Hello All:
In the past few days many individuals and organizations have spoken out against the unbelievable separation of migrant children from their parents and caregivers at the US-Mexican border. Dr. Chavez-Korell wrote to all of us on Monday (see below) encouraging us to remain informed so that we can speak up, as psychologists and future psychologists, and take action against this trauma imposed on children. Clearly our humanistic precepts and values do not condone such treatment.
Perhaps you have already expressed your views and are continuing to speak out. Dr. Chavez-Korell offered many avenues to do so in her email. I have added another from the Physicians for Human Rights which you can sign and send. I have also attached APA’s letter to President Trump that contains important research on the trauma inflicted by these actions.
I also encourage you to speak out to family and friends and in your community.
Contact your Senators and Representatives.
Thank you,
Dr. Blau
June 18, 2017
Dear MSP Students and Colleagues,
I am certain many of you are now aware of the separation of migrant children from their parents/caregivers at the U.S.-Mexico border. The American Psychological Association’s (APA) President, Jessica Henderson Daniel, Ph.D., recently made a very important and timely statement regarding the traumatic effects of separation of migrant families (Read message). Other professional organizations are also engaging in a variety of actions including putting out statements describing the harm that family separation can cause. Some of these organizations include: American Association of Pediatrics (AAP), National Latinx Psychological Association (NLPA), and the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA).
This act of separating children from parents has a painful history in the United States during some of our darkest times as a nation (e.g., during slavery the separation of African American children from their parents, during the Boarding School Era of separating American Indian children from their parents and Tribal communities, the separation of children and parents during the internment of Japanese Americans). Guided by our APA Code of Ethics, psychological science, and our principles as Humanistic Psychologists, we cannot stand silently as these atrocious practices continue. I find relief in the strong stance and actions taken by APA, and encourage all psychologists and students of psychology to be informed on these issues so that we can speak up and take action, using our platform as psychologists to be agents of change in working for social justice.
In Community,
Shannon Chavez-Korell
I.D.E.A. (Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance at MSP), Faculty Advisor
Resources
Society for Community Research and Action Statement
American Academy of Pediatrics Statement
National Latinx Psychological Association (NLPA) Statement
NPR Segment where Physicians Discuss the Health Impact of Family Separation
Actions
Contact your Senators and Member of Congress.
Urge your Senators and Representative to:
- End the policy of separating and jailing families.
- Urge your Member of Congress to cosponsor the following legislation:
o S.3036 – Keep Families Together Act
o H.R. 2572 – Protect Family Values at the Border Act
o H.R. 5950/S.2937 – the HELP Separated Children Act
o H.R. 2043/S. 2468 – Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2018
