Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice, and Anti-racism (DEIJ-A)

The Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Maine AAP) intends to educate its Board of Directors about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice, and Anti-racism (DEIJ-A). As your DEIJ-A Chapter Champion, Dr. Jennifer Jewell will make a series of educational content available to our entire membership. Over the next year, you will note that the Maine AAP newsletter contains snippets of recommended readings and videos.

The Maine AAP hopes that the concepts in the longitudinal educational offerings promote discussion among your staff, fellow pediatricians, trainees, patients, and families.

Diversity: Pediatricians will learn the importance of self-reflection and the value that diversity brings to the care of patients and families and to interactions with colleagues, staff, and trainees.

Equity: Pediatricians will recognize the ways that stigma and bias influence attitudes and behaviors and will identify ways to improve the health outcomes of minoritized patients and families.

Inclusion: Pediatricians will foster ways to advance the feeling of belonging and value of all individuals, and will recognize the importance that a psychologically safe environment plays in allowing individuals to grow, thrive, and flourish without fear.

Justice: Pediatricians will identify advocacy opportunities to improve systems, policies, and practices that improve the health and well-being of minoritized populations.

Anti-racism: Pediatricians will participate actively to correct systems, policies, and practices that have allowed racist ideals to advance and to continue in our medical delivery systems, neighborhoods, state, and nation.

The Maine AAP will use the following statement, promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, to guide our work:
To embrace equity for all children and families as well as for the pediatricians who care for them is central to the mission of the American Academy of Pediatrics (“Academy” or “AAP”). The AAP is committed to achieving meaningful diversity and inclusion and to combat bias and discrimination in all its forms, including structural and systemic racism. The AAP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or national origin.

National AAP:
The vision of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is that all children have optimal health and well-being and are valued by society and that AAP members practice the highest quality health care and experience professional satisfaction and personal well-being. From the founding of the AAP, pursuing this vision has included treasuring the uniqueness of each child and fostering a profession, health care system, and communities that celebrate all aspects of the diversity of each child and family.

The AAP appreciates that children are increasingly diverse, with differences that may include race, ethnicity, language spoken at home, religion, disability and special health care need, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other attributes.

The AAP, as an organization of pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists, recognizes that our membership is composed of a broad and diverse community. The AAP is strengthened by our diversity. The variety of skills, characteristics, and attributes offered by our members creates the vitality and success of the Academy and improves the care of all children and youth. Maximizing the diversity of our members and leaders allows the AAP to benefit from the rich talents and different perspectives of these individuals.

The AAP, as a national nonprofit organization, fervently respects, values, and promotes diversity and inclusiveness among all the individuals, groups, and vendors with whom we interact, collaborate, and partner.

The AAP is committed to being a learning organization that recruits, supports, and promotes talented, diverse individuals as employees and to fostering a work environment that embraces and celebrates diversity, promotes inclusiveness, and treats all employees with dignity and respect.

Celebrating the diversity of children and families and promoting nurturing, inclusive environments means actively opposing intolerance, bigotry, bias, and discrimination. The AAP is committed to using policy, advocacy, and education to encourage inclusivity and cultural effectiveness for all.

The Maine AAP will be featuring information/readings/lessons on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Anti-Racism in our newsletters and on our website. Please join us by participating in this activity to increase knowledge, improve communications and expand your horizons!

DECEMBER 2022

The AAP has its own history of promulgating systemic racism. In an effort to acknowledge and accept responsibility for past wrongs, the AAP published Truth, Reconciliation, and Transformation: Continuing on the Path to Equity in 2020. This Policy Statement describes the systems of oppression that Dr. deGrate Smith and Dr. Scott experienced from our organization and the commitment to enact change in order to prevent future mistakes.

Includes:

1. 4-minute text

SEPTEMBER 2022

Bright Futures: Evidence of DEIJ-A

As part of the most recent update to Bright Futures, the Behavioral/Social/Emotional Screening footnote (Footnote 14) incorporates “The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health” Policy Statement.

Footnote 14 reads:

Screen for behavioral and social-emotional problems per “Promoting Optimal Development: Screening for Behavioral and Emotional Problems” (https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-3716), “Mental Health Competencies for Pediatric Practice” (https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-2757), “Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Anxiety Disorders” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32439401), and “Screening for Anxiety in Adolescent and Adult Women: A Recommendation From the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32510990). The screening should be family centered and may include asking about caregiver emotional and mental health concerns and social determinants of health, racism, poverty, and relational health. See “Poverty and Child Health in the United States” (https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-0339), ”The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health” (https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-1765), and “Preventing Childhood Toxic Stress: Partnering With Families and Communities to Promote Relational Health” (https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-052582).

Please read “The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health” Policy Statement.

Includes:

1. AAP Policy Statement – 8-10 minute text