As APA moves forward in its journey to combat systemic racism, it will work to implement actions aimed at making sustainable impact.
To help inform the path forward, APA is pulling together a comprehensive inventory of the work already taking place. APA launched an inventory survey on January 4, 2022, intended to catalog the current work of its staff, governance, elected and appointed leaders, and divisions focused on racial equity work and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives focused on race and ethnicity.
This inventory will allow APA to identify areas where energy is currently focused; gaps that need to be addressed; and ultimately help identify the most impactful short- and long-term actions for APA to carry out in its work to dismantle systemic racism.
The data will be compiled and summarized in a report to be presented during the February 2022 APA Council meeting. This information—along with insights from listening sessions, town halls, surveys, and more—will shape APA’s long-term plan to prioritize, operationalize, and ensure accountability for achieving the goals laid out in the APA’s Council of Representatives 2021 resolutions.
In the resolutions adopted in October 2021, the association apologized to people of color for promoting, perpetuating, and failing to challenge systemic racism and spelled out APA’s long-term commitment to dismantle systemic racism and advance health equity. APA is grateful for the decades of work done by its members, leaders, and staff to arrive at this stage. Their contributions have laid the foundation for the transformation APA is undertaking.
Ongoing steps forward will be enumerated in regular updates on this webpage.
To learn more about the important EDI work APA is spearheading, see our Inclusive Language Guidelines, racism, bias, and discrimination resources and comprehensive EDI Framework.
