Last updated May 2023

Upcoming Virtual Mentorship Events

• How To Get Into Psychiatry 
  May 22 @ 8PM ET/ 5PM PT    
  Register
  
  
• From Theory to Practice: Incorporating Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Principles in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training
  May 26 @ 12PM ET/ 9AM PT
  Drs. Nikhita Singhal and Chetana Kulkarni share DEI principles that can be applied to Psychiatry and other fields in Healthcare.
  
  Learning Objectives:
  1. Understand current gaps in child and adolescent psychiatry postgraduate training related to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles.
  2. Discuss innovative and evidence-informed approaches to designing and implementing EDI-focused curricula, including involvement of individuals with lived experience, using our project as an example.
  3. Consider how the educational offering we are developing can be adapted and made more broadly applicable for a variety of interdisciplinary healthcare professionals.
  
  
• Life Members Virtual Mentorship Program
  June 14 @8PM ET/ 5PM PT 
  Engage with members of AACAP’s Life Members Committee who will share their wisdom and advice about building a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. 
  Register
  
  
• Life Members Virtual Mentorship Program
  August 2nd @8PM ET/ 5PM PT
  Engage with members of AACAP’s Life Members Committee who will share their wisdom and advice about building a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. 
  Register

Resource Libraries

AACAP has created Resource Libraries for parents, patients, and clinicians to help with the impact of relevant culture and diversity issues.

 

Know of a great CAP resource not listed on AACAP's website? Share any professional development opportunities with us on the CAPturing Resources Form. Scholarships, awards, research opportunities, fellowships, supplementary training programs, research opportunities... If you think it matters, it matters!

About

The United States and its ever-changing cultural landscape shape the way we experience diversity. Cultural values and beliefs not only affect our daily activities and functions, but also influence the way we perceive physical and emotional distress and interventions to deal with them. Mental illness is perceived differently by various cultures, as is the ability to express certain symptoms. Some cultures have stigmatized mental illness, making it difficult for families and individuals to seek resources and interventions commonly used in western societies. Due to this, some cultures rely on alternative interventions in treating common mental health disorders. Emotional distress and mental health problems occur in all socio-cultural backgrounds. This information is intended to raise awareness of diversity issues and to assist a clinician with integrating them into their practice.

Choose a topic:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is diversity and culture?
2. Why is diversity and culture important?
3. How do a family's culture and values affect their child's mental health?
4. How does a mental health professionals' culture and value system affect a child's treatment?

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AACAP Caucuses

AACAP’s Caucus groups provide a forum for AACAP members within their own racial/ethnic groups to network and collaborate on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-focused initiatives. Activities include providing affinity-based mentorship, convening in safe spaces to discuss identity-focused challenges specific to their workplaces and communities, and work on programming, advocacy activities, and publications to highlight topics of shared interest within the cohorts. There are four AACAP Caucuses: Asian Caucus; Black Caucus; Hispanic/Latinx Caucus; International Medical Graduate Caucus. These groups meet at varying times throughout the year. If you wish to receive notifications of upcoming Caucus events, share your information via the Diversity and Culture Committee Special Interest Group Sign-up form.  

List of AACAP Components which includes the Committee Chairs and Staff Liaison Information.

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Awards

AACAP Awards

• NEW! AACAP's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Emerging Leaders (DEI) Fellowship
• AACAP’s Early Pipeline Workforce Development Mentorship and Networking Program
• AACAP International Scholar Award Opportunities
• AACAP Jeanne Spurlock, MD, Research Fellowship in Substance Abuse and Addiction for Minority Medical Students, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and AACAP’s Campaign for America’s Kids
• AACAP Jeanne Spurlock, MD, Lecture and Award on Diversity and Culture

External Award Opportunities

• Diversity Leadership Fellowship
• Jeanne Spurlock Congressional Fellowship
• SAMHSA Minority Fellowship
• SAMHSA Substance Abuse Minority Fellowship

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Clinical Guidelines

Practice Parameters: AACAP's Practice Parameters were developed by a group of experts on the topic to guide clinical decision making.

AACAP's Practice Parameter for Cultural competence in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Practice

Video Clips

Mental Health: A Guide for African American and their Families

Mental Health: A Guide for Latinos and their Families

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Training and Education

Diversity and Culture Curriculum 

Developed by the Diversity and Cultural Committee, this curriculum was designed for training Child & Adolescent Psychiatric trainees in Diversity and Cultural Competency. Such training is considered essential as our patient population will continue to be diverse. Providing a framework for training programs as well as well as assessing the trainee’s progress is necessary. The proposed curriculum will guide training directors and faculty, so they may develop an individualized curriculum for their programs while adhering to the ACGME required milestones. The curriculum includes core requirements for all trainees and elective modules that training directors can tailor based on populations that they serve. 

Download the Curriculum

Improving Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals [FREE online course]

Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Learn how to better respect and respond to your client's unique needs in this free, online training. Cultural and linguistic competency is recognized as an important strategy for improving the quality of care provided to clients from diverse backgrounds. The goal of this e-learning program is to help behavioral health professionals increase their cultural and linguistic competency.

• Original Release Date: May 1, 2019
• Last Date of Review: March 1, 2021
• Expiration Date: March 31, 2024
  
  Estimated Time to Complete this Activity: 5.0 hours

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Wellness

• Self-Care BINGO - Sheppard Pratt
• UPMC Graduate Medical Education WELL (Well-Being, Education, Learning and Living) Toolkit

Diversity and Culture Focused Publications

2021

• Baweja, Raman, MD, MS, and Adam, Balkozar, MD. (2021, January/February). The Path Forward: International Medical Graduates (IMGs): Scholarly Work, Research, and Advocacy in Child Mental Health. AACAP News, 26-27.

2020

• Adam, Balkozar, MD, and Young-Walker, Laine, MD. (2020, July/August). Diversity and Culture Committee: COVID-19: The Impact on Health Disparities to Children of Color and What We Can Do About It. AACAP News, 14-15.
• Li, Annie S., MD, and Cho, Jang (Jean), MD. (2020, July/August). A View in Focus: Asian Americans in the COVID-19 and Anti-Asian Racism Syndemic. AACAP News, 16-17.
• Adam, Balkozar, MD. (2020, July/August). Will There Be Enough IMG CAPs to Combat COVID-19? AACAP News, 20-21.
• Pegram, Destiny, MD. (2020, November/December). Racism and Psychiatry. AACAP News, 14.

2019

• Xiao, Rong, MD, PhD, and Gray, Douglas, MD. (2019, January/February). A Comparison of a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow’s Life in China and United States. AACAP News, 5-6.
• Adam, Balkozar, MD. (2019, January/February). Diversity and Culture Committee: How to Treat Unaccompanied Minors Separated at the Border. AACAP News, 12-13.
• Njoroge, Wanjiku, MD, Carlisle, Lee, MD, Weigle, Paul, MD, Agbonyitor, Mawuena, MD, MSC, and Carson, Nicholas, MD. (2019, January/February). Violent Video Exposure and Its Impact on Youth of Color.  AACAP News, 40-41.
• Yoon, Yesie, MD, and Rahman, Jennifer, MD. (2019, March/April). Diversity and Culture Committee: Inaugural Asian Caucus Meeting at AACAP’s 65th Annual Meeting. AACAP News, 10-11.
• Lubin, James, MD. (2019, March/April). An Ally in the Music: How the Hip-Hop Sub-Culture Helps Us Understand Adolescents in the Inner City Helps Us Understand Adolescents in the Inner City. AACAP News, 12-13.
• Robles-Ramamurthy, Barbara, MD and Fortuna, Lisa R., MD. (2019, May/June). Diversity and Culture Column: The Importance of Addressing Perinatal Mental Health in Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth. AACAP News, 6-7.
• Mann, Andrea, DO. (2019, May/June). The Cultural Climate in Which We Practice. AACAP News, 30-31.
• Sidhu, Shawn, MD, FAPA, DFAACAP. (2019, July/August). I Left My Heart at the Border. AACAP News, 13.
• Webster, Cecil, MD. (2019, September/October). “Is it because I’m Black, Dr. Webster?”: Racial Identity Development in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy. AACAP News, 7-8.
• St. Louis Regional Organization. (2019, September/October). Behind the Scenes: Why We Chose to Focus on Refugee Mental Health AACAP News, 9.
• Adam, Balkozar, MD and Pierce, Karen, MD. (2019, September/October). Advocacy at Work: Overview of the 2019 Legislative Conference and Spring Assembly. AACAP News, 10-11.
• Elnajjar, Alaa, MD. (2019, November/December). Diversity and Culture Committee: Switching Hats: Lessons Learned as a Mother and CAP. AACAP News, 10.

2018

• Adam, Balkozar, MD and Chrissman, Alan, MD. (2018, January/February). Diversity and Culture Column: Muslim Youth. AACAP News, 9.
• Husain, Syed Arshad, MD. (2018, March/April). Childhood Victims of Trauma Internationally. AACAP News, 18-19.
• Alleyne, Shirley, MD. (2018, May/June). School Anti-Cyberbullying Policy Development in the Caribbean: How Culture Shapes Our Disciplinary Practices. AACAP News, 14-15.
• Myers, Kathleen, MD, MPH, Thang, Tran Thien, MD, and Nguyen, Dat Tan, MD, MPH. (2018, July/August). International Relations Column: Global Mental Health: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam (Việt Nam). AACAP News, 7-9.
• Schetky, Diane H., MD. (2018, July/August). Women in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Committee: Perseverance. AACAP News, 10-11.
• Asamoah,Tracey, MD. (2018, September/October). Diversity and Culture Column: Suicide in African Americans. AACAP News, 7-8.
• Cho, Jang, MD. (2018, September/October). Diversity and Culture Committee: Promoting Diversity Within AACAP Via Caucuses. AACAP News, 17-18.
• Sidhu, Shawn, MD, FAPA, DFAACAP. (2018, September/October). New Mexico Child Psychiatrists: A Tale of Two Borders. AACAP News, 15-16.
• Kanawati, Yassar, MD. (2018, November/December). International Relations Column: Saving the Lost Generation of Syria. AACAP News, 7,9.
• Webster, Jr., Cecil R., MD. (2018, November/December). Beverly Stoute, MD: Winner of AACAP’s 2018 Norbert and Charlotte Rieger Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Award. AACAP News, 8-9.

2017

• Chandra, Rohit, MD, Chan, Vivien, MD, and Shen, Hong, MD. (2017, January/February). Diversity and Culture Column: Asian American Student Mental Health – The “Model” Minority’s Hidden Pain. AACAP News,12-13.
• Adam, Balkozar, MD. (2017, March/April). Diversity and Culture Column: International Medical Graduate Caucus. AACAP News, 10.
• Ferren, Peter M., MD, MPH. (2017, May/June). International Relations Column: International Relations: A Visit to India Created a Lasting Relationship. AACAP News, 10.
• Stepensky, Saul, MD. (2017, May/June). A Message From Mexico. AACAP News, 20-21.
• Sidhu, Shawn S., MD, Ortiz, Orlando, MD, and Prasad, Amitha, MD. (2017, September/October). Haunted Souls: Tales of Immigrant Children Being Torn from Their Parents in America. AACAP News, 23-25.
• Kanawati, Yassar, MD, and Song, Suzan, MD, MPH, PhD. (2017, November/December). International Relations Committee: Saving the Lost Generation of Syria. AACAP News, 11-12.
• Afzal, Khalid I., MD, and Radwan, Karam, MD. (2017, November/December). Assessing Parental Awareness of Child Mental Health in China and Egypt: A Novel Approach to International Integrated Care. AACAP News, 7-9.

2016

• Robles-Ramamurthy, Barbara, MD, Fortuna, Lisa, MD, MPH, and Tillman, Cathi, LSW. (2016, January/February). Unaccompanied Latino Youth: Who is Taking Care of Them? AACAP News, 35-36.
• Nadeem, Tania, MBBS.(2016, January/February). Diversity and Culture Column: “You Are My Guardian Angel”. AACAP News, 10.
• Boodoo, Ramnarine, MD, Duncan, Alison, MD, Loo, Dyani, MD, and Sidhu, Shawn S., MD. (2016, May/June). New Mexico Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: New Mexico Truth: Child Advocacy Campaign Sheds Light on Our National Child Poverty Crisis. AACAP News, 14-15. 
• Webb, Sala, MD, and Adam, Balkozar S., MD. (2016, September/October). Diversity and Culture Column: Youth Sex Trafficking: The Trick Coin. AACAP News, 11-12.  
• Adam, Balkozar S., MD. (2016, November/December). Diversity and Culture Column: Ethical and Legal Issues in Child Psychiatry: Consent, Privacy and Refusal of Treatment. AACAP News, 11-12.  
• Dreyer, Bernard P., MD, FAAP. (2016, November/December). Guest Column: AAP’s Child Poverty Agenda. AACAP News, 5-6.  
• Spencer, Andrea E., MD. (2016, November/December). Guest Column: Integrated Care in Disadvantaged Communities: A Model Program. AACAP News, 7-8.  
• Stewart, George, MD. (2016, November/December). International Relations: A Child Psychiatrist in Malawi. AACAP News, 15-16.  

2015

• Beal, Tim, MD. (2015, January/February). Diversity and Culture Column: Historical Trauma of the Original Peoples of North America (Canada). AACAP News, 14-16.
• Donson, Nathanial, MD. (2015, January/February). Psychotherapy Column: The ADHD Diagnosis: An International De-construction and Re-construction. AACAP News, 10-11.
• Loom, Dyani, MD, Sidhu, Shawn, MD, and Larroque, Carol, MD. (2015, March/April). New Mexico Chapter of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Detainment of Central American Child Refugees in New Mexico Sheds Light on a National Humanitarian Crisis. AACAP News, 13-14.
• Majeed, Salman, MD. (2015, March/April). The Impact of Terror Attacks on Families. AACAP News, 18-19.
• Adam, Balkozar, MD. (2015, May/June). Diversity and Culture Column: IMGs and Visas 101. AACAP News, 10-11.
• Balsamo, Dalia N., MD. (2015, May/June). Forensics Column: Gender Nonconforming Youth and the Juvenile Justice System: Time for a Policy Change? AACAP News, 8-9.
• How, Ong Say, MD. (2015, May/June). International Relations: Formation of the Singapore Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. AACAP News, 12-13.
• Adam, Balkozar, MD. (2015, September/October). Diversity and Culture Column: On Hiring an International Medical Graduate. AACAP News, 8.

[Note: Individuals with names in bold font are either Diversity and Culture Committee members, or AACAP Caucus members.]

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Presentations

 Warren Ng, MD Presidential Address - AACAP 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting - Karl Menninger, MD, Plenary

• Excellence Through Mentorship Series: Inspired to Write (May 4, 2023)
  Drs. Suzan Song, Manpreet Singh and Justin Schreiber discuss academic and advocacy writing, and publishing opportunities. Click here to view the flyer.
  
  
• Black Men and Boys in Medicine Congressional Briefing (April 27, 2023)
  Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Founder and Chair of the Caucus on the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, hosted this congressional briefing on Black Men and Boys in Medicine. The event was held in partnership with the Action Collaborative, an effort of the National Medical Association (NMA), the oldest and largest national organization representing Black physicians, and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to address the scarcity of Black male physicians and Black men and boys in the pipeline to become physicians.
  
  
• AACAP’s Lecture Series on Improving Health Equity During the COVID-19 Era
  
  
• AACAP Virtual Forum: Medical Mistrust (March 22, 2023)
  
  
• Bullock, J., MD, MPH. (2023, March 21). Dr. Chase Anderson (Interviewed by Dr. Justin Bullock): Discussion on Violence Against Minorities, Depression, and Suicidality (episode 65). Docs With Disabilities Initiative. 
  
  
• AACAP Virtual Forum: Healthcare Disparities through the Lens of Diversity During the COVID-19 Pandemic (June 13, 2020)
  
  
• AACAP Virtual Forum: Using the Current Public Health Crisis as an Opportunity for Advocacy (September 17, 2020)
  
  
• Brazelton Touchpoints Center (BTC)
  Provides professional and leadership development, organizational learning and change, and research and evaluation for family-facing professionals in pediatrics, early childhood, infant mental health, children's libraries and museums, home visiting, and child welfare. View archived presentations.
  
  
• Let's Talk: Supporting Asian and Asian American Students Through COVID-19 [MGH Center for Cross-Cultural Student Emotional Wellness Webinar Series]
  The series  is a collaboration between MGH Institute of Health Professions, MGH Center for Cross Cultural Student Emotional Wellness, and Harvard Graduate School Education's "Let's Talk!" Conference. 
  
  
• Health Care Voter The Hardest Hit (Digital) Townhall Series 
  This series serves to elevate the stories and experiences of Americans affected by the spread of the coronavirus, and how in the face of this epidemic the fight for affordable health care continues against the skyrocketing costs of prescription drug prices.
  
  
• NYCCAP Virtual Town Hall Series on COVID-19 Topics
  
  
• AMA Center for Health Equity
  The discussions focus on the wide disparities and AMA is doing to promote health equity for all Americans.
  
  
• Reimagining Policing in the Wake of Continued Police Violence [MBK Alliance Town Hall Series]
  A conversation on police violence issues and the steps that can be taken to make reforms within our community.
  
  
• AACAP’s Screenside Chats 
  Including Episode 4 - Health Equities and Disparities in the COVID-19 Era - A Conversation with AMA President Patrice A. Harris, MD
  
  
• APA 2020 Spring Highlights Meeting
  
  
• Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture (SSPC) Webinar Series 
  Features the latest hot topics in Cultural Psychiatry.

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Books, Media, & Related Material

• AACAP's Racism Resource Library
• AACAP's Asian American and Pacific Islander (AALI) Resource Library
• AACAP's Coronavirus Resource Library
• AACAP's Your Child and Your Adolescent offer comprehensive information about child and adolescent development.
• "Mental Health - Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives" in Specific Population Groups (APA)
• African American Community/Asian American and Pacific Islanders/American Indians and Alaska Natives/ Hispanic/Latino community/Sexual Orientation

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Related Websites

• American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
• American Federation for the Blind
• American Psychiatric Association's Office of Minority and National Affairs
• American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry
• Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI)
• Asian Mental Health Collective
• Association Minority Health Professions Schools, Inc. (AMHPS)
• Association of American Indian Physicians
• Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists
• Brazelton Touchpoints Center (BTC)
• Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA)
• Black Psychiatrists of America (BPA)
• British Caribbean Doctors and Dentists’ Association (BCDD)
• Canadian Multicultural Mental Health Resource Centre
• Canadian Psychiatric Association
• Caribbean American Medical & Scientific Association (CAMSA)
• Caribbean Doctors Association
• Commonwealth Fund
• Center for Parent and Teen Communication
• Federal Global Initiative on Psychiatry
• Mental Health America
• Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity, A Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General
• DHHS Office of Minority Health
• HRSA Cultural Competence Section
• National Alliance for Mental Illness
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Identity and Cultural Dimensions
• National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA)
• National Association for Behavioral Healthcare (NABH)
• National Association of the Deaf
• National Center for Cultural Competence
• National Children's Alliance
• National Children's Advocacy Center
• National Health Law Program: Language Access
• National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA)
• National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
• National Latino Behavioral Health Association
• National Latinx Psychological Association
• National Medical Association (NMA)
• National Network of Public Health Institutes
• National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN): Community Resources
• National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
• Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
• The Diversity-Informed Tenets for Work with Infants, Children and Families (Tenets)
• Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) 
• Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture (SSPC)
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH)
• World Association of Social Psychiatry (WASP)
• World Federation for Mental Health
• World Health Organization

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Additional Professional Resources

I. Research

Acculturation, development, and adaptation
Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am.
October 2010 – Volume 19 – issue 4 – pp 681-696

Culture and development in children and youth
Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am.
October 2010 – Volume 19 – issue 4 – pp 661-680

'Our community is the worst': the influence of cultural beliefs on stigma, relationships with family and help-seeking in three ethnic communities in London.
Int J Soc Psychiatry
Sept. 2013 – Volume 59 – issue 6 – pp 535-544

The Muslim child, adolescent, and family
Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am.
January 2004 – Volume 13 – issue 1 – pp 183-200

Language, culture, and adaptation in immigrant children
Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am.
January 2010 – Volume 19 – issue 4 – pp 697-717

Leaving No Children or Families outside: The Challenges of Immigration
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
2010 - Volume 80 - Issue 4 - pp 505-515

Mental Health of Immigrants and Refugees
Community Mental Health Journal
October 2005 - Volume 41 – Issue 5 – pp 581-597

 

II. Training

Culturally informed child psychiatry practice
Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am.
October 2010 – Volume 19 – issue 4 – pp 759-774

Training child and adolescent psychiatrists to be culturally competent
Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am.
October 2010 – Volume 19 – issue 4 – pp 815-831

III. Curriculum

Diversity and Culture competency Curriculum for child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training (AACAP)

A Four-Year Model Curriculum on Culture, gender, LGBT, Religion, and Spirituality for General Psychiatry (Residency Training Programs in the United States)

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Other Related Topics

* Disparities in Mental Health Care

"10 Things you can do to eliminate ethnic and racial disparities in Mental Health"

National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health

Issues to Consider When Engaging Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Youth in Psychiatric Care More...

Issues to Consider When Engaging Muslim Youth in Psychiatric Care More...

** Immigration and Refugees

• Guidelines for Mental Health Screening during the Domestic Medical Examination for Newly Arrived Refugees
• Mental Health of Immigrants and Refugees

Issues to Consider When Engaging Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Youth in Psychiatric Care

Issues to Consider When Engaging Muslim Youth in Psychiatric Care

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Sign-up for one of the Diversity and Culture Committee's Special Interest Groups

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