Question 5: How will your presidential initiatives reflect APA’s commitment to addressing social ju
Sandy's Response:
APA can best embrace social justice/human rights efforts where we envision unique and/or significant impact, bringing a strong moral compass and utilizing our best science. We need a one-APA response structure that integrates science, practice and policy expertise to provide quick, systematic responses to issues such as DACA, immigration, violence, racism, poverty, health disparities, insidious bias and addictions. Social justice/human rights-focused initiatives should not be driven by organizational silo structures but should be mission-driven across APA. My presidency would prepare for long-term efforts by developing ongoing issue teams and expert advisory panels rather than one-time/episodic responses, better enabling external collaborations.
