About AACAP
AACAP is a non-profit organization, was established in 1953 composed of child and adolescent psychiatrists and other interested physicians. Our members actively research, evaluate, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders and pride themselves on giving direction to and responding quickly to new developments in addressing the health care needs of children and their families.

Definition of a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
The child and adolescent psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and the treatment of disorders of thinking, feeling and/or behavior affecting children, adolescents, and their families. A child and adolescent psychiatrist offers families the advantages of a medical education, the medical traditions of professional ethics, and medical responsibility for providing comprehensive care.

Policy Statements
Developed by the AACAP Committees, then approved by the AACAP Council, these statements reflect the AACAP's voice on issues affecting the health of children, adolescents, and their families.

AACAP Advocacy Section
AACAP partners with our members in advocacy efforts at the federal and state levels to improve policies and services for children and adolescents with mental illness. We work to educate policymakers and administrators about issues affecting child and adolescent psychiatry and children's mental health and regularly engage our members on pertinent legislation and regulatory activities.