Joseph O. Prewitt Diaz
Encyclopedia
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.
. 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. Upon his return to Cayey, he joined Rev. Peter L. Pond
, a theologist and community organizer and Dr. Samuel Silva Gotay, a liberation theologist in the development of VESPRA “Voluntarios en Servicio a Puerto Rico”. He served as the training coordinator and outward bound instructor
(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. He served the organization until 2000. He served as Squadron Commander, Red Cross Liaison, and Legislative Affairs Officer for the Pennsylvania Wing and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. During that period of time he went back to flying and achieved the Aeronautical Rating of Master Observer. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal for his services.
. 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.
, The Pennsylvania State University
, the Medical School of the National University of Honduras, Program in Psychiatry, and the Graduate Program in Disaster Management at Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University in New Delhi
, India.
National Fellowship, 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.
(CT). He provided training to 30 teachers related to cultural issues pertaining to the effects of migrancy and schooling of Puerto Rican children. As a result he was awarded the “Outstanding Staff Service Certificate” by the National Director of the Teacher Corps in 1973. He became the first certified school psychologist in Connecticut. He was hired by the Hartford Public School system as the Director of Project MAS (More Alternative for Students) a dropout prevention program for middle and high school. In 1975 he developed the Bilingual Program for High School students at Bulkeley High School. In his years in Hartford he was a member of the Hartford Human Rights Commission, and the Board of “La Casa de Puerto Rico”.
After completing his doctoral degree he was invited to teach in the Division of Curriculum and Instruction, the Pennsylvania State University
. During his tenure at Penn State he developed and taught courses in cross cultural research, testing of Puerto Rican children, methods and procedures for evaluating for placement into Special Education of bilingual children and migrancy and its effects on children. He developed an academic component of the graduate program focused on cross-cultural psychology, methods and research tools. In addition he maintained practicum for his students in Bethlehem, Chester, Lancaster and York, PA. These weekly long trips provided a laboratory for graduate students, an opportunity for parents to seek advices that provided assistance for their children. During his tenure (1978–1992) he served as Advisor Puerto Rican doctoral and Master level students whom upon their graduation returned to Puerto Rico to assume leadership position in Universities in the Island or remained in schools districts in Pennsylvania.
In 1992 he was instrumental in the development of a Mental Health Clinic in Reading, Pennsylvania
, affiliated to the Spanish Speaking Center. He continued to volunteer with the American Red Cross
, and the Civil Air Patrol
. In September 1992 he left Reading, PA to serve in Hurricane Andrew in Florida and the North Eastern storm in New Jersey. 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 inner city living. This discernment period led him to a career change into the humanitarian assistance field with the American Red Cross International Services.
since 1976, when he organized Blood drives at Bulkeley High School, Hartford, CT. He served from 1992 to 2001 as a volunteer for Disaster Services of the American Red Cross. 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; Los Angeles Earthquake in 1994, the Oklahoma City Bombing 1995, in 1998 in Hurricane Goerges as the East Region of Puerto Rico Coordinator. On the 9/11 attacks He served as a Disaster Mental Health coordinator of the Family Assistance Center in the recovery of UNITED 93 in Shanksville, PA..
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.
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.
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. 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. 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. 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).
governors. He received the Pennsylvania Heritage Award from Governor Robert P. Casey
in 1990, 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.
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”. 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. on August 7, 1990 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
.
Caraballo, Jose Noel. (1985). The effect of various visual display modes in computer-based instruction and language background upon achievement of selected educational objectives. Thesis (Ph.D) Pennsylvania State University. (Cd5192)
Delgado Albino, Ana M., (1983). A survey and analysis of Puerto Rico accredited institutions of higher education personnel perceptions of faculty development practices and beliefs with a view to identifying some critical needs. Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4558).
Estrada, Nidia E. (1987). An evaluative study of the effects of the Toro Negro English Language Immersion School on a group of eighth-grade Puerto Rican students. Thesis (D.Ed.). Pennsylvania State University. (Cd5993).
Fermin de Garcia, Carmen Olivia. (1983). An exploratory study of staff development readiness perceptions of faculty members and administrators of the Instituto Universitario Politecnico de las Fuerzas Armadas de Venezuela (IUPFAN). Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State university. (Cd4713)
Figueroa Vila, Ismael (1988). Puerto Rican dropouts on the mainland: An oral History. Thesis (D.Ed.). Pennsylvania State University. (Cd6651).
