What is Community Psychology?
Social justice. Action-oriented research. Global in nature. Influencing public policy. Working for empowerment. Multidisciplinary in focus. Celebrating culture. Preventing harm. Behavior in context. Social action. Supporting community strengths. Reducing oppression. Promoting well-being. Scientific inquiry. Honoring human rights. Respecting diversity.
Community psychology goes beyond an individual focus and integrates social, cultural, economic, political, environmental, and international influences to promote positive change, health, and empowerment at individual and systemic levels.
Featured New Content
Don’t Throw It Away – Give It Away: Recycling Electronic Tech to Underserved Communities
Posted in: Blog, Poverty and Socioeconomic Status | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: The Community PsychologistIncreasing technology access for all is a crucial issue affecting vulnerable populations. Specific interventions focused on increasing access to knowledge about technology, technological skills and development, and technological infrastructure are important for creating a more socially just world and workforce.
How do we get real about evaluation for racial equity?
Posted in: Anti-Racism | Tags: Featured ContentThe W.K. Kellogg Foundation and led by Community Science provides three easy-to-use resources help evaluators integrate racial equity principles into their daily work.
The Roles of Settings in Supporting Immigrants’ Resistance to Injustice and Oppression: A Policy Position Statement by the Society for Community Research and Action
Posted in: Immigrant Justice | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologySettings of various sizes and scopes can support immigrants’ resistance to oppression. This policy statement describes how.
Online Youth Mentoring: Creating a Safe and Comfortable Space can Result in Meaningful Digital Connections
Posted in: Children, Youth and Families | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyThe individual effort of youth mentors during the COVID-19 pandemic showed commitment and intentionality. Mentoring programs can develop emergency plans (like moving to digital operations) to prepare for unexpected events with the intention of ensuring continuous support for mentees.
Reducing the Stigma of Mental Illness in Communities of Color
Posted in: Anti-Racism, Mental Health | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyWe can take an action-oriented approach to identify how cultural aspects of mental illness stigma manifest for racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. Culturally salient interventions can promote change and empowerment at systemic and individual levels.
Creating a Healing Community to Promote Racial Justice
Posted in: Anti-Racism, Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ContentAlternative settings, like CBTL can provide relational healing spaces grounded in collectively held values of care, recognition, and reciprocity. CBTL exists within contexts of race and coloniality, but seeks to form solidarities, broader practices, and ways of relating within creative industries.
Featured Research
Support for Evidence-Based Mentoring for Youth in Foster Care
Posted in: Children, Youth and Families | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyFostering Healthy Futures (FHF) is one of very few evidence-based youth mentoring interventions for youth in foster care. FHF has positive effects on youth in foster care and improves the mental health of children with varied relational histories.
Marginalized LGBTQ Identities and the Minority Stress Theory
Posted in: Marginalized Groups, Mental Health | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyYouth exposed to a greater number of minority stress experiences are among those at highest risk for attempting suicide. Disproportionate exposure among marginalized members of the LGBTQ community highlight the need for suicide prevention to prioritize those at greatest risk.
Critical Reflection as an Antidote for Oppression
Posted in: Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyCritical reflection is associated with lower levels of internalized oppression and higher levels of collective efficacy. It can liberate people from oppressive ideologies and empower them to resist social injustice.
