Joseph O. Prewitt Díaz

Joseph O. Prewitt Díaz

Joseph O. Prewitt Díaz (2010) at his 50th High School Class Party
Born November 23, 1943
Cayey, Puerto Rico
Nationality Puerto Rican
Occupation psychologist
Notes
Prewitt Díaz was the recipient of the American Psychological Association's 2008 International Humanitarian Award.

Joseph Orlando Prewitt Díaz, PhD (born November 23, 1943) is a retired psychologist who specialized in psychosocial theory. He was the recipient of the American Psychological Association's 2008 International Humanitarian Award.[1]

Early years

Prewitt Díaz was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico. In 1964 he represented Puerto Rico in the Encampment for Citizenship a summer youth program that encouraged volunteerism and sought to educate its participants about civic responsibility, and participation in government.[2] Upon his return to Cayey, he joined Rev. Peter L. Pond, a theologist and community organizer and [3] Dr. Samuel Silva Gotay, a liberation theologist in the development of VESPRA “Voluntarios en Servicio a Puerto Rico”.[4] He served as the training coordinator and outward bound instructor[5]

Civil Air Patrol

As a child he loved to fly. While in the Benjamin Harrison School in Cayey, P.R. his favorite class was aeronautics and as a result he joined the Civil Air Patrol (1956–1959). By the age of 15 he had soloed in a Piper Cub. His dream of flying “low and slow” was put on the back burner until 1988 when he rejoined the Pennsylvania Wing.[6] He served the organization until 2000.[6] He served as Squadron Commander, Red Cross Liaison, and Legislative Affairs Officer for the Pennsylvania Wing and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.[6] During that period of time he went back to flying and achieved the Aeronautical Rating of Master Observer.[6] He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal for his services.[6]

Education

Prewitt Díaz completed his undergraduate studies and graduate studies in psychology and counseling psychology at the University of Puerto Rico. He completed two additional graduate degrees in the United States: educational psychology at Trinity College, and Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction at Neumann College. He received his PhD degree from the University of Connecticut and pursued Post Doctoral studies at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.

Fellowships

The World Education Fellowship 1975–1978 allowed him to study language development and cultural adjustment of Puerto Rican children in Connecticut. As a recipient of a W. K. Kellogg Foundation National Fellowship,[7] he visited Brazil, Argentina and Mexico exploring the role of community health in improving the quality of life of resource-poor communities. A Woodrow Wilson Hispanic Fellowship resulted in the first draft of a 1994 book entitled The Psychology of Puerto Rican Migration, an ethnographic study.

Seven years in Hartford, Connecticut 1972-1979

I. Bilingual Teacher Corps Project (University of Hartford 1973)

He arrived in Hartford, Connecticut on December 26, 1972. He was invited to work as the In-Service Coordinator for the Teacher Corps program at the University of Hartford under the direction of Dr. Perry Zirkel. He had received a one-semester leave of absence from the University of Puerto Rico-Cayey; that was extended until August 1973. To become an In-service Coordinator for these potential teachers two things were necessary: (1) a curriculum that focused on the beginning and evolution of the Puerto Rican community in Hartford,[8] and (2) exposure to professional Puerto Ricans who served as role models for these future teachers.[9] During a six months period twenty-seven speakers, nine who came from Puerto Rico had the opportunity to interact with administrators, teachers, and other school personnel,[10][11][12]

II. Project MAS (More Alternatives for Students)

In July 1974, he was hired as the Acting Director of Project MAS, a special compensatory education project for limited English proficient students at Fox Elementary School, Quirk Middle School, and Hartford High School. In addition he had the additional responsibility of serving as a Bilingual School Psychologist system wide,[13] As my tenure in Project MAS was coming to an end, Mr. Natividad Marques wrote a piece on the work that we had performed during that year.[14]

III. Bulkeley High School

In October 22, 1975 he was appointed as Vice Principal at Bulkeley High School. By 1979 a team of bilingual teachers we began operating a New arrival’s center for recently arrive students ages 15–18. Prof. Nestor Acevedo was the team leader of the three-person team. The goal of the program was to mainstream students. Once the student achieves in the 30th percentile of the Language Assessment Battery, they are placed in the mainstream classrooms with support[15] Good things were happening in Bilingual Education.[16]

