Antiracism
We at CAPS recognize that racism in all its forms, is a systemic problem plaguing our society. Given our commitment to inclusivity and social justice, we feel it necessary to make clear our anti-racist commitments. Having a commitment to anti-racism means that we are actively working to dismantle policy, procedures, attitudes, and practices that play a part in maintaining the systems that foster racism. The first step means that we as mental health professionals acknowledge the barriers BIPOC have historically faced when it comes to accessing and engaging in mental health services. Our dedication to dismantling barriers and raising up the health of students means we make the following commitments.
We commit to:
- Having therapeutic decolonized practices that acknowledge the strengths of students and validates their experiences.
- Dedicating time in our professional development to enhance our knowledge of culturally competent mental health services. This includes work on racial identity development and acknowledging privilege.
- Hiring practices such posting our positions broadly to ensure that as many different people as possible are aware of our job opening (e.g., University Counseling Jobs). We also post our job openings in specific targeted venues to ensure that diverse individuals are aware of the job opening (e.g., DiversityJobs.com, WeHireWomen.com).
- Having diversity training be an integral part of the internship program and is incorporated into various facets of the program (e.g., diversity seminar, social justice project, individual supervision). The incorporation of diversity into our internship program is a coherent and systemic component of the agency’s effort to recruit diverse staff because it is one more way in which staff are involved in diversity related work and a way we as an agency can live our value of diversity.
- Having bi-weekly work group meetings to review and update policy and procedures to ensure they uphold standards that are inclusive and uphold the rights and dignity of students.
One of our biggest commitments is providing students with tools to assist with their mental health. Below are a list of resources that are geared toward self care, building communities, and learning more about anti-racist work.
NAMI: African American Mental Health
Proactively Coping with Racism
Emotionally Restorative Self Care for People of Color
Multicultural Student Organizations
K-State Student Belonging and Inclusion
Detour-Spotting for White Antiracists
106 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
Let's Get to the Root of Racial Injustice
The difference between being "not racist" and antiracist | Ibram X. Kendi