Early-career and Mid-career Award for Outstanding Contributions to Benefit Children, Youth, and Families

The Committee on Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) invites nominations for the APA annual award for early career and mid-career psychologists whose contributions benefit the psychological functioning or well-being of children, youth, and families.

Deadline:

Sponsor: APA Public Interest Directorate

Description

The purpose of this award is to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions in science, policy, and practice that benefit the psychological functioning or well-being of children, youth, and families. Well-being is defined broadly to include mental and physical health, cognitive/educational, and socio-emotional outcomes. These outcomes can extend beyond the individual and include parents and family systems as well.

Eligibility

To be considered, nominees must be members of the American Psychological Association and submit all required materials. Submission materials must include a nomination letter of no more than 750 words (either a self-nomination or a nomination submitted by another individual), one letter of support, and a current curriculum vitae.

Early career nominees are defined as individuals who received their doctoral degree within the past 10 years. Mid-career nominees are defined as individuals who received their doctoral degree between 10 and 25 years ago.

The nomination must address how the nominee meets the following award requirements:

  • In which two of the three domains of psychology has the nominee made contributions in science, practice, or policy? 

  • What contributions has the nominee made regarding the psychological functioning or well-being of children, youth, and families? Well-being may include mental health, physical, cognitive, educational, social, emotional, and relational outcomes; family functioning, and other outcomes that support children's healthy development.

  • How do these contributions benefit children, youth, and families? Benefits may be at the individual, dyad, family, community, or systems level.

How to Apply

Nominations should be submitted through our online form.

Apply onlineopens in new window

Last updated: May 2026Date created: 2020

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