¡Bienvenidos a CLPA! On behalf of the California Latino Psychological Association (CLPA), let me be the first to welcome you. It is with great honor and excitement that I hope to lead and further establish the association’s presence in both the Latina/o community and in the larger profession of psychology. We are a young association with energy and enthusiasm that strives to give back to the various communities that have shaped us. Our primary goal is to promote comunidad, collaboration and interpersonal connection and support for both our members and in the communities we reside.

Our nation is in search for change, and as a community, Latinos' needs continue to be overlooked. Therefore, we must act and speak in unison and breach the silence that plagues our community. Our collaborative efforts ensure that all Latino communities’ mental health needs are openly discussed and addressed. Many of our members chose a profession in mental health as an avenue to facilitate change and respond to the needs of disenfranchised communities. CLPA is a launching pad to create that change.

CLPA was founded in 2003 to establish a statewide presence that paralleled the growth of Latina/os across California, and to address issues pertinent to Latina/o mental health. CLPA offers a venue for professionals to network, dialogue and forge new paths to advocate for social justice across marginalized communities. CLPA is dedicated to addressing the clinical, training, research and academic issues related to Latina/o Psychology.

CLPA’s passion and commitment to social justice is interwoven into the very fabric of the association and transcends all our efforts. CLPA has been at the forefront of promoting community amongst professionals in California through offering conferences and seminars that address immigration and other pertinent issues that impact Latino mental health. In efforts to promote our mission, we continue to cultivate and maintain collaborations with statewide and national associations, colleges and universities. If we are to continue to make progress towards educating others about working with Latina/os, we must continue to build bridges. Similarly, CLPA strongly supports our student members in their educational and professional endeavors, which will ensure the future of CLPA for years to come and promote access to mental health services in Latina/o communities.

I urge psychologists and other mental health professionals who are interested in Latina/o mental health to get involved and be active participants in the CLPA. We look forward to your membership and involvement.

Sinceramente,

Susana O. Salgado, PhD
CLPA President