The mission of the Ad Hoc Committee on Health Equity (HEC) is to advance health equity and reduce disparities, with a particular focus on addressing the systems, policies, regulations, and institutions that promote and maintain inequities and the resulting adverse health conditions and outcomes among marginalized communities and populations. Within its purview, the committee will:
- Promote the application of psychological knowledge to the health and health equity of individuals, communities, organizations and institutions, with special attention to the influences and intersectionalities of discrimination, poverty, stigma, racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism, and xenophobia, and other marginalized populations, in science, practice, and policy.
- Provide strong and visible advocacy for a scientific agenda on health equity issues and contribute to the formulation and support of public policies and associated regulations that promote optimal health and health equity, while expanding scientific understanding of health equity and populations experiencing health disparities/inequities.
- Promote access to and value of psychological practice by advocating for health equity policies that address the unmet needs for underserved and marginalized communities and populations.
- Promote inclusion of knowledge about health equity and social determinants of health in all levels of education, including Pre-K to 12, undergraduate, graduate, training programs, continuing education, and professional development of psychologists.
- Develop and disseminate information concerning the scientific findings and practice implications of health equity issues.
- Serve as a visible focus for the coordination of information among groups within APA that address health equity issues and offer consultation to relevant APA Central Office, APA boards and committees, divisions, as well as state, provincial and territorial psychological associations.