The Latino Psychological Association of New Jersey (LPANJ) recognizes the common ground that all persons share as human beings. LPANJ also recognizes and honors those aspects of psychological functioning that are uniquely embedded in the rich diversity of the Latino ethnocultural identity and experience. Understanding this identity and experience, and researching the nature of its impact, is one of the central purposes of the LPANJ.

Founded in 1999, the Latino Psychological Association of New Jersey is committed to addressing the psychological needs of Latinos by supporting psychologists and mental health professionals through the advancement of training, treatment, research, and mentorship, and by advocating for the well-being of the Latino community.

On November 17, 1999, the one and only Latino Psychological Association of New Jersey (LPANJ) was born. At a gathering held on the campus of Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ, the LPANJ introduced itself, articulated its vision, and invited membership. On this auspicious occasion, the past president of the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA), Dr. Rosalind Dorlen, helped celebrate the inauguration of the LPANJ, an organization expected to have a tremendous impact on the quality of psychological services for Latinos in the state.

LPANJ was founded by professors and alumni from Montclair State University (MSU), home of the nation's only Master's degree program in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Psychology for Spanish-English bilinguals. Since its inception in 1990, the MSU bilingual program will has provided at least some of the training for the majority of doctoral-level Latino psychologists and other mental health professionals working in the state of New Jersey.