Connecticut
The Ethnic Diversity Task Force of the Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA) community outreach for 2018 includes completion of a two-year project with development of a statewide Mental Health Professionals Directory of Color (I.e. Psychologists, Social Workers, and LMFTs) that includes bilingual/multilingual therapists to put on the CPA website by summer 2018. Further community outreach includes a presentation to a large group psychological practice near the urban center—New Haven—to educate them about cultural sensitivity and cultural competency in treating people from diverse backgrounds. A third community outreach expands to the national stage with Jan Owens-Lane, PhD, chair of EDTF, and Sita Nadathur, University of Hartford graduate student presenting at the Diversity Challenge Conference Oct. 19-20, 2018, and sponsored by the Institute for the Study & Promotion of Race and Culture at Boston College on the topic Cultural Sensitivity in Supporting and Mentoring Minority STEM Students.
Iowa
The Diversity and Social Justice Committee of Iowa Psychological Association (IPA) aims to create a more welcoming environment for individuals, disseminate information regarding diversity events in the state, and provide educational trainings. Since our formation last fall, we have held a number of social events, including two “Coffee and Conversations.” We invite IPA members to join us at local coffeehouses to discuss social justice issues affecting the community. We disseminate information by frequently updating our webpage on the IPA website with local diversity events. Finally, we offer social justice trainings. Our most recent salon was on the New Psychology of White Privilege and White Supremacy. We plan to have a follow up salon in the fall. One of our co-chairs is also working with the conference committee to bring a diversity/social justice component to the conferences. The IPA also has a diversity delegate that attends the annual Practice Leadership Conference. The conference serves as a training opportunity and allows networking for those from diverse backgrounds to share ideas, build relationships, and encourage running and mentorship for leadership roles at both the state organization and within IPA.
Oregon
The Oregon Psychological Association (OPA) Diversity Committee was established eleven years ago and their role is to address the many issues of diversity that affect the practice of psychology including:
- Provide support and networking opportunities for psychologists who are of diverse backgrounds and/or who work with individuals of diverse backgrounds.
- Foster awareness and knowledge about diversity, multicultural competence, and psychological practice.
- Ensure that CE workshops reflect a commitment to integrate information about diversity into the education of psychologists.
- Help OPA stay informed and be responsive to ongoing challenges and opportunities presented by diversification.
- Ongoing review of social and community concerns, healthcare, and community and statewide mental health services.
- Provide advocacy support for minority psychologists and/or psychologists working with underserved populations, and community members.
- Increase recruitment, retention, mentoring and participation of diverse members within OPA.
The chair of the Diversity Committee is also an OPA board member.