* The award is discretionary and subject to funding availability.

The 2026 application period is closed. The 2027 application period will open in Spring 2027.

Program Description

The EOP provides the opportunity for general psychiatry residents to receive a formal overview to the field of child and adolescent psychiatry, establish child and adolescent psychiatrists as mentors and experience the 2026 AACAP Annual Meeting, October –26 - 31. Participants will be exposed to the field of child and adolescent psychiatry, including research opportunities, access to mentors, and various networking opportunities. Participation in this program provides a post-meeting award stipend of $1,200 to offset some of the travel and lodging related expenses incurred to attend the in-person meeting.

Program Benefits*

(NOTE: The availability of these benefits is contingent upon receipt of adequate funding.)

• A post-meeting payment of up to $1,200 to attend the 2026 AACAP Annual Meeting.
• Participation in various AACAP Annual Meeting events for residents, including a mentorship program, academic/networking sessions, an awards breakfast and focus groups.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be currently enrolled in a residency program in the United States, in their first, second or third year of general psychiatry training, beginning July 2026 and at the time of AACAP's 2026 Annual Meeting.
• Triple Boarders at the PGY1 – PGY3 level as of July 2026 are also eligible.
• Participants must either be members of AACAP or have a membership application pending at the time of application.
• Participants must attend all AACAP Annual Meeting events specified by AACAP, during the dates of Tuesday thru Friday of the meeting, and are required to sign up as an Annual Meeting monitor.
• While past Educational Outreach Program recipients are eligible to apply, priority will be given to first time applicants.
• Candidates cannot receive multiple awards from AACAP in one year.

Application Process

• Use the online awards system to complete your application and to upload: 
• Curriculum Vitae;
• Personal statement articulating a compelling reason for wanting to attend the Annual Meeting;
  • In about 500 to 1000 words (preferably no more than one page), share the origins of your interest in child and adolescent psychiatry, along with a clear description of why you wish to attend the Annual Meeting, and how it will be beneficial to your professional development and career goals. Please include how you hope to navigate the meeting. Additionally, if you have attended the meeting previously, indicate how this opportunity allows you to build on past experience. Lastly, include why it is important to attend the meeting this year.
• Training Verification and Endorsement
  Your Residency Program Director must also upload a completed form indicating good standing from your training program, along with a letter of support; the applicant enters the program director contact information in the online application, and clicks the button to send a notification to the Program Director. [Note: If you are just starting your program in July 2026 and the program director of your residency program is not sufficiently familiar with your work to provide a recommendation,  have the program director or faculty for your medical school program complete a letter of support.]
  • The letter should indicate how long the faculty member or mentor has known the applicant and in what capacity. In describing the candidate, it would be helpful for the letter to address the applicant’s training, qualifications, accomplishments, interest in the child and adolescent psychiatry specialty, motivation for this award, and the potential benefits of the candidate attending the Annual Meeting, as appropriate.
• Please see complete detailed instructions on the online awards system by clicking on the application link below. 

Selection Process

Administrative Review - Applications will be vetted for completeness. The candidate must be eligible and have submitted application materials in accordance with the requirements. Incomplete applications will not be assigned for further review. 

Selection Committee - Completed applications will undergo a review process by selection committee, which consists of AACAP’s Training and Education Committee, as well as AALI member volunteers. The panel will read applications and rate the following:

• Significance of the Statement of interest and justification for wanting to attend the annual meeting.
  
  
• Candidate’s accomplishments as shared in their CV.
  
  
• Letter of Recommendation in support of the candidate’s selection for the meeting, including key information on how the candidate has performed in their training program(s) and future potential. 

The panel convenes to finalize the selection of the candidates. Generally, a large number of application submissions makes the selection highly competitive. Current funding for this award severely limits the possibility of selecting more than one individual per institution. Overall, the selection is multifactorial taking into account the candidate's score as well as equity and geographic distribution [institutional, region, state]. Preference is given to first-time meeting attendees or individuals that have not received the award previously.

The completed application and attachments must be submitted by June 2, 2026

For more information contact the AACAP Department of Research, Workforce and Grants at 202-587-9663, or training@aacap.org.

AACAP reserves the right to waive liabilities.