On October 12, APA Services submitted comments (PDF, 237KB) in response to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Math Review of Federal Policies that Contribute to Racial and Ethnic Health Inequities request for information. Submitted comments will inform an ad hoc committee of the National Academies’ evidence-based, independent, and objective analysis of federal policies that contribute to racial and ethnic health inequities, including those policies that impact the social determinants of health, as well as potential solutions.
Cosigned by APA Chief Science Officer Mitch Prinstein, PhD, and APA Chief Diversity Officer Maysa Akbar, PhD, the comments focused on the intersection of behavioral health policies and racial and ethnic health inequities, and presented four themes for the committee’s consideration:
- Applying a population health approach to promote mental health equity.
- Ensuring accountability in distribution of federal resources allocated to state, local, territorial, and tribal jurisdictions.
- Facilitating meaningful engagement of external stakeholders, including members of communities that have experienced historic social and economic marginalization.
- Engaging in a comprehensive assessment of the disproportionate impact of public health emergencies and environmental disasters on people of color.
For more information, contact Leo Rennie.