Diversity Committee Statement
The mission of the Delaware Psychological Association Diversity Committee is to use psychological science and public advocacy to dismantle all forms of oppression, including oppression based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, class, ability, sexual orientation, and other marginalized identities. To this end, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where members of all diverse and intersecting identities are welcomed. We believe we share the responsibility of being stewards of the people of our nation, ensuring every person has equal access to the core values of our country: liberty, equality, and justice.
As psychologists, mental health scholars, and practitioners, we understand the negative psychological impact of marginalization and discrimination on both mental and physical well-being. Our call is to continue the work of dismantling oppression using science, expertise, communication, and advocacy. This is embedded throughout our professional principles and guidelines within the American Psychological Association (APA), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA). Therefore we, as the Diversity Committee, call to our members to affirm our dedication to upholding the core values of our discipline—integrity, empathy, compassion, and respect for all individuals.
This call to action can be done in many ways. For instance, we ask our members to join us in considering where we leverage our influence in our civic and professional lives in crafting and supporting legislation empowering these impacted communities, promoting science communication through social media, in community action, in the classroom, and in creating and disseminating culturally responsive interventions and resources for our students, clients, and communities.
We hope to support our members in this endeavor by:
- Providing training and resources on advocacy and community engagement.
- Developing and enhancing pathways for underrepresented groups to enter the mental health field.
- Facilitating discussions and forums around DEI topics.
- Offering networking opportunities to connect members with shared goals.
- Sharing best practices for culturally responsive care and interventions.
- Organizing structured discussions in the community designed to foster understanding, active listening, and open dialogue about experiences related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