By July 18, 1979, a study on the effectiveness of Bilingual Education for Puerto Rican students was able, through scientific research, to prove that students would achieve at a greater rate in the content areas if their home language were reinforced. The study discovered that without reinforcement, so-called bilingual students lost their mastery of Spanish and achieved more slowly in both languages.[17]

Academic Journey at Penn State University

Dr. Prewitt Diaz was hired as an Assistant Professor in September 1979; he remained at the University for twelve years. He resigned on September 15, 1992 with the rank of Associate Professor of Education and School Psychology. His research interests mirrored the current events reported about Puerto Ricans in the United States in the popular press, and journals. He began looking at the teaching of the English language to Puerto Rican children, and transitioned into psychometrics and the Puerto Rican child.[18] Among his work is the translation, linguistic and cultural adaptation of several instruments Two examples are the Coppersmith Self Esteem Inventory translation and use cultural adaptation for Puerto Rican adolescents,[19] and the translation, back translation and an interpretation of the MMPI.[20] The composite results of these studies provided an important angle in working with Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico and the United States: translation, back translation, and diverse meanings based on world views of people as seen in his research in the United States.[21][22][23] His work in exploring the linguistically applicability of Standardized test, the mechanics of developing and translating test has been used in the fields of educational psychology and psychosocial support internationally [24][25][26]

Contributions to the Latino community in Pennsylvania

His weekly long trips from State College, PA to Bethlehem, Chester, Lancaster, and York provided a laboratory for graduate students, an opportunity for parents to seek advices on how to improve the academic and psychosocial well being of their children. In 1992 he was instrumental in the development of a Mental Health Clinic in Reading, Pennsylvania, affiliated to the Spanish Speaking Center. In September 1992 he left Reading, PA to serve in Hurricane Andrew in Florida and the North Eastern storm in New Jersey.[27] He returned to Pennsylvania, this time to the Chester-Upland School District as a School Psychologist. As a result of his efforts with linguistically and behaviorally challenged children and their parents, he was awarded the 1998 Pennsylvania Education Association “Human and Civil Rights Award”.

He served in the mid-1990s as a Pastor of the “El Mesías” United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, where he experienced first hand the emotional and spiritual challenges of non-English speaking people living in a large urban environment. This discernment period led him to a career change into the humanitarian assistance field with the American Red Cross International Services.

American Red Cross volunteer and paid staff

Dr. Joseph O Prewitt Diaz served as volunteer for the American Red Cross since 1976, when he organized Blood drives at Bulkeley High School, Hartford, Connecticut. He served from 1992 to 2001 as a volunteer for Disaster Services of the American Red Cross.[28] During that period he served in 24 National Disaster Response operations as a mental health specialist and coordinator in floods, tornadoes, Hurricanes, air crashes, and hurricanes. Among the most prominent are Hurricane Andrew 1992;[29] Los Angeles Earthquake in 1994,[30] the Oklahoma City Bombing 1995,[31] in 1998 in Hurricane Georges as the East Region of Puerto Rico Coordinator.[32] On the 9/11 attacks He served as a Disaster Mental Health coordinator of the Family Assistance Center[33] in the recovery of UNITED 93 in Shanksville, PA.[34][35][36]

Prewitt Diaz served as a paid staff with the American Red Cross for ten years. He was invited to become an International Delegate on August 5, 1998. He served as the Regional Program Coordinator for Central America, Psychosocial Functional Advisor and the Head of Programs in India.

Prewitt Díaz helped to train Red Cross volunteers in mental health support in the wake of the 2001 El Salvador earthquakes. While in El Salvador he was awarded the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award.[37][38]

He represented the American Red Cross as a member of the team of 20 experts that drafted the Inter-Agency Standing Committee IASC Mental Health and Psychosocial Support International Guidelines.

