IMPLEMENTING A DIVERSITY INITIATIVE IN STATE, PROVINCIAL, AND TERRITORIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONS: A HANDBOOK FOR SPTAs 2009 Edition Division 31: State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Association Affairs Diversity Task Force Cathy McDaniels Wilson, Ph.D., Chair i IMPLEMENTATING A DIVERSITY INITIATIVE IN STATE, PROVINCIAL, AND TERRITORIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONS: A HANDBOOK FOR SPTAs 2009 Edition INTRODUCTION As President of Division 31, it is my pleasure to provide you with this Handbook. The Handbook was conceptualized in 2005, under the Presidency of Lisa Grossman, J.D., Ph.D. Division 31 has maintained a commitment to increasing diversity within SPTAs and APA. As part of this commitment, we are providing you with this handbook. The primary goal of the Diversity Initiative of the Committee of State Leaders has been to involve more ethnic minority psychologists in membership and leadership positions in SPTAs. The Initiative has continued to grow since 2000, which was when SPTAs were invited to nominate ethnic minority psychologists for funded participation in the State Leadership Conference. Since its inception, the Diversity Initiative has grown in terms of participation of delegates and the inclusion of the initiative within psychological associations. Many of the delegates are now being funded by their own SPTA. In addition, many of the delegates have been elected to office within their SPTA. The 2003-2009 diversity delegates and the diversity subcommittee of the Committee of State Leaders provided updates of the diversity initiatives within their SPTA. Much of the information obtained in this Handbook was obtained from these reports. The initial Handbook was presented to diversity delegates in 2005 and has been on the Division 31 website as a resource to SPTAs and divisions as they begin to develop and expand their initiative. This revision includes information presented after 2005, in addition to information prior to that time. It is hoped that Division 31 and all SPTAs will utilize this information in developing and meeting goals for the diversity initiative within their SPTA. Division 31 is very grateful to the Committee on State Leaders and APA for allowing us to use their resources. I would also like to express my thanks to Dr. Cathy McDaniels Wilson for organizing this revision. Jennifer F. Kelly, Ph.D. President, APA Division 31 February 2009 ii IMPLEMENTING A DIVERSITY INITIATIVE IN STATE, PROVINCIAL, AND TERRITORIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONS: A Handbook for SPTAs--2009 Edition I. Diversity Defined ……………………………………………………………… 1 II. Getting Started: Commitment and Involvement from the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Members of the Psychological Association.…………. 2 III. Establishing a Diversity Committee……………………………………………. 3 IV. Mission Statement and Goals of the Diversity Committee ……………………. 4 V. Taking the Initiative to the Entire Psychological Association…………………. 7 VI. Networking Opportunities for Psychologists of Color………………………… 8 VII. Establishing a Mentoring Program…………………………………….………. 8 VIII. Funding of the Diversity Initiative and of Psychologists at Conferences……… 9 IX. Establishing a Scholarship Fund for Student Psychologists of Color..………… 10 X. Taking the Initiative to the Psychological Community………………………… 10 XI. Taking it to the Streets: Community Involvement……….…….………………. 11 XII. Developing Leaders for State and National Offices……………………………. 12 XIII. We Are the One’s: Leadership in Times of Peril and Opportunity…………….. 13 XIV. Diversity Leadership……………………………………………………………. 15 XV. Leadership: Values in Action…………………………………………………… 17 XVI. Making the Connection: Highlighting for your STPA the Impact of Legislative Issues on Communities of Color ……………….……………… 20 Maintaining A Grassroots Network……………………………………….. 23 Tips on Meeting with your Elected Officials…………………………....... 25 Tips Get Published…Writing a Letter to the Editor is Easier than you think! …………………………………………………….. 28 Tips on Writing to your Elected Officials……………………………….... 29 XVII. Managing Roadblocks……..…………………………………….……………… 30 XVIII. Evaluating Outcomes of the Initiative………………………..…..…….………. 30 XIX. Diversity Initiatives of SPTAs who have been Recipients of Division 31’s Diversity Award………………………………………….