The APA Committee and Office on Socioeconomic Status are thrilled to celebrate the anniversary of its fifth year.

This occasion presents another opportunity to thank the many individuals that championed the creation of the Committee on Socioeconomic Status (CSES) and the corresponding office. Our strength comes from our network and members, and we are stronger for having you beside us, as we continue on this mission to ensure that issues of SES receive the full attention of the Association.

The major focus of the committee has been to promote attention among psychologists to the scientific understanding of the roles of SES and poverty in health, education and human welfare. Furthermore, the committee examines impact of social class disparities and proposes strategies to reduce related disparities. Research and practice has unveiled that racism and classism function similarly to create stratification and inequality within and between groups.

Toward this end, the Office on Socioeconomic Status (SES) is responsible for directing, overseeing, facilitating and promoting psychology's contribution to the understanding of SES and the lives and well-being of the poor. As such, the office works to develop and facilitate relationships and activities to advance psychology as a major force in research, policy and advocacy related to SES.

With five years under our belt, the resolve of the committee and office remain steadfast. We look to you as we continue our outreach, to advocate and educate for underserved populations.

As we celebrate our successes, we want to use this fifth year anniversary as a vehicle to underscore the mission and vision of this committee. We invite you to share in this journey of progress.

APA Office on Socioeconomic Status

Director: Keyona King-Tsikata
Program Coordinator: Ieshia Haynie

Committee Members

Chair: Salvador Macias, III, PhD

Hector Gonzalez, PhD
Cynthia Hudley, PhD
Faye A. Reimers, PhD
Ruth Riding-Malon, PhD
Laura Smith, PhD

5th Anniversary Highlights (2007-2012)

The APA Taskforce on SES submitted its report to the APA Council of Representatives in 2006, after which the Committee and its Office on Socioeconomic Status were established. In 2007, the inaugural committee on SES, chaired by Heather Bullock, PhD, commenced their work in alliance with the Office on Socioeconomic Status.

2012

• In year five the progressive movement of advocating, educating and outreach on behalf of the wellbeing of the socioeconomically disadvantaged.

2011

• Co-sponsored with NOVA (Neighborhood Opportunities for Volunteer Activities) a toiletries drive during APA Convention and partnered with Grand Hyatt Washington & Hyatt Regency Washington to benefit So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.).

2010

• Created and published 12 SES Intersecting Fact Sheets, designed to highlight the relevance between SES and other special interest areas.

• Coordinated and co-sponsored a Pre-Convention Workshop titled; Measuring Socioeconomic Status and Social Class in Psychological Research.

2009

• Provided staffing support to the APA Presidential Task Force on Psychology's Contribution to End Homelessness (TFPCEH) resulting in a report and revised Resolution on Homelessness.

• Collaborated with Social Justice Divisions (spearheaded by Division 9) to offer Psychology-Community Engagement: Partnering for Social Change, a community engagement initiative designed to highlight the theory and practice of partnerships between psychologists and diverse and economically challenged communities.

2008

• Launched the inaugural SES E-newsletter — The SES Indicator (quarterly).

• Instituted and recognized the inaugural SES Leadership Awards Recipients (awarded annually).

• Awarded a CDC cooperative agreement for $1.75 million over 5 years to address SES related disparities in comprehensive cancer control.

• Published the Report of the Task Force on Resources for the Inclusion of Social Class in Psychology Curricula (Divisions 9 & 35).

2007

• Initiated the SES Network to inform, increase attention and participation among psychologists to SES related issues.

• Convened an interdisciplinary discussion and strategy session to ensure the efforts of CSES/OSES are tailored, collaborative and complementary to other existing efforts.

• Collaborated with Division 9 (SPSSI) and PI-GRO to Recognize World Poverty Day (recognized annually) through a series of Congressional Visits on Capitol Hill.