Grants & Awards
ACAC Grants, Awards, and Emerging Leaders
ACAC Emerging Leaders
The Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC) is excited to announce our application call for our 2026-2027 Emerging Leaders (EL) program! The EL program was developed to allow graduate level students to participate in ACAC activities, receive mentorship, connect with professional networking opportunities, and above all else, grow as leaders.
Emerging Leaders are selected to serve from July to July of each year, and this year’s leaders will begin July 1, 2026. Master’s level students and doctoral level students will be selected as ACAC ELs. Please note your student status should be based on your enrollment status as of July 1, 2026. (i.e., you must be enrolled in a master’s level or doctoral level program at the start of your tenure as an EL and have at least six months remaining in your program). Students with a December 2026 graduation are eligible to apply. Those that have graduated from a program and will start a doctoral program in Fall 2026 are also eligible to apply.
Please email the Emerging Leader Program Chair, Dr. Keeland Lodato with any questions: acacemergingleaders@gmail.com
ACAC Grants and Awards
Research Grants
The Association of Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC) is proud to offer grants designed to support innovative and cutting-edge research related to child and adolescent counseling, especially research serving underserved populations. The awarding of these grants is based on the relevance of the projects to the mission of ACAC and the quality of the projects as described in the application and determined by reviewers. Please see below for more information regarding eligibility, benefits, and expectations.
Nominations are due November 9, 2026,
11:59 PM.
For questions regarding grants: michelle.hollenbaugh@tamucc.edu
Research Grant Eligibility, Benefits, and Expectations
Who is Eligible:
Both professional and student members of ACAC
Individuals may submit or be part of a submission team for only one proposal per application cycle. The lead research must be a current ACAC member. Multiple submissions by any researcher (individually or as part of a submission team) will result in the disqualification of all corresponding proposals.
Grant Award Benefits:
Up to $250 funding for the proposed project (a lesser amount may be awarded)
Recognition at the ACAC meeting during the ACA Annual Conference
Acknowledgement of the research award in related venues such as the ACAC website, social media, and newsletter.
Recipient Expectations:
The primary researcher on the awarded research teams agrees to:
- Submit a manuscript for consideration by the ACAC journal, The Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, within 18 months of receiving the grant.
- Submit a proposal related to the research at an ACA and/or ACAC Annual Conference within two years of receiving the grant.
- Acknowledge ACAC funding in all related publications and presentations resulting from the funded research.
- Submit both a brief executive summary of findings and a one-page grant report detailing the use of funds within 18 months of receiving the grant.
Annual Awards
The Association of Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC) is proud to offer six annual awards. The purpose of these awards is to honor and celebrate excellence in the field of child and adolescent counseling.
Nominations are due November 9, 2026
11:59 PM
For more information see descriptions and criteria below.
For questions regarding awards, please email: acacawards@gmail.com
Award Nomination 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.
Award Descriptions:
Outstanding Clinical Mental Health Counselor
This award goes to an outstanding clinical mental health professional who works tirelessly to benefit child and adolescent mental health who stays current on research, participates in mentoring and has developed collaborative relationships with their local mental health community.
Outstanding School Counselor
This award goes to an outstanding school counselor who demonstrates excellence in providing students with developmentally appropriate programming, advocating, and being an active and collaborative member of the school community.
Outstanding Counselor Educator
This award recipient is an outstanding counselor educator who works tirelessly to benefit child and adolescent mental health within their role as a counselor educator, including 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.
Outstanding Researcher
This award goes to a researcher who has advanced the mental health of children and adolescents by engaging in and publishing research that may have informed practice, impacted legislation, developed new methodology or challenged older methodology, or otherwise impacted the larger community.
Outstanding Advocate
This award goes to a legislator or community member who has worked tirelessly to advance the mental health of children and adolescents. This award recipient need not be a member of ACAC.
Outstanding Graduate Student
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.
Distinguished Professional Service
This award is given to the president of ACAC at the completion of their term.