… 31 iii Diversity Defined Diversity refers to the mixture of differences and similarities that can exist among a combination of individuals (Thomas, 1999). According to Thomas, diversity is not just a function of race or gender or any other us-versus-them dyad, but a complex and ever- changing blend of attributes, behaviors, and talents. According to a recent publication by the Office of Ethnic Minority Affairs of the American Psychological Association, “Toward an inclusive psychology: Infusing the introductory psychology textbook with diversity content”, the term diversity “is often used to describe the cultural and ethnic differences among individuals whose experiences are different from those of a dominant cultural group. Additionally, the term can refer to within cultural group differences where the emphasis is placed on individual differences” (Trimble, Stevenson, and Worell, 2004). Although we are aware that diversity relates to more than just ethnic minorities, this handbook specifically focuses on increasing ethnic diversity in the State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Associations. Many ideas in this handbook can be utilized to establish and implement diversity initiatives with other groups of a pluralistic society. 1 Getting Started: Involvement in the Initiative from the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Members of the Psychological Association Before a committee is formed, there must first be a foundation: • Ask members of the Executive Committee to serve on the diversity committee. o It is especially important to have the President and the President-Elect involved—invite them to serve on the committee. • Ask the President to make diversity part of his/her Presidential agenda for the year. • Make certain there is strong support from the leadership. In addition to the President, support from the Executive Director and Treasurer are critical so that fiscal needs are aligned with the articulated commitment of the group. • Develop 1-1, personal relationships with Board members and the Executive Director. • Spend time with the Board, clarifying aspects of diversity. Examine your own assumptions. • Endorsement vs. advocacy: It is important to get Board Members beyond superficial levels of endorsement. Instead of just endorsing the concept of diversity, they must advocate for the initiative to be part of the association’s goals. • Have a “diversity champion(s)” whose primary job it is to push the initiative and serve as the ‘conscience’ of the group in terms of being sensitive to the issues of multiculturalism. o It would be good if the role of “champion” were shared by members of the Executive Committee and the Diversity Representative. o Seek a mentor who is well-respected in the psychological community to help support the initiative. • Present reports in person to the Board. • Establish a system of two-way communication between the Diversity Committee and the Board regarding diversity issues. • Integrate diversity needs into strategic plans of the Association. • Identify specific benefits of the Initiative to the Association (e.g., CE Workshops on multicultural issues). • In 2006, WSPA Executive Board instituted an appointed position, the Diversity Ombudsperson, whose job is to monitor Exec. Board decisions for a wide range of diversity concerns • Think outside the box! For example, invite the President of the SPTA into diverse neighborhoods to help develop an understanding as to why diversity is so important. 2 Establishing a Diversity Committee • Have enough members of the committee to effectively carry out the mission of the committee. • Know the history of diversity efforts in your Association o Talk to persons who have been involved in the initiative in the past. They can provide a historical perspective of the initiative, and help identify potential roadblocks. • Request representation on the Committee from each SPTA Committee, Division, and Task Force. • Engage the Editor of the SPTA newsletter as a partner in the diversity initiative processes. • Have representation from various geographical regions of the state. • Use CE opportunities to recruit members. • Modify the membership application to include a voluntary section where members can identify their racial/ethnic background. This information/data is used not only to expand membership on the Diversity Committee, but also to raise individual interest in serving on other committees, and to explore leadership roles within the organization. • Work with the association and Board to obtain statistics to generate a database, i.e. number of psychologists by ethnic groups, by geographical location, etc. • Expand the concept of diversity beyond ethnicity. Pool resources and energy with other diversity groups in the SPTA. • Set goal of establishing a voting position for the Diversity Committee on the Board. • Coordinate with other committees to reach out to psychologists of diverse backgrounds to participate on the committee. 3 Mission Statement and Goals of the Diversity Committee Mission Statement: • Develop a clear mission statement for the committee o The mission statement should guide decisions and funding. • Consider having the mission statement encompass five areas: o Increasing involvement of psychologists, as well as undergraduate