When the 2004 tsunami battered the shores of South Asian countries, the American Red Cross psychosocial support team based in India and led by disaster mental health expert, Joseph Prewitt Díaz, quickly responded to the devastated to Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indonesia to assist in developing programs.[39]

Prewitt Díaz made significant adaptations to the psychosocial support program on the basis of his extensive experience in Hurricane Mitch in Central America, the earthquake-affected area in Bhuj and the riot-torn camps in Gujarat. Part of the adaptation was to build a detailed career ladder of advanced training, enabling paid and volunteer local staff to build their knowledge and expertise over time in a well-structured process.[40] According to Jacobs (2007) The work of Prewitt Díaz has been the foundation of a virtual quantum leap in psychological support in the South Asia region and have produced a second generation of psychological support programs.

In the critical early weeks following the tsunami, American Red Cross-trained volunteers in psychological first aid developed programs in Maldives, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India.[39] These psychosocial programs initiated by the American Red Cross team planned to provide service to the children and their families in communities and schools. Five years later psychosocial support services have been provided to more than 733,700 people).

The team focused on training Red Cross/Red Crescent paid and volunteer staff to reach the most vulnerable of the tsunami affected areas.[39] Five years later 277,000 Red Cross Red Crescent staff and volunteers, and implementing a variety of activities such as support groups, events that bring communities back together, livelihoods programs and play activities for children have been trained.

This effort earned Prewitt Díaz a Special Achievement Reward in recognition of the extraordinary results achieved through intensive problem solving, innovation and creativity. He was also awarded the Tiffany Award (the highest award given by the American Red Cross to an employee or volunteer).

Honors and awards

Prewitt Díaz has been recognized for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the education and well-being marginalized children and youth by two Pennsylvania governors. He received the Pennsylvania Heritage Award from Governor Robert P. Casey in 1990,[41] and the Latino Pride Award from Governor Tom Ridge in 1999. Governor Ella Grasso of Connecticut had honored him with an appointment as a trustee to the Regional Community Colleges on June 28, 1977.

Publications

Prewitt Díaz has published extensively over his career. By 1997 he had published over one hundred refereed journal articles on assessment, migration, mental health and education of Puerto Rican children in the United States and Puerto Rico. In the latter part of his career he has authored or co-authored 32 books addressing the psychosocial needs of disaster affected people in Central and South America as well as South Asia (American Psychologist, 2008).

The following are selected books over a twenty-year period:

He was the primary author (with Dr. Robert Trotter III and Victor Rivera) of a three-year study titled “The effects of migration on children. An ethnographic study”.[49] The study documents for the first time the existence of the “culture of migrancy” and its effects on children and their schooling. As a result of the unveiling of this study Pennsylvania served as a host to the first public hearings of the National Commission on Migrant Education chaired by Linda Chavez, Esq.[49] on August 7, 1990 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Newspaper testimonials

See also

Notes

  1. "International humanitarian award: Joseph Orlando Prewitt Díaz". American Psychologist: 818–820. November 2008.
  2. http://www.nps.gov/archive/elro/glossary/encamp-for-citizenship.htm
  3. www.upr.clu.edu/exegesis/33/garciaLeduc.html
  4. http://home.coqui.net/fundesco/_pages/historial.htm
  5. “Latino Leaders will be honored by Gov. Ridge”. (Lancaster. PA, April 5, 1999)
  6. Trustees appointed to the Board for Regional Community Colleges (Hartford Courant, June 29, 1977).
  7. Jaquemet, Iolanda. "Psychological support: luxury or necessity?". Red Cross Red Crescent. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  8. Personal Conversation with Mr. Israel Zuniga, Regional Director Central America Regional Delegation, American Red Cross, July 28, 2010.
  9. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 85 (11): 822. November 2007.
  10. Jacobs, G. (2007). The development and maturation of humanitarian psychology. American Psychologist, 62, 929–941).
  11. American Red Cross (2009). Tsunami Recovery Program: Five-year report. Washington, DC: American Red Cross. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  12. IFRC (2009). Tsunami Five-Year Progress Report 2004–2009. Geneva, Switzerland: IFRC. Retrieved November 4, 2010
  13. Rivera, M. (1997). An annotated bibliography of published materials on Puerto Ricans. Working Paper # 30. East Lansing, MI: Julian Samora Research Institute, Michigan State University.