Gierbolini Rodriguez, Angel M. (1984). The development and validation of a burnout measure : the Inventario de Extenuacion Personal (IEP)--in a selected group of bilinqual special education teachers in Puerto Rico. Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4983)
Litchfield Garcia, Fernando. (1982). Impact of three approaches to nutrition instruction on fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade Puerto Rican students. Thesis (Ed.D.)--Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4040).
Lopez-Ramirez, Norma I., (1986). The impact of changing environment on six behavioral and psychological traits in Puerto Rican adults. Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State University (Cd5839).
Nogueras, Juan A. (1983) The standardization of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) on a selected group of migrant and non-migrant Puerto Rican students. Thesis (Ph.D.) – Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4454)
Ramos Mateo, A. (1983) A study of the adult education needs as perceived by five selected groups of respondents in the central mountain region of Puerto Rico. Thesis (Ph.D.)- Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4752)
Rivera, Rosalida. (1984).A study of the effectiveness and appropriateness of three methodological approaches—Basal, Mixed, and Language Experience—with return migrant students in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State University (Cd5029)
Rivera Ruiz, David. (1984). Linguistic applicability and the predictive validity of the Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Ninos : Revisada (EIWN-R) with a group of seventh- and eighth-graders. Thesis (Ph.D.). The Pennsylvania State University. (Cd5142).
Rodriguez, Victor L. (1988). A correlational study among scores of the EIWN-R, using the WISC-R norms and the Spanish EIWN-R norms, the bateria and the GPA with a limited sample of Puerto Rican children. Thesis (Ph.D.). The Pennsylvania State University. (Cd6606).
Santiago, Angel David, (1988). A study of the effect of jogging on inferred self-concept in a group of college-age return-migrant and non-migrant females. Thesis (Ph.D.). The Pennsylvania State University (Cd6492).
Seilhamer, Emily Stella, (1983) The effects of type of migration on reading achievement in Spanish, physical (somatic) adjustment, school adjustment, and social adjustment on a group of Puerto Rican students. Thesis (Ph.D.)- Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4755)
Torres, Jimmy (1990). The effect of three visual enhancement strategies on learners who possess high and low prior knowledge on specific learning objectives when time on instruction is held constant. Thesis (PhD). Pennsylvania State University (Cd7371)
Torres, Migdalia. (1984) Effect of videotape modules in sensitizing prospective teachers to the problems inherent in the acquisition of knowledge, goal perception of bilingual education, and attitudes toward pre-service training. Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4771)
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
who specialized in psychosocial
Psychosocial
For a concept to be psychosocial means it relates to one's psychological development in, and interaction with, a social environment. The individual needs not be fully aware of this relationship with his or her environment. It was first commonly used by psychologist Erik Erikson in his stages of...
theory. He was the recipient of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
's 2008 International Humanitarian Award.
Early years
Prewitt Díaz was born in Cayey, Puerto RicoCayey, Puerto Rico
Cayey is a mountain town in central Puerto Rico located on the Central Mountain range, north of Salinas and Guayama; south of Cidra and Caguas; east of Aibonito and Salinas; and west of San Lorenzo Cayey is spread over 21 wards and Cayey Pueblo...
. In 1964 he represented Puerto Rico in the Encampment for Citizenship
Encampment for Citizenship
The Encampment for Citizenship was a summer camp founded by Algernon D. Black in 1946 through the New York Society for Ethical Culture. The camp program's aim was, according to the society, for "young adults of many religious, racial, social and national backgrounds" to learn "the principles and...
a summer youth program that encouraged volunteerism and sought to educate its participants about civic responsibility, and participation in government. Upon his return to Cayey, he joined Rev. Peter L. Pond
Peter L. Pond
The Reverend Peter Lawrence Pond was a New England clergyman, activist and philanthropist who worked with Cambodian orphans on the Thai-Cambodian border...
, a theologist and community organizer and Dr. Samuel Silva Gotay, a liberation theologist in the development of VESPRA “Voluntarios en Servicio a Puerto Rico”. He served as the training coordinator and outward bound instructor
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 PatrolCivil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
(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. He served the organization until 2000. He served as Squadron Commander, Red Cross Liaison, and Legislative Affairs Officer for the Pennsylvania Wing and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. During that period of time he went back to flying and achieved the Aeronautical Rating of Master Observer. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal for his services.
