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The Role of National Organizations in Developing the Mental Health Workforce

The Role of National Organizations in Developing the Mental Health Workforce Milton A. Fuentes, Psy.D. President Elect (2011). NLPA was initially established in 1979 and after a brief hiatus was re-established in 2000. NLPA is open to all who are interested in Latino Psychology

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The Role of National Organizations in Developing the Mental Health Workforce

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  1. The Role of National Organizations in Developing the Mental Health Workforce Milton A. Fuentes, Psy.D.President Elect (2011)

  2. NLPA was initially established in 1979 and after a brief hiatus was re-established in 2000. NLPA is open to all who are interested in Latino Psychology • Our mission is to generate and advance psychological knowledge and foster its effective application for the benefit of the Hispanic/Latino population. • The Association encourages and assists in the advancement of scientific psychological knowledge, research, and service that educates citizens, and informs, as well as, influences public/institutional policy that is relevant to or affects Latina/os at the national, regional, state, and local levels.

  3. The Association’s Existence • The Listserv • El Boletin, NLPA Newsletter • An Online Resource Directory • Student and Professional Development Subdivsion • Graduate Training • Biennial Conferences

  4. The NLPA Student and Professional Development subdivision is designed to: • recruit, retain, and ultimately assist with the graduation and professional advancement of Latina/o students, faculty, and staff in higher education pursuing the field of psychology. • More specifically, the goal is to facilitate: • student development (both undergraduate and graduate students in pursuit of educational excellence) • professional development (academicians and practitioners throughout the entire professional career span --early, mid and late)

  5. This division endeavors to:   • Assist APA, higher education institutions, and psychology programs to create an environment that acknowledges, respects and includes the Latina/o culture. • Establish working relationship with institutions of higher education to develop academic opportunities for Latina/o undergraduates, graduates, and faculty and staff. • Establish partnerships with local Latina/o communities and agencies to develop internship/employment opportunities for Latina/o students. • Provide support to Latina/o students and professionals in helping them to achieve their highest educational and professional potential.

  6. Graduate Training • Montclair State University (1990) • MA in Psychology for Spanish-English Bilinguals • Our Lady of the Lake University • Psychological Services for Spanish-Speaking Populations • Latino Psychology Concentrations at the: • Chicago School of Professional Psychology • Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

  7. Biennial Conferences • La CulturaCura: Healing Traditions and Models of Care with Latina/o Families and Communities (2008) November 15-16, 2008, Costa Mesa, California • Latina/o Psychology in the 21 Century: New Trends and Challenges in Research and Practice (2006)October 12-14, 2006, Milwaukee, Wisconsin • Advancement in Latino Psychology 2004: Strengthening Psychology through Latino Family Values (2004)November 18-21, 2004, Scottsdale, Arizona • Latino Psychology Conference (2002)October 17-20, 2002, Providence, Rhode Island

  8. In what ways has NLPA shaped your educational and professional training?

  9. “In Ohio, other colleagues and I started the Ohio Mental Health Network.  We have been in existence for over three years.  Being part of NLPA has provided me with a sense of belonging and pride.  NLPA has assisted me in further developing my professional skills through  mentorship and  conferences.”

  10. “If I had a magic wand I would create a Mental Health workforce that would side by side provide individual and group counseling and provide guidance in developing supportive socio-education groups with a mental health perspective.  This Center would have children's programs so the mothers could take English, computer, learn survival skills and obtain work certifications.  It would be wonderful if we could also have  a garden for the community, community murals and a place to celebrate  el Dia de los Muertos, el Dia de los Reyes, lasposadas, el dia de la Hispanidad and all our rich heritage with food and music.   Isolation is in my humble opinion a big component of our community mental distress.  I would love to have a mental health task force capable of designing for example an art workshop that creates individual family trees and provide a framework to discuss grief and loss issues and family traditions.”

  11. “yo empecé escuela graduada en Southern Illinois era el único diferente - la única minoría en una clase de 7 estudiantes. Luego una vez fui a una conferencia regional y vi a UN solo moreno de entre más de cien estudiantes...y ahí me di cuenta de que no estaba solo. Sin embargo, no fue hasta la primera vez que fui a APA que me di cuenta de que si habían dos o tres que eran como yo y hablaban español. Luego de completar mi doctorado fui a mi primera convención de NLPA y ahí pude por lo menos validar lo que fueron mis experiencias de escuela graduada. La organización nacional me dio la oportunidad de compartir experiencias que a nivel local me eran imposibles de hacer - por mi estatus como único en mi programa. De igual manera la organización nacional me sigue ayudando a consolidar mi trabajo intercambiando ideas de perspectivas diferentes que a nivel local quizás no se pueden (por las limitaciones de la población) adquirir.”

  12. “As the premier organization for Latin@ psychology in the country, NLPA acts as a centralized: • (1) Repository of career development expertise and mentorship that is not only accessible, but actively engaging, to Latinas/os in the academic pipeline (although we could do better at the HS level, but so could everyone else). • (2) Vehicle for the dissemination of information in Latina/o behavioral health, behavioral health care, and related matters. • By providing those interested in Latin@ behavioral health and behavioral health care opportunities for leadership and professional service that are not as accessible in other organizations. This helps foster Latin@s into leadership and service positions in other organizations.”

  13. To learn more about NLPA, please visit: • http://www.nlpa.ws • How can we help? • fuentesm@mail.montclair.edu • 973-655-7967 • Thank you!

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