Mission Statement

Statement of the Clinical Child Psychology Program-- January, 2004

The KU Clinical Child Psychology Training Program leading to the doctoral degree (Ph.D.) is accredited by the American Psychological Association as a training program in the area of Clinical Psychology with a Child Emphasis. As an interdepartmental graduate program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School of the University of Kansas, the Clinical Child Psychology Program endorses and abides by the mission statement of the College, quoted in part below.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Mission Statement The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences fosters and advances excellent teaching, important and significant research, and public service within the state of Kansas and beyond. The liberal arts and sciences include a wide range of disciplines in the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural and mathematical sciences. The College strives to provide an educational experience that addresses the many ways in which these disciplines help us understand the world. At the core of a liberal arts education are research and informed engagement with global issues, multiculturalism, and diverse experiences; these goals represent our greatest hope for a better understanding of differences in the human condition and the potential for enhanced tolerance. Given that multiple perspectives lie at the core of a liberal arts education, the College strives to attract a community of students, faculty, and staff from diverse cultures and backgrounds, and we are committed to the full participation of previously excluded or neglected groups of people. We believe diversity in our student body, faculty, and staff is essential to our educational mission. . . .

The aim of education at the graduate level is to bring students to the frontiers of current knowledge in a discipline and to enable them to become independent contributors to that knowledge. We engage graduate students as collaborators in producing and disseminating knowledge while promoting their independence as scholars, teachers, and productive citizens. We educate all students to think critically, to communicate with precision, and to develop sensitivity to different cultures. We further educate students to acquire the skills needed in a complex technological world, while also developing interests that stimulate life-long learning. (December, 2003)

Accreditation by the American Psychological Association

As a program training in professional psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association, the Clinical Child Psychology Program fulfills the 8 Domains of training outlined in the APA Guidelines and Principles for Accreditation of Programs in Professional Psychology (Book 1, 2002). All domains provide significant guidance to our educational and training activities; Domain D, in particular, attends to the program's respect for and understanding of cultural and individual diversity that guides its actions with regard to personal and demographic characteristics (quoted in entirety):

"Domain D: Cultural and Individual Differences and Diversity

The program recognizes the importance of cultural and individual differences and diversity in the training of psychologists.

1. The program has made systematic, coherent, and long-term efforts to attract and retain students and faculty from differing ethnic, racial, and personal backgrounds into the program. Consistent with such efforts, it acts to ensure a supportive and encouraging learning environment appropriate for the training of diverse individuals and the provision of training opportunities for a broad spectrum of individuals. Further, the program avoids any actions that would restrict program access on grounds that are irrelevant to success in graduate training.

2. The program has and implements a thoughtful and coherent plan to provide students with relevant knowledge and experiences about the role of cultural and individual diversity in psychological phenomena as it relates to the science and practice of professional psychology. The avenues by which these goals are achieved are to be developed by the program." (APA, 2002, p. 9)

Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association

The faculty and students in the Clinical Child Psychology Program abide by the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct established by the American Psychological Association (December, 2002). Of specific relevance is Principle E: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity, quoted in part:

"Psychologists are aware of and respect cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status, and consider these factors when working with members of such groups." (APA December, 2002, p. 1063)

Guiding Principles of the KU Clinical Child Psychology Program

The Program is founded on six guiding principles. Not listed in priority order in the Program's Training Manual and on the website (www.ku.edu/~clchild), the third guiding principle states: "Clinical child psychologists need to be sensitive and responsive to the cultural and ethnic diversity of children and their families."

Statement adopted by vote of the faculty Clinical Child Psychology Program January, 2004