What Does Black History Mean To You And How Does It Inform Your Practice?
As a Black woman, Black history means everything to me. I am nothing without the work of my ancestors, and my only goal is to make them proud. I am honored to be Black because I associate Blackness with brilliance, passion, complexity, 
resilience and influence. Black history is American History and although Black history is celebrated during the month of February, I do my best to honor my community daily. I chose to practice in Philadelphia because of the population, the challenges and the potential. As a Black woman, who works as a psychologist, my identity informs my practice and my interactions with those around me. I hope that my presence is a safe and affirming place for the children and families I encounter.
Carmelita S. Foster, PhD, is a psychologist with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Delaware. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She completed both her internship and fellowship in Integrated Behavioral Health at Nemours/ A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, in Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Foster was born and raised in New Orleans, LA where she earned her undergraduate degree from Dillard University, Louisiana’s first historically Black university. Dr. Foster’s area of expertise includes adolescent depression and anxiety and contemporary behavioral therapy. Her research interests include the efficacy and cultural adaptations of evidence-based treatments, integrated behavioral health, and intergroup contact between Blacks and Whites. Dr. Foster is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and she serves as co-chair of the Social Justice subcommittee for Together for West Philadelphia. She enjoys reading, traveling and volunteering in Philadelphia.
Resources By Dr. Carmelita S. Foster
Dr. Foster shares her dissertation, which explores the racial climate on college campuses and whether Social Baseline Theory holds up among interracial dyads. Click here to read her full dissertation, (Don’t) Stand by Me: Social Regulation of Response to Threat in Interracial Dyads.