Message from NYSPA President Embracing Diversity Roy Aranda ...

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Nov 21, 2016 - Phone: (518) 437-1040 (800) 732-3922 Fax: (518) 437-0177 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.nyspa.org.
Message from NYSPA President Embracing Diversity Roy Aranda, PsyD, JD November 21, 2016

Dear NYSPA Members, Our nation has been experiencing 2016 election distress for some time due the long, adversarial process. A Harris Poll survey conducted online on behalf of the APA revealed that 52 percent of American adults reported that the 2016 election was a very or somewhat significant source of stress. See: http://www.p2016.org/chrnfall/apa101316pr.html It is apparent from many posts I’ve read by NYSPA members, that many of us have been affected, not only by the election process, but presently pursuant to the outcome. On behalf of NYSPA, as NYSPA President, I want to emphasize that NYSPA embraces diversity and champions the rights of all people regardless of age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language and socioeconomic status. This is one of the most important tenets of the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct under its General Principles. See: http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/ Our society is facing trying times, but as psychologists, we must champion our professional ethics regardless of the political climate. We also need to keep a keen eye on changes and evolving trends that will impact and shape health care and mental health care. And we must intervene proactively and maintain a strong lobbying front. Towards this end, NYSPA members are encouraged to aggressively pursue our grassroots efforts and show a large presence during our 2017 Lobby Day in Albany. And NYSPA members – indeed all New York State psychologists – are urged to contribute to NYSPA’s Political Action Committee, “the only nonpartisan political action committee formed and governed by psychologists for the sole purpose of advancing our profession's political agenda in New York.” See: http://www.nyspapac.com/ But this is not enough! 3 Pine West Plaza, Suite 308, Albany, NY 12205 Phone: (518) 437-1040 (800) 732-3922 Fax: (518) 437-0177 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.nyspa.org

We need to support our peers and patients who are the victims of discriminatory practices because of who they are, and speak out loudly and be the voice for those whose voices are ignored and not heard, and for those who are unempowered and marginalized. The slogan, “see something, say something”, in a context of crime prevention, fits well here: see abusive and discriminatory practices towards people because of 1) age, 2) gender, 3) gender identity, 4) race, 5) ethnicity, 6) culture, 7) national origin, 8) religion, 9) sexual orientation, 10) disability, 11) language, and 12) socioeconomic status, say something. But I will take it a step further: seeing something and saying something does not go far enough. We also must do something, take action, and not stand by idly and let matters “take care of themselves.” This default position taken by many simply does not cut it in the helping professions. I am sure there are many things we can do to uproot hatred and prejudice and the many forms of social injustice that shake the foundation of our great nation. How noble the words from our own Constitution’s 14th Amendment: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Kindly note that several diversity statements are being prepared by the Presidential Diversity Committee I created this year that will be published shortly. In solidarity, Roy Aranda, Psy.D., J.D. NYSPA President

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3 Pine West Plaza, Suite 308, Albany, NY 12205 Phone: (518) 437-1040 (800) 732-3922 Fax: (518) 437-0177 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.nyspa.org