Two recent APA advocacy actions related to sexual orientation and gender identity concerns have been taken with the support of Division 44 leadership.
Calling for Immediate Halt to Sharing Confidential Psychotherapy Notes
In a letteropens in new window from APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, and Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf, APA requested that the Office of Refugee Resettlement stop sharing confidential mental health information obtained from child immigrants in shelter care with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents who are making asylum determinations. This practice violates broadly accepted mental health ethical privacy and disclosure standards and impedes the delivery of effective treatment for children who have experienced trauma. The letter also points out that the sharing of such confidential information will cause distrust and prevent children from accessing mental health care in the future.
Raising Concerns About Possible Religious Discrimination in Care
On Jan. 17, eight federal agencies proposed revisions to regulations for faith-based organizations that participate in federal social services programs. In commentsopens in new window submitted to each agency on Feb. 18, APA stated that the proposed changes open the door to religious discrimination against vulnerable populations by ending requirements that faith-based organizations refer individuals who ask for a secular alternative. Rather than ensuring that the federal government treats faith-based organizations the same as secular organizations, the proposed regulations elevate the interests of federally funded social service providers above the needs and the rights of people who seek social services. The agencies proposing the new regulations are the Agency for International Development, and the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Labor and Veterans Affairs.