Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training,
Research, Practice, and Organizational Change for Psychologists
American Psychological Association
Approved as APA Policy by the APA Council of Representatives, August, 2002
Author Note:
This document was approved as policy of the American Psychological Association (APA)
by the APA Council of Representatives in August, 2002. This document was drafted by a joint Task Force
of APA Divisions 17 (Counseling Psychology) and 45 (The Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic
Minority Issues). These guidelines have been in the process of development for 22 years, so many
individuals and groups require acknowledgement. The Divisions 17/45 writing team for the present
document included Nadya Fouad, PhD, Co–Chair, Patricia Arredondo, EdD, Co–Chair, Michael D'Andrea,
EdD and Allen Ivey, EdD. These guidelines build on work related to multicultural counseling
competencies by Division 17 (Sue et al., 1982) and the Association of Multicultural Counseling and
Development (Arredondo et al., 1996; Sue, Arredondo, & McDavis, 1992). The Task Force acknowledges
Allen Ivey, EdD, Thomas Parham, PhD, and Derald Wing Sue, PhD for their leadership related to the work
on competencies. The Divisions 17/45 writing team for these guidelines was assisted in reviewing the
relevant literature by Rod Goodyear, PhD, Jeffrey S. Mio, PhD, Ruperto (Toti) Perez, PhD, William
Parham, PhD, and Derald Wing Sue, PhD. Additional writing contributions came from Gail Hackett, PhD,
Jeanne Manese, PhD, Louise Douce, PhD, James Croteau, PhD, Janet Helms, PhD, Sally Horwatt, PhD,
Kathleen Boggs, PhD, Gerald Stone, PhD, and Kathleen Bieschke, PhD. Editorial contributions were
provided by Nancy Downing Hansen, PhD, Patricia Perez, Tiffany Rice, and Dan Rosen. The Task Force is
grateful for the active support and contributions of a series of presidents of APA Divisions 17, 35, and 45,
including Rosie Bingham, PhD, Jean Carter, PhD, Lisa Porche Burke, PhD, Gerald Stone, PhD, Joseph
Trimble, PhD, Melba Vasquez, PhD, and Jan Yoder, PhD. Other individuals who contributed through their
advocacy include Guillermo Bernal, PhD, Robert Carter, PhD, J. Manuel Casas, PhD, Don Pope–Davis,
PhD, Linda Forrest, PhD, Margaret Jensen, PhD, Teresa LaFromboise, PhD, Joseph G. Ponterotto, PhD,
and Ena Vazquez Nuttall, EdD.
The final version of this document was strongly influenced by the contributions of a working
group jointly convened by the APA Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest
(BAPPI) and the APA Board of Professional Affairs (BPA). In addition to Nadya Fouad, PhD and Patricia
Arredondo, EdD from the Divisions 17/45 Task Force, members of the working group included Maria
Root, PhD, BAPPI (Working Group Co–Chair), Sandra L. Shullman, PhD, BPA (Working Group Co–
Chair), Toy Caldwell–Colbert, PhD, APA Board of Educational Affairs, Jessica Henderson Daniels, PhD,
APA Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice, Janet Swim, PhD, representing the APA
Board of Scientific Affairs, Kristin Hancock, PhD, BPA Committee on Professional Practice and
Standards, and Laura Barbanel, PhD, APA Board of Directors. This working group was assisted in its
efforts by APA staff members Shirlene A. Archer, JD, Public Interest Directorate, and Geoffrey M. Reed,
PhD, Practice Directorate, who also jointly shepherded the document through the final approval process.
The Task Force also acknowledges APA staff members Paul Donnelly, Alberto Figueroa, Bertha Holliday,
PhD, Sarah Jordan, Joan White and Henry Tomes, PhD for their support.
Correspondence concerning this article should be directed to the Public Interest Directorate,
American Psychological Association, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002–4242.
This document is scheduled to expire as APA policy by 2009. After this date, users are
encouraged to contact the APA Public Interest Directorate to confirm the status of the document.
