Kim Baranowski, PhD, is recognized with this APA Citizen Psychologist Presidential Citation for her sustained commitment to leadership in advocacy, supporting survivors of human rights violations and improving the lives of disenfranchised minority populations.
Baranowski uses her expertise in psychological assessment to provide pro-bono evaluations of asylum seekers in community and detention center settings that document the mental health correlates of persecution. As the associate director of the Mount Sinai Human Rights Program she works to advance health, dignity and justice, both locally and globally, through advocacy, research and pro-bono trauma-informed forensic evaluations, as well as supporting access to social services and culturally-responsive continuity care for survivors of human rights abuses. Baranowski educates health care professionals, students and the broader community about the protection of health and human rights. As a volunteer, she has trained over 140 practitioners to provide pro bono forensic psychological evaluations of asylum seekers. Given the challenging nature of this work, Baranowski further donates her time to training others on the prevention of vicarious trauma and facilitation of support groups for students and professionals working with survivors of torture.
She is committed to advancing social justice and also collaborates with lawyers, community organizers and labor advocates to support unauthorized immigrants who have experienced discrimination, maltreatment and workplace exploitation. In this role, Baranowski provides consultation, conducts psychological evaluations, leads psychoeducational seminars and facilitates participatory action research.
Baranowski served as co-chair of the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault’s Associate Board where she organized public events, cultivated donors and provided research mentorship for a study of immigrant women’s experiences with law enforcement and medical professionals after sexual assault.
In addition, for several years Baranowski volunteered weekly at the League Education and Treatment Center’s LAND studio program, a nonprofit day habilitation program for adult artists with developmental disabilities. Along with providing art instruction and mentorship, she also assisted with the integration of participants into the community as professional artists. She supported their inclusion in art fairs, museum exhibitions, commercial galleries and publications.