In 2011, then-president Melba J.T. Vasquez, PhD, charged the APA Presidential Task Force on Immigration with developing an evidence-based report that addresses the psychological factors related to the experience of immigration, with particular attention to the mental and behavioral health needs of immigrants across the lifespan, and the effects of acculturation, prejudice/discrimination and immigration policy on individuals, families and society.
Crossroads: The Psychology of Immigration in the New Century aims to provide psychological researchers, practitioners, educators and graduate students with an understanding of the psychological process of immigration and the demographic transformation underway in American society. It also dispels common myths about immigrants and emphasizes the need to value the unique attributes and contributions of immigrant populations, particularly with regard to culture and language.
The goals of the report are to:
- Raise awareness about the increasing immigrant population in the United States.
- Derive evidence-informed recommendations for the provision of mental health services to immigrants.
- Make recommendations to improve education, research, practice and policy affecting immigrants of all ages and backgrounds.
