Commitment & Action Plan
In acknowledgment of the historic and ongoing systemic racism and discrimination that deeply affect the addiction treatment field, the NAATP staff and Board commit to the following actions.
Self-Examination
NAATP desires to be a voice for justice and change in our industry. To do this in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging, we recognize a need for a process of self-exploration and education of our staff and Board. We are in consultation with experts who have longstanding commitment and contribution to anti-racism efforts. The first step in this plan is self-examination, in which we plan to honestly evaluate our goals as an organization, and the needs within our industry to improve access and outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and others who have not been well served. NAATP will continue re-evaluate our advocacy goals and strategic plan to ensure they consider equity, inclusivity, and belonging for people who have been historically marginalized.
Elevating Voices of People of Color
NAATP will recruit People of Color as Board members and will provide members with webinar content and links to resources for further training on racial diversity, anti-racism, and inclusivity.
Raising Awareness and Transforming the Field
NAATP will implement anti-racism training for our staff and Board members and consider how to incorporate this topic into the NAATP National Conference and other NAATP efforts.
Action Steps & Timeline
Over the last 5 years, NAATP has taken the following steps to further our DEIB commitment and resources.
- Posted Commitment & Action Plan
- Formed Advisory Council
- Hosted Conference Sessions & Webinars on DEIB
- Conducted internal training for Board and Staff
- Expanded Affiliate Membership to DEIB Consultants & Trainers
- Updated Mission Statement, Ethics Code, and Public Policy Statement to include language about equity and inclusivity
- Instated DEIB Committee as a Standing Committee in By-Laws
- Stage of Change Organizational Assessment Tool
- All-Staff Stage of Change Assessment Tool
Partnered with Dr. Sara Matsuzaka at Montclair State University on a research study about LGBT stigma in addiction treatment settings (2024) and on a study about employee perceptions of their organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity (2025).
All-Staff DEIB Stages of Change Assessment Tool
NAATP offers a free, 19-item DEIB Stage of Change Assessment for behavioral health organizations to measure perspectives across all staff members regarding the organization’s equity and inclusion practices.
Organizational Stages of Change Assessment Tool
Developed with the DEIB Committee and Advisory Council, NAATP’s Stages of Change Model helps addiction treatment leadership identify growth areas, set action steps, and track progress toward DEIB best practices in their organization.