Education
Prewitt Díaz completed his undergraduate studies and graduate studies in psychology and counseling psychology at the University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
. He completed two additional graduate degrees in the United States: educational psychology at Trinity College, and Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction at Neumann College
Neumann College
Neumann University is a private Roman Catholic, coeducational college in the Franciscan tradition located in Aston, Pennsylvania, USA. Neumann was ranked in both the Best Regional Universities and Best Nursing Programs at the graduate level categories by US News & World Report for 2011...
. He received his PhD degree from the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
and pursued Post Doctoral studies at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.
Academic appointments
Prewitt Díaz has held faculty appointments at the University of Puerto Rico at CayeyUniversity of Puerto Rico at Cayey
The University of Puerto Rico at Cayey is a state university located in the municipality of Cayey, Puerto Rico.-General information:The University of Puerto Rico at Cayey is among the fifty U.S...
, The Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, the Medical School of the National University of Honduras, Program in Psychiatry, and the Graduate Program in Disaster Management at Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India.
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 FoundationW. K. Kellogg Foundation
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was founded in June 1930 as the W.K. Kellogg Child Welfare Foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer Will Keith Kellogg. In 1934, Kellogg donated more than $66 million in Kellogg Company stock and other investments to the W.K. Kellogg Trust...
National Fellowship, 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.
Migration to and within United States
In 1973, Prewitt Díaz was invited to become the In-service Coordinator for a Teacher Corps Project at the University of HartfordUniversity of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
(CT). He provided training to 30 teachers related to cultural issues pertaining to the effects of migrancy and schooling of Puerto Rican children. As a result he was awarded the “Outstanding Staff Service Certificate” by the National Director of the Teacher Corps in 1973. He became the first certified school psychologist in Connecticut. He was hired by the Hartford Public School system as the Director of Project MAS (More Alternative for Students) a dropout prevention program for middle and high school. In 1975 he developed the Bilingual Program for High School students at Bulkeley High School. In his years in Hartford he was a member of the Hartford Human Rights Commission, and the Board of “La Casa de Puerto Rico”.
After completing his doctoral degree he was invited to teach in the Division of Curriculum and Instruction, the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. During his tenure at Penn State he developed and taught courses in cross cultural research, testing of Puerto Rican children, methods and procedures for evaluating for placement into Special Education of bilingual children and migrancy and its effects on children. He developed an academic component of the graduate program focused on cross-cultural psychology, methods and research tools. In addition he maintained practicum for his students in Bethlehem, Chester, Lancaster and York, PA. These weekly long trips provided a laboratory for graduate students, an opportunity for parents to seek advices that provided assistance for their children. During his tenure (1978–1992) he served as Advisor Puerto Rican doctoral and Master level students whom upon their graduation returned to Puerto Rico to assume leadership position in Universities in the Island or remained in schools districts in Pennsylvania.
In 1992 he was instrumental in the development of a Mental Health Clinic in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, affiliated to the Spanish Speaking Center. He continued to volunteer with the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, and the Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
. In September 1992 he left Reading, PA to serve in Hurricane Andrew in Florida and the North Eastern storm in New Jersey. 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 inner city living. 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 CrossAmerican Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
since 1976, when he organized Blood drives at Bulkeley High School, Hartford, CT. He served from 1992 to 2001 as a volunteer for Disaster Services of the American Red Cross. 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; Los Angeles Earthquake in 1994, the Oklahoma City Bombing 1995, in 1998 in Hurricane Goerges as the East Region of Puerto Rico Coordinator. On the 9/11 attacks He served as a Disaster Mental Health coordinator of the Family Assistance Center in the recovery of UNITED 93 in Shanksville, PA..
Prewitt Diaz served as a paid staff with the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
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
2001 El Salvador earthquakes
The 2001 El Salvador earthquakes were two earthquakes which hit El Salvador within exactly one month of each other, on January 13 and February 13, 2001.- The January 13 earthquake :...
. While in El Salvador he was awarded the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award.
He represented the American Red Cross as a member of the team of 20 experts that drafted the Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee is an inter-agency forum of UN and non-UN humanitarian partners founded in 1992, to strengthen humanitarian assistance. The overall objective of the IASC is to improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations...
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
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and led by disaster mental health expert, Joseph Prewitt Díaz, quickly responded to the devastated to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
, and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
to assist in developing programs.
