Joint Statement from APA and the National Ethnic Minority Psychological Associations

 June 15, 2011

During its June 2011 meeting, the APA Board of Directors met with representatives from four national ethnic minority psychological associations (EMPAs), which included the Asian American Psychological Association, the Association of Black Psychologists, the National Latina/o Psychological Association, and the Society of Indian Psychologists. The chair of the APA Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs also attended. At this historic meeting of the APA Board and the EMPAs, the organizations made a commitment to developing ongoing collaborations as equal partners with the mutual goal of addressing issues of critical importance to psychology and the public (e.g., health and mental health, workforce issues). To foster optimally effective collaborations of mutual benefit to each organization, future dialogues will include discussions of a range of mechanisms and strategies not limited to the seating of EMPAs on the APA Council of Representatives. In order to continue discussions on collaboration and partnership, the groups may meet at the August 2011 APA convention, if schedules permit.