This year, APA formally launched its commitment to fight deep poverty—defined as a condition in which a household’s annual income falls below 50% of the poverty line. In 2016, 18.5 million Americans were living in deep poverty, and the problem is only getting worse.
The official United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is Oct. 17, so it’s a fitting time to again urge APA members to take part in the five-week challenge developed by my Deep Poverty Initiative Working Group and launched at APA 2019.
The challenge uses videos and information to help you:
- Examine your own attitudes and biases toward those in deep poverty and toward other intersecting identities such as class and race. (APA’s newly approved Guidelines for Psychological Practice for People with Low-Income and Economic Marginalization can help—see New APA policy supports immigrants and refugees).
- Engage with people in deep poverty and create partnerships with community advocacy organizations by offering your unique skills.
- Empower people in deep poverty to have a voice in their communities and advocate for social change.
While the official challenge started on Sept. 10 and ends on Oct. 17, you can start it at any time. It encourages you to stay close to home in your efforts—to partner with local politicians, businesses and nonprofit organizations to effect change. An inspiring example is the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphisopens in new window, a grassroots organization in Memphis, Tennessee, that in 2015 declared its intention to reduce poverty in the city’s poorest ZIP code by 5% in five years. The group has gotten close to its goal by securing grants to improve workforce development and access to early childhood education, youth activities, financial education and more.
Besides the challenge, the Deep Poverty Initiative Working Group is developing a tool kit that will help psychologists practice more effectively with low-income clients and provide tools to help change the narrative on poverty and improve programs and policies. Stay tuned!
As psychologists are aware, poverty and deep poverty are associated with a range of poor outcomes, including high levels of stress and poor health. Psychologists know how to use science and networking to make a difference. Let’s use our skills to get involved and make deep poverty a thing of the past.
