ACAC Annual Award Categories
The Association of Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC) is proud to offer eight annual awards. The purpose of these awards is to honor and celebrate excellence in the field of child and adolescents counseling.
Nominations are due November 15. For more information see descriptions and criteria below and apply online (https://forms.gle/8YJBJBFtUVbS4YqT8). For questions regarding the awards, please email acacawards@gmail.com.
- I. Lifetime Achievement Award
This award recipient has an extensive history of advocacy for the mental health of children and adolescents. This advocacy may be demonstrated by a history of research and/or publication, mentoring, and involvement in the mental health counseling community.
Criteria:
1. Describe how this nominee demonstrates advocacy for children & adolescents.
2. Describe any history of research, publication, and offering professional development.
3. Describe how this nominee demonstrates mentoring and involvement in the mental health community.
4. Please upload up to two supporting letters from individuals familiar with this individual and their accomplishments.
5. If relevant, please feel free to upload any supporting documentation (news reports, journal articles, CV, etc). Maximum 4 pages.
- II. Distinguished Professional Service Award
This award recipient is an active and contributing member in professional organizations that benefit the mental health of children and adolescents. The recipient will be selected based upon the depth and breadth of their contributions including leadership roles.
Criteria:
1. Please list all organizations that this nominee is a member of and positions held.
2. Describe how this nominee contributes to professional organizations that benefit the mental health of children and adolescents.
3. Describe any professional development opportunities offered by or hosted by this nominee.
4. Please upload up to two supporting letters from individuals familiar with this individual and their accomplishments.
5. If relevant, please feel free to upload any supporting documentation (news reports, journal articles, CV, etc). Maximum 4 pages.
- III. Clinical Mental Health Counselor Advocate Award
This award goes to a clinical mental health professional who is a tireless advocate for child and adolescent mental health who stays current on research, participates in mentoring and has developed collaborative relationships with their local mental health community.
Criteria:
1. Describe how this clinical mental health professional advocates for child and adolescent mental health, especially in the areas of prevention and interventions.
2. Describe how this individual demonstrates that they have remained current on matters pertaining to child and adolescent mental health.
3. Describe this nominee’s mentoring style, including any professional development offerings.
4. Describe how this nominee demonstrated collaborative relationships with the local mental health community.
5. Please upload up to two supporting letters from individuals familiar with this individual and their accomplishments.
6. If relevant, please feel free to upload any supporting documentation (news reports, journal articles, CV, etc). Maximum 4 pages.
- IV. School Counselor Advocate Award
This award goes to a school counselor who demonstrates exceptional advocacy while providing students with developmentally appropriate programming and being an active and collaborative member of the school community.
Criteria:
1. Describe how this school counselor practices advocacy for children & adolescents.
2. Describe how this school counselor is an active and collaborative member of the school community.
3. Describe how this school counselor provides developmentally appropriate programming with an emphasis on prevention.
4. Please upload up to two supporting letters from individuals familiar with this school counselor and his/her accomplishments.
5. If relevant, please feel free to upload any supporting documentation (news reports, journal articles, CV, etc). Maximum 4 pages.
- V. Counselor Educator Advocate Award
This award recipient is a counselor educator who exemplifies both advocacy and outreach. This individual is a leader for change and has a history of mentoring, encouraging students to become involved in professional communities, and is committed to building relationships between the university and the surrounding community.
Criteria:
1. Describe how this counselor educator acts as a leader for change.
2. Relate how this counselor educator acts as a mentor and encourages students to become involved in their professional communities. Please mention any professional development this nominee has provided to both students and professionals.
3. Please share how this counselor educator strives to create meaningful connections between their university and the surrounding communities.
4. Please upload up to two supporting letters from individuals familiar with this individual and their accomplishments.
5. If relevant, please feel free to upload any supporting documentation (news reports, journal articles, CV, etc). Maximum 4 pages.
- VI. Researcher Advocate Award
This award goes to a researcher who has demonstrated advocacy for the mental health of children and adolescents by participating and publishing research that may have impacted legislation, developed new methodology or challenged older methodology, or impacted the larger community.
Criteria:
1. Describe how this nominee’s research impacts the mental health of children and adolescents, especially in the areas of prevention and intervention.
2. Please share specific examples of research and describe how they may have impacted legislation, methodology, or the larger community.
3. Share any instances of professional development offered by this nominee.
4. Please upload up to two supporting letters from individuals familiar with this individual and their accomplishments.
5. If relevant, please feel free to upload any supporting documentation (news reports, journal articles, CV, etc). Maximum 4 pages.
- VII. Legislative Service Award
This award goes to a legislator who has worked tirelessly to advance the mental health of children and adolescents. This award recipient need not be a member of ACAC.
Criteria:
1. Describe how this legislator has impacted the mental health of children and adolescents. Please be sure to include specific legislation advocated for and any legislation passed.
2. Describe the community impact of this legislator’s advocacy for the mental health of children and adolescents.
3. Please upload up to two supporting letters from individuals familiar with this individual and their accomplishments.
4. If relevant, please feel free to upload any supporting documentation (news reports, journal articles, CV, etc). Maximum 4 pages.
- VIII. Outstanding Graduate Student Award
This award goes to a graduate student who has exceeded the already typically high demands of graduate level work. Recipients of this award have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, clinical work, leadership, and/or advocacy for child and adolescent mental health.
Criteria
1. Describe how this nominee exceeds the expectations of typical graduate students and their impact on child and adolescent mental health.
2. Describe how this graduate student advocates for child and adolescent mental health in their scholarship, clinical work, leadership, and/or advocacy efforts
3. Please upload up to two supporting letters from individuals familiar with this individual and their accomplishments.
4. If relevant, please feel free to upload any supporting documentation (news reports, journal articles, CV, etc). Maximum 4 pages.
Additional Nomination Instructions
Instructions:
Please verify that both nominator and nominee are current members of ACAC. (For the Legislative Service Award ACAC membership is not a requirement; If you are not a current ACAC member, we invite you to join to be eligible to receive an award). Self-nominations are permitted; however, individuals may only receive one nomination for one award each year.
Please keep in mind that the ACAC reviewers are relying on the information you provide, as well as any supporting information, to choose the most deserving recipient. Please address each ACAC nomination guideline and ensure your nominee meets the award criteria and requirements.
Supporting Material (refer to award description; maximum 4 pages) – If there are materials (news reports, journal articles, etc.) that you feel help support the nominee’s achievements, please include a copy. You may also include a copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV), abbreviated CV for page limitations, or resume, if available. These may be no more than four pages highlighting the nominee’s relevant accomplishments.
Supporting Letters (refer to award description) – A maximum of two supporting letters from others familiar with the nominee(s) and their accomplishments may be submitted.