Prewitt Díaz made significant adaptations to the psychosocial support program on the basis of his extensive experience in Hurricane Mitch
Hurricane Mitch
Hurricane Mitch was the most powerful hurricane and the most destructive of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season, with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph . The storm was the thirteenth tropical storm, ninth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the season. Along with Hurricane Georges, 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. 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. 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. 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 PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
governors. He received the Pennsylvania Heritage Award from Governor Robert P. Casey
Robert P. Casey
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Sr. was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995...
in 1990, and the Latino Pride Award from Governor Tom Ridge
Tom Ridge
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ridge is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives , the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania , Assistant to the President for Homeland Security , and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security...
in 1999. Governor Ella Grasso of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
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:
- Prewitt Díaz, J.O., Laksminarayana, R, & Murthy, R.S. (Eds.). (2006). Advances in mental health and psychosocial support. New Delhi, India: Voluntary Health Association of India.
- Prewitt Díaz, J.O. (2006). Psychosocial support programs: From theory to a systematized approach. New Delhi, India: Voluntary Health Association of India.
- Prewitt Díaz, J.O., Laksminarayana, R, & Murthy, R.S. (Eds.). (2004). Disaster mental health in India. New Delhi, India: Voluntary Health Association of India.
- Prewitt Díaz, J.O. (2002). Apoyo psicosocial en desastres: Un modelo para Guatemala. Ciudad de Guatemala: Cruz Roja Guatemalteca.
- Prewitt Díaz, J.O. (2001). Primeros auxilios psicológicos. El Salvador, San Salvador: Cruz Roja Salvadoreña & USAID.
- Prewitt Díaz, J.O. & Speck, M. (2000). Programa de preparación para desastres en Centro América. Tegucigalpa, Honduras: Cruz Roja Hondurena y la Federacion Internacional de la Cruz Roja y la Media Luna Roja.
- Prewitt Díaz, J.O. & Saballos Ramírez, M. (2000) Salud psicosocial en un desastre complejo: El efecto del huracán Mitch en Nicaragua. Managua, Nicaragua: La Universidad para la Paz (Naciones Unidas).
- Prewitt Díaz, J.O. (1995). The psychology of Puerto Rican migration. Chester, PA: Linder Press.
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”. 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. on August 7, 1990 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
.
Doctoral Thesis supervised
During his tenure at the Pennsylvania State University he supervised Master thesis and Doctoral dissertation for person that have become educational leaders in Puerto Rico. The following is a partial list of doctoral dissertations:Caraballo, Jose Noel. (1985). The effect of various visual display modes in computer-based instruction and language background upon achievement of selected educational objectives. Thesis (Ph.D) Pennsylvania State University. (Cd5192)
Delgado Albino, Ana M., (1983). A survey and analysis of Puerto Rico accredited institutions of higher education personnel perceptions of faculty development practices and beliefs with a view to identifying some critical needs. Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4558).
Estrada, Nidia E. (1987). An evaluative study of the effects of the Toro Negro English Language Immersion School on a group of eighth-grade Puerto Rican students. Thesis (D.Ed.). Pennsylvania State University. (Cd5993).
Fermin de Garcia, Carmen Olivia. (1983). An exploratory study of staff development readiness perceptions of faculty members and administrators of the Instituto Universitario Politecnico de las Fuerzas Armadas de Venezuela (IUPFAN). Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State university. (Cd4713)
Figueroa Vila, Ismael (1988). Puerto Rican dropouts on the mainland: An oral History. Thesis (D.Ed.). Pennsylvania State University. (Cd6651).
Gierbolini Rodriguez, Angel M. (1984). The development and validation of a burnout measure : the Inventario de Extenuacion Personal (IEP)--in a selected group of bilinqual special education teachers in Puerto Rico. Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4983)
Litchfield Garcia, Fernando. (1982). Impact of three approaches to nutrition instruction on fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade Puerto Rican students. Thesis (Ed.D.)--Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4040).
Lopez-Ramirez, Norma I., (1986). The impact of changing environment on six behavioral and psychological traits in Puerto Rican adults. Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State University (Cd5839).
