American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) represents over 6,500 child and adolescent psychiatrists, all of whom have at least five years of additional training beyond medical school in the fields of general and child and adolescent psychiatry. The members of the Academy actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children and adolescents and their families and support their activities through a variety of programs.

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The Academy was established in 1953 as the American Academy of Child Psychiatry with fewer than 100 members. Today the AACAP is a dynamic, growing organization whose mission is to direct and respond quickly to new developments in the health care environment, particularly as they affect the needs of children, adolescents, and their families.

The Academy sponsors over 45 committees which work to increase the areas of knowledge for Academy members and the public, and to disseminate information, including position statements on various issues such as adolescent psychiatric hospitalization, pregnancy prevention, and substance abuse.

The Academy's strong commitment to furthering the understanding and treatment of children and adolescents is also reflected in the wide range of their activities, which include publishing the bi-monthly Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and a quarterly Newsletter; promoting support for research careers; providing a national continuing medical education program and participating in the American Medical Association regarding innovations in treatment; and providing public information in the form of Facts for Families, a collection of informational sheets providing the most up-to-date material discussing current psychiatric issues concerning children, adolescents, and their families.