References

  1. ↑ "International humanitarian award: Joseph Orlando Prewitt Díaz". American Psychologist 63: 818–820. November 2008. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.63.8.818.
  2. ↑ Cabrera, A.R. (February 23, 1965). Juventud Internacional participa en Campamento de la Ciudadanía. Suplemento Sabatino, El Mundo, Periódico de Puerto Rico
  3. ↑ Samuel Silva Gotay
  4. ↑ [Silva Gotay,S. (2010). Que Tiene Que Ver Cayey Con India, Claridad.51,3001,p.30]
  5. ↑ Lawson, D.H. (March 3, 1967). An evaluation of training procedures of Voluntarios en Servicio a Puerto Rico Asociados (VESPRA). Washington, D.C.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 (Personnel Record, Civil Air Patrol, 2010)
  7. ↑ W.K. Kellogg National Fellowship
  8. ↑ These modules can be found at the University of Connecticut Library-People of Connecticut Section, Stoors, CT
  9. ↑ City educators learn of Puerto Rican culture. The Hartford Courant. March 7, 1973. P. 14
  10. ↑ Habla sobre Puerto Rico en Hartford. La Prensa Grafica. Marzo 1973
  11. ↑ La Sra. Belpre dicta charla sobre lectura infantil. La Prensa Grafica, Abril 1973.
  12. ↑ Espinoza, P.A. (May, 1973). Farandula. La Prensa Grafica. Hartford, Connecticut.
  13. ↑ Hartford Courant (November 23, 1974). Psychologist. p.16
  14. ↑ Marquez, N. (9 de mayo de 1975). Estampas Tipicas: Loa a un jibaro. La Prensa Grafica, p. 5.
  15. ↑ Current Research: Reinforcing Home Language quickens achievement. Bilingual Education Newsletter (Connecticut State Department of Education). 1(1) 6.
  16. ↑ Soler, A. (June 1979). Hartford Collaborative helps Hispanic students. Bilingual Education Newsletter (Connecticut State Department of Education). 1(1) 1.
  17. ↑ Prewitt Diaz, J.O. (1979). An analysis of the effects of a bicultural curriculum on monolingual Spanish ninth graders as compared with monolingual English and bilingual ninth graders with regard to language development, attitude toward school, and self-concept. Doctoral dissertation, University of Connecticut.
  18. ↑ Rivera, M. (1997). An Annotated Bibliography of Published Materials on Puerto Ricans. Lansing, MI: Julian Samora Research Institute. Working Paper # 30
  19. ↑ Prewitt Diaz, J.O. (1983). A study of self-esteem and school sentiment on two groups of Puerto Rican students. Educational and Psychological Research. 3(3), 161-167
  20. ↑ Prewitt Diaz, J.O., Nogueras, J.A. & Draguns, J. (June 1984). (MMPI (Spanish Translation) in Puerto Rican Adolescents: Preliminary Data on Reliability and Validity. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 6 (2). 179-190
  21. ↑ Prewitt Diaz, J.O., Rodriguez, M.D. and Rivera Ruiz, D. (1985). A study of the Spanish translation of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised with Puerto Rican children and adolescents. Education, 27(2)13-19 (Journal of Education, Department of Education of Puerto Rico
  22. ↑ (Prewitt Díaz, J.O., Rodríguez, M.D., & Rivera Ruiz, D. (1986). The predictive validity of the Spanish translation of the WISC-R(EIWN-R) with Puerto Ricanin Puerto Rico and the children of the Puerto Rican Diaspora in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Educational and Psychological Measurement. 46, 401-407.
  23. ↑ Prewitt Diaz, J.O. & Rivera, R. (1989). Correlations among scores on Woodcock-Johnson Achievement Subtest (Spanish), WISC-R (Spanish) and the Colombia Mental Maturity Scale. Psychological Reports 64, 987-990.
  24. ↑ (Brinkmann, H., Segura, T., & Solar, M.I. (1989). Adaptación, estandarización y elaboración de normas para el Inventario de Autoestima de Coopersmith. Revista Chilena de Psicología. 10(1), 63-71
  25. ↑ Lara Cantú, M.A., Verduzco, M.A., Acevedo M. & Cortes, J. (1993). Validez, y confiabilidad del Inventario de Autoestima de Coopersmith para adultos, en población Mexicana. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicologia. 25(2), 247-255.
  26. ↑ Prewitt Diaz, J.O. & Dayal de Prewitt, A (2008). Words into action: Pictorial contextualization of the IASC guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in emergency settings. Intervention. 6(3/4), 327-333.
  27. ↑ (Intelligencer Journal. "’Disaster Joe’ available in times of need. April 23, 1993)
  28. ↑ Johnson, O. (2005). American Red Cross-Volunteer Profile. Washington, D.C.: Disaster Services Human Resources, American Red Cross
  29. ↑ Bowencamp, D. (November 15, 1992) Evaluation of Disaster Worker. Washington, D.C.: Disaster Services Human Resources, American Red Cross
  30. ↑ Newcomer, S.K. (1994) Performance Review of Disaster Worker. Washington, D.C.: Disaster Services Human Resources, American Red Cross
  31. ↑ Smith, P (1995). Performance Review of Disaster Worker. Washington, D.C.: Disaster Services Human Resources, American Red Cross
  32. ↑ Bowencamp, D. (1998). Performance Review of Disaster Worker. Washington, D.C.: Disaster Services Human Resources, American Red Cross
  33. ↑ Weaver, J. (2001). Disaster Relief Operation-Work Performance Evaluation. Washington, D.C.: Disaster Services Human Resources, American Red Cross
  34. ↑ Fonseca m. (September 11, 2011). Memory of the 9/11 haunts PR psychologist. Puerto Rico Daily Sun San Juan, Puerto Rico.3 (1041). p.4.
  35. ↑ Psicólogo Cayeyano recuerda su ayuda el 9-11. Inter News Service (September 9, 2011) (http://www.noticel.com/noticia/109884/psicologo-cayeyano-recuerda-su-ayuda-el-9-11.html)
  36. ↑ 10 anos después de 11-S--Joseph O. Prewitt Díaz. El Vocero-San Juan, Puerto Rico (8 de septiembre de 2011). Vol. 37, 11562, p. 36.
  37. ↑ Molina O'Brien, M. (February 18, 2001). In El Salvador, A Story of Triumph. http://redcross.org/news/in/0101elsal/010223a.html
  38. ↑ Molina, M. (Feb. 19, 2001). Salvando a Maria. http://www.cruzrojahumanidad.org/elsalvador/salvando%20a%20maria%20texto.htm
  39. 1 2 3 American Red Cross Tsunami Relief Plan
  40. ↑
  41. ↑ "Gov. Casey to participate in first ethnicity conference." (Press release). PR Newswire. 6 June 1990. The five recipients of the Heritage Awards are:...Joseph O. Prewitt Díaz, director of Bilingual Education Programs at Penn State University
  42. ↑ http://www.emro.who.int/eha/pdf/Adv_DMH_PS_2006.pdf
  43. ↑ (ISBN 81-89113-00-3)
  44. ↑ http://bases.bireme.br/cgi-bin/wxislind.exe/iah/online/?IsisScript=iah/iah.xis&src=google&base=DESASTRES&lang=p&nextAction=lnk&exprSearch=14924&indexSearch=ID
  45. ↑ http://bases.bireme.br/cgi-bin/wxislind.exe/iah/online/?IsisScript=iah/iah.xis&src=google&base=DESASTRES&lang=p&nextAction=lnk&exprSearch=14926&indexSearch=ID
  46. ↑ http://bases.bireme.br/cgi-bin/wxislind.exe/iah/online/?IsisScript=iah/iah.xis&src=google&base=DESASTRES&lang=p&nextAction=lnk&exprSearch=12974&indexSearch=ID
  47. ↑ http://bases.bireme.br/cgi-bin/wxislind.exe/iah/online/?IsisScript=iah/iah.xis&src=google&base=DESASTRES&lang=p&nextAction=lnk&exprSearch=12705&indexSearch=ID
  48. ↑ http://eric.ed.gov:80/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED387583&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED387583
  49. 1 2 high beam
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