Nogueras, Juan A. (1983) The standardization of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) on a selected group of migrant and non-migrant Puerto Rican students. Thesis (Ph.D.) – Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4454)
Ramos Mateo, A. (1983) A study of the adult education needs as perceived by five selected groups of respondents in the central mountain region of Puerto Rico. Thesis (Ph.D.)- Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4752)
Rivera, Rosalida. (1984).A study of the effectiveness and appropriateness of three methodological approaches—Basal, Mixed, and Language Experience—with return migrant students in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State University (Cd5029)
Rivera Ruiz, David. (1984). Linguistic applicability and the predictive validity of the Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Ninos : Revisada (EIWN-R) with a group of seventh- and eighth-graders. Thesis (Ph.D.). The Pennsylvania State University. (Cd5142).
Rodriguez, Victor L. (1988). A correlational study among scores of the EIWN-R, using the WISC-R norms and the Spanish EIWN-R norms, the bateria and the GPA with a limited sample of Puerto Rican children. Thesis (Ph.D.). The Pennsylvania State University. (Cd6606).
Santiago, Angel David, (1988). A study of the effect of jogging on inferred self-concept in a group of college-age return-migrant and non-migrant females. Thesis (Ph.D.). The Pennsylvania State University (Cd6492).
Seilhamer, Emily Stella, (1983) The effects of type of migration on reading achievement in Spanish, physical (somatic) adjustment, school adjustment, and social adjustment on a group of Puerto Rican students. Thesis (Ph.D.)- Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4755)
Torres, Jimmy (1990). The effect of three visual enhancement strategies on learners who possess high and low prior knowledge on specific learning objectives when time on instruction is held constant. Thesis (PhD). Pennsylvania State University (Cd7371)
Torres, Migdalia. (1984) Effect of videotape modules in sensitizing prospective teachers to the problems inherent in the acquisition of knowledge, goal perception of bilingual education, and attitudes toward pre-service training. Thesis (Ph.D.). Pennsylvania State University. (Cd4771)
Newspaper testimonials
- Acevedo, M. (24 June 1990). Campus Life: Penn State Bilingual teachers air for posts as principals. The New York Times. New York. http://www.nytimes.com?1990/06/24/nyregion/campus-life-penn-state-bilingual-teachers-aim-for-posts-as-principals.html
- Alvarez Jaimes, Y. (March 13, 2011). Resistente a los desastres naturales: El sicologo humanitario Joseph Orlando Prewitt Díaz. "El Vocero". San Juan, Puerto Rico. http://www.vocero.com/category/corazon_boricua-es
- Mulero, L. (November 23, 2006). La cara amiga en la cruz del desastre. Vidas únicas—Joseph O. Prewitt Díaz. El Nuevo Día. San Juan, Puerto Rico. http://elnuevodia.com/
- Perez, I. (February 11, 2001) La búsqueda de la sanidad emocional después del sismo. El Diario de Hoy. San Salvador, República de El Salvador.http://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/2001/2/11/NACIONAL/nacio1.html
- Gibb, T. (September 15, 2001). “he heroes plane”: Memories of brave passengers evoke grief and praise. Pittsburgh Post Gazette. http://www.post-gassette.com/headlines/20010915counsel0915p.4.asp.
- No author. (April 12, 1998). Doctor aides Red Cross in Mississippi. Sunday News. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Accessed May 27, 2007 from infoweb@newsbank.com.
- Figueroa-Turpack, M. (July 24, 1996). Hispanic Professor is recognized at Alvernia. La Voz Hispana. P.4. Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- No author. (July 23, 1996). He listens so Flight 800 can heal. Lancaster New Era. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Accessed May 27, 2007 from infoweb@newsbank.com.
- No author. (July 19, 1996). Psychological first aid for TWA victims’families. Lancaster New Era. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Accessed May 27, 2007 from infoweb@newsbank.com.
- Hoffner, G.A. (April 26, 1995). Answering the call at bomb site area psychologist will counsel victims and rescue workers. Philadelphia Inquirer. http://articles.philly.com/1995-04-26/news/25686047_1_rescue-workers-relief-workers-disaster-relief
- Alexander, L. (April 23, 1993). ‘Disaster Joe’ available in times of need. Intelligencer Journal. Profile in the Lifestyle Section for the National Volunteer Week.
- Schmidt, P. (November 29, 1989). Researchers Propose National Curriculum To Ease Barriers Faced by Migrant Students. Education Week. Washington, D.C.
- Márquez, N. (May 9, 1975). Loa a un Jibaro. Estampas Típicas: Joseph O. Prewitt Díaz. La Prensa Grafica. Hartford, Connecticut.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican scientists and inventors