accredited graduate school of professional psychology in the country. With campuses in Alameda, Fresno, Los Angeles, and San Diego, CSPP offers innovative graduate degree programs in clinical, health, forensic, and organizational psychology, and related human service disciplines. Each campus also sponsors a Psychological Services Center where faculty and students provide services to CSPP communities. CSPP is fully accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges). Clinical psychology programs are also accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). For more information on CSPP, please refer to www.cspp.edu or phone 415-346-4500 ext. 209.