Special Interest Group (SIG) Overview and Procedures

Purpose of Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

SCCAP Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are designed to foster national networking and collaboration among members with shared expertise in specific subspecialties, mental health disorders, or areas of professional interest. SIGs serve as an important structural component of the Society, reflecting the evolving needs, interests, and contributions of SCCAP members.

Please note that participation in SIGs is limited to SCCAP members.

Formation of New Special Interest Groups

A Special Interest Group (SIG) may be proposed by a minimum of 10 SCCAP members. To initiate the formation process, applicants should submit a letter of application (no more than two pages) that includes:

The proposed name of the SIG
A brief description of the SIG’s purpose and planned activities
Names and email addresses of founding members and proposed leadership

The proposed SIG Chair(s) should email the application to the Member-at-Large for Membership. The application will then be reviewed for approval by the SCCAP Board of Directors. The Member-at-Large will notify the proposed SIG Chair(s) of the Board’s decision via email.

Special Interest Group Responsibilities

Each Special Interest Group (SIG) is responsible for upholding SCCAP’s mission and promoting the advancement of clinical child and adolescent psychology through research, education, treatment, and professional practice. SIGs also serve as collaborative forums that facilitate communication within their areas of interest and support the dissemination of knowledge and resources relevant to the field.

To maintain active SIG status within SCCAP, groups must:

Maintain a minimum of 10 SCCAP members
Elect (or re-elect) a Chair or Co-Chairs for a one- to three-year term
Submit an annual report to the SCCAP Board of Directors (typically in July)

The SCCAP central office will request annual SIG status reports in advance. Completed reports should be submitted directly to the central office by the SIG Chair(s).

Special Interest Group Expectations

Each Special Interest Group (SIG) should be led by a Chair or Co-Chairs responsible for submitting an annual report on SIG activities and providing an updated membership roster to the SCCAP Board of Directors, as requested by the President. The Chair(s) also serve as liaisons between the SIG and the Board on matters relevant to the group’s focus.

SIGs are encouraged to share updates on their activities through the SCCAP listserv and the SCCAP newsletter (InBalance) to promote engagement and visibility within the organization.

Information about SIGs, including their focus areas and leadership, will be made available on the SCCAP website.

SIG membership is included as part of SCCAP annual dues. All SCCAP members are eligible to join one or more Special Interest Groups.

How to Join a Special Interest Group

Membership in SCCAP Special Interest Groups (SIGs) is open exclusively to SCCAP members. Eligible members may request to join one or more SIGs by submitting a request through the individual SIG pages on the SCCAP website.

Special Interest Group Leadership

Each Special Interest Group (SIG) should be led by a Chair or Co-Chairs elected by SIG members to serve a one- to three-year term. SIGs are expected to establish and maintain a clear succession plan, which may include defined term limits and procedures for selecting new leadership when terms end or when a Chair steps down.

Leadership policies, including election and succession procedures, are determined by each individual SIG and should be communicated to the SCCAP Board of Directors, along with current leadership information.

The Division President, with approval from the Board of Directors, may remove a SIG Chair from their position if they are unable or consistently fail to fulfill their leadership responsibilities.

Resources for Special Interest Groups

SCCAP supports Special Interest Groups (SIGs) by providing access to a range of communication and educational resources.

Virtual Learning: SIGs may utilize SCCAP’s webinar platform and are eligible to offer continuing education (CE) activities under SCCAP sponsorship, provided all CESA requirements for CE delivery are met. To schedule a webinar, the Member-at-Large for Education and Standards must be notified to request a time slot.

Newsletter: SIGs are encouraged to share updates about their activities in the SCCAP newsletter (InBalance), subject to editorial discretion and available space.

Webpages: Each SIG is featured on the SCCAP website with a dedicated webpage for basic group information. SIGs are responsible for completing and annually updating the SIG web template form, which should be submitted to the Div 53 Director of Operations.

SIG Participation and Meetings at Conferences

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are encouraged to hold annual meetings in conjunction with the APA Convention or other child- and adolescent-focused conferences. SCCAP will provide dedicated space and time for SIG meetings during the APA Convention, as available.

SIGs are also encouraged to develop additional programming and activities aligned with their conference presence, such as:

SIG-sponsored poster awards
Invited speakers or panel presentations
Research symposia
Informal networking and social events (e.g., breakfasts, runs, or meet-ups)

In addition, SIGs are encouraged to submit proposals for inclusion in SCCAP’s APA Convention programming. Limited space may also be available for SIG-related events in the SCCAP Suite.

Board Reports

Twice each year, SIG Chairs or Co-Chairs are required to submit a summary of SIG activities from the previous six months to the Member-at-Large for Membership. These reports will be requested, collected, and compiled by the SCCAP Administrative Officer on behalf of the SCCAP Board of Directors.

Listserv Presence and Social Media

SIGs are encouraged to maintain an active presence on the SCCAP listserv to promote communication and engagement among members. In addition, SIGs may establish independent listservs to support their specific activities. If a separate email list is maintained, the SIG is responsible for reviewing it at least twice per year to ensure that all subscribers are current SCCAP members and that non-members are removed.

SIGs may also share updates and announcements for dissemination on SCCAP social media platforms by submitting content to the Communications Chair for consideration and posting.

Use of the SCCAP Logo

SIGs may request permission to use the SCCAP logo on professional materