The American Psychological Association is a nonprofit scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. The organization s goals include advancing psychology as a science and profession and as a means of promoting health, education, and human welfare; promoting research in psychology and the improvement of research methods and conditions; improving the qualifications and usefulness of psychologists through high standards of ethics, conduct, education, and achievement; establishing and maintaining the highest standards of professional ethics and conduct of the members of the association; and increasing diffusion of psychological knowledge through meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, discussions and publications. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the APA has affiliate organizations throughout the country, such as APA Practice Organization, American Psychological Foundation, honor societies and state and regional chapters.