Equity & Advocacy Bulletin Fall 2022

OCTOBER 2022 | ANA Equity & Advocacy Bulletin by Ashley Nguyen, PsyD

We want to start this bulletin by shedding light on the Respect for Marriage Act. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs to overturn Roe v. Wade, opponents are feeling emboldened to try and reverse other fundamental rights, including marriage equality. This bill aims to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, an act that was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013, as it discriminated against same-sex and interracial marriages when determining federal benefits and protections. The legislation will do so by codifying the federal protections conferred by the Supreme Court of the United States in the Loving, Windsor, and Obergefell rulings. Literature indicates that marriage can provide psychological and physical well-being due to the moral, economic, and social support extended to married couples. Conversely, there are harmful psychological effects of policies restricting marriage rights for same-sex couples, including high reports of “minority stress,” defined as chronic social stress that results from minority-group stigmatization. Consider joining the American Psychological Association’s call for the Senate to defend marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples.

In addition, as reproductive rights continue to be impacted by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V. Wade, we continue to emphasize our solidarity with those impacted by this. Continue to stay informed about the status of abortion restrictions and protections across the country, and consider these tools to take action. In addition, the APA Services advocates for federal funding for women’s health care, improving mental health, preventing violence against women, supporting equity for women, and ending gender disparities and discrimination. Learn more about this here.

UPCOMING TRAINING/WEBINARS

September 21, 2 to 3 p.m. ET. What do Reporters Look for in Covering Science? A webinar designed to discuss how to communicate research findings with reporters. Register here.

September 21 – October 6, 2022. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Hispanic Neuropsychological Association (HNS)! You may register for their upcoming lectures here

October 13th, 2022, 7 to 9 p.m. ET. Expand Your Perspective – and Possibly Your Practice:  The Opportunities and Challenges in Performing Neuropsychology Evaluations Internationally. Presented by Ann Helmus, PhD, Director and Founder, NESCA Newton. Hybrid seminar. Register here.

October 14th, 2022, 2 to 3 p.m. ET. ABCN Board Certification: The Process and Some Pearls. Presented by  Julie Bobholz, Ph.D., ABPP. Brought to you by the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology Multisite Didactic Initiative (APPCN MDI). Register here.

CONFERENCES

The 42nd Annual National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN) Conference takes place in Denver, Colorado this month between October 12 – 15. For more information please click here.

The Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) will hold their 50th annual convention themed “Uống Nước Nhớ Nguồn”: Remembering our Elders, Restoring our Souls, Scholarship and Collaboration for the next 50 year” virtually between September 30 – October 2. Register here.

The Ohio Neuropsychology Group is holding its annual meeting on Friday, November 4th, from 9:30am-3:30pm ET. The meeting will be hosted through a hybrid in-person and virtual format. For more information about registration and a list of topics, please click here.

OPPORTUNITIES

Please click here to apply for the NAN Editorial Fellowship Program, which is a unique opportunity for individuals to gain additional training and expertise in the editorial process. The deadline for application is September 30th.

The Association of Psychological Sciences (APS) invites proposals for nonrenewable grants up to $5,000 to launch new projects broadly addressing one of the following categories: scholarship of teaching and learning, meetings and conferences, technology and websites, antiracist curricula, and other innovative projects that enhance the teaching and learning of psychological science. The next deadline is October 1, 2022. Click here for more.

New2Neuropsychology (N2N) is seeking applications for positions on their Outreach Program Committee and Resource Development Committee. Applications are open to current neuropsychology trainees and professional neuropsychologists. N2N aims to facilitate greater equity and inclusion in neuropsychology through active outreach to historically underrepresented students, with the ultimate goal of improving access and representation for underserved communities. Applications are due October 1st, 2022. Find more information here.

READ/WATCH

Madore, M.R. & Byrd, D. (2022) Optimizing mentoring relationships with persons from historically marginalized communities through the use of difficult dialogues, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2022.2108770 

Kelly, J. F. (2022). Building a more equitable society: Psychology’s role in achieving health equity. American Psychologist, 77(5), 633–645. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001019

Jamieson, M., Pownall, M., & Govaart, G. (2022). Reflexivity in quantitative research: A rationale and beginner’s guide. DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/xvrhm

For fun: The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh, as described by Goodreads is, “A multi-narrative novel brimming with levity and candor, The Fortunes of Jaded Women is about mourning, meddling, celebrating, and healing together as a family. It shows how Vietnamese women emerge victorious, even if the world is against them.”

For fun: If you love mind-boggling movies about the multiverse, Asian leads, which elicit a range of emotions then Everything Everywhere All At Once, featuring Michelle Yeoh as the lead character, may be for you! 

REPRESENTATION MATTERS

We are proud to share that many of our members were selected as delegates for the Upcoming Minnesota 2022 Update Conference. A big congratulations to June Paltzer, Jennifer Lee, Michelle Madore, Farzin Irani, Erin Kaseda, and Duke Han. In addition, a thank you to Michelle Madore, Nick Thaler, and Alexander Tan for their activeness on several conference committees.

LEGISLATION/POLICY AND RESOURCES: TAKE ACTION/CONTINUE MONITORING

Last month President Biden announced a loan forgiveness program that may forgive up to $10,000 for student borrowers and up to $20,000 for students who were Pell grant recipients. Stay informed about the White House’s student loan forgiveness incentives here.

Please consider funding unpaid interns in South Africa. The Neuropsychology Master’s Program at The University of Cape Town (UCT) is currently the only active Neuropsychology training program in South Africa.  The internship year following qualification is a requirement to become a registered neuropsychologist. There is currently only one internship site available, based across two public hospitals in Cape Town. Given the legacy of the apartheid in South Africa, it is predominantly students of color who are disadvantaged.

Sincerely,

ANA Advocacy Committee

Co-Chairs:  Rowena Ng, PhD & Shehroo Pudumjee, PhD

Members: Sana Arastu, MS; Julia Chen, PhD; Cardinal Do, MS; Yue (Doris) Hong, PsyD; Jody Lanza-Gregory; Iris Miao, PhD; Ashley Nguyen, PsyD