B - 27 Philadelphia Neuropsychology Society's Equity Forum: Efforts to Address Local Level Needs for Equity in Neuropsychology.

Abstract

While there are growing national advocacy efforts to advance equity in neuropsychology, fewer initiatives exist at local and regional levels. The Philadelphia Neuropsychology Society's (PNS) Equity Forum was created to provide diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-related support, advocacy, and resources to local trainees, professionals, and communities. We describe the Forum's efforts to promote policies, educate, and offer support at a local level. We conducted an archival review of activities of the PNS Equity Forum from January 2021 to April 2023, including a PNS needs assessment survey (NAS), the southeastern PA Regional Community Health Needs Assessment (rCHNA), electronic correspondence, and website traffic. Results identified the need to increase access to resources for 1) culturally responsive research, 2) bilingual providers, 3) low-cost care, and 4) brain health education for the local public. In response, the Forum implemented the following initiatives: monthly ce seminars and journal club, quarterly newsletter, and a resource repository for culturally, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse communities in the Philadelphia region. The Forum provided DEI-related education to monthly PNS speakers and created safe discussion spaces after national tragedies. The PNS Forum website page saw a 114% increase in views, the list of bilingual and culturally-aware providers received 25% more views, and the quarterly newsletter saw a 100% increase in views in the last month. Neuropsychologists can serve as social change agents in local and regional neuropsychology organizations, and create transformational spaces for accessible, equitable, and sustainable neuropsychology practices and training environments.