Div. 37 Fellows Criteria

There must be visible "evidence of unusual and outstanding contribution or performance to the field of child, youth, family policy and practice." This requires evidence or documentation that the person nominated has enriched or advanced the field of child, youth, family policy and practice on a scale well beyond that of being a good practitioner, teacher, researcher, administrator or supervisor. The nominee's contributions have to be unusual, innovative or of seminal nature. Fellowship status is not simply conferred on the basis of seniority or competence. 

Criteria for fellowship can have a broad range, including: 

  • Publications of research, research summaries, policy statements, or position papers related to child, youth, or family issues in refereed journals, as chapters in well-reviewed books, or invited articles/reports in respected journals, monographs or newsletters. (If a publication outlet is not likely to be recognized by someone not involved in Div. 37, a brief summary of its stature and mode of refereeing should be included.) 

  • Authorship or editorship of books dealing with the child, youth, family policy and practice. The impact of these works must be spelled out. 

  • Election or appointment to editorship or the editorial board of a well recognized psychological journal or monograph series related to or including the field of child, youth, family policy and practice.

  • Outstanding teaching/training in area related to child, youth, family policy and practice; e.g., innovative course/curriculum resulting in a significant and broad impact beyond ones own institution that can be clearly demonstrated with evidence. 

  • Advocacy on behalf of children, youth and families that has made a significant, nationally visible contribution, i.e., attempts to influence the opinions of scholars, professionals, the general public, or policy makers (lawmakers, judges, public administrators) and thereby to affect public policy. These contributions might take the form of ordinary published research, scholarly or popular writing, public speaking or testimony, participation in organized lobbying, holding elected or appointed public office, preparation of legal briefs, etc. 

  • Election or appointment to state, provincial, regional, national or international positions, committees, commissions or offices in psychological organizations. Please keep in mind that election or appointment per se is not adequate. There must be documentation or other indications of how the individual's role in the position made a positive impact in the Div., state, provincial, regional, national and /or international psychological societies and/ or associations of relevance to child, youth or family services. 

  • Leadership positions in Div. 37, i.e., President, Secretary, Treasurer, APA Council Representative, and Chair of committee or task force, etc. Significant impact in this position must be documented. 

  • Active participation indicative of leadership in other relevant organizations such as those having sections and/or programs in child, youth, family policy and practice. 

  • Appointment to child, youth or family policy and practice-related study sections and task forces of major national or international foundations/institutes, e.g., National Institute of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, etc. Detail scope and contribution of role. 

  • Consultation with courts, legislatures, criminal justice systems, or other bodies that have had a significant impact on the science or practice of psychology with children, youth, or families. 

  • Extensive and far-reaching leadership and instructional participation in continuing education projects related to child, youth, or family services, child advocacy, public policy, etc. 

  • Special recognition through honorary degrees, distinguished service awards and citations if such recognition represents accomplishments of broad consequence to science or practice within child, youth, family policy and practice.

  • Service as head, director, chairperson, coordinator or founder of a department or agency, if this service results in unique models for the delivery of psychological services and/or policies affecting children, youth, and families. The uniqueness of the model and its impact must be documented.

  • Outstanding performance as a provider of psychological services as attested by documentation and publications. The provision of these services must have positive consequences for the advancement of child, youth and family services, and should include innovative approaches to the solving and understanding of organizational, individual, or group problems.

  • Recognition of expertise in child, youth, family policy and practice by virtue of invitations to make presentations at major universities or conferences.