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.
This document is copyrighted and is property of the American Academy of Pediatrics and its Board of Directors. All authors have filed conflict of interest statements with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Any conflicts have been resolved through a process approved by the Board of Directors. The American Academy of Pediatrics has neither solicited nor accepted any commercial involvement in the development of the content of this publication.
Policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics benefit from expertise and resources of liaisons and internal (AAP) and external reviewers. However, policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics may not reflect the views of the liaisons or the organizations or government agencies that they represent.
The guidance in this statement does not indicate an exclusive course of treatment or serve as a standard of medical care. Variations, taking into account individual circumstances, may be appropriate.
All policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics automatically expire 5 years after publication unless reaffirmed, revised, or retired at or before that time.
COMPANION PAPER: A companion to this article can be found online at www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2018-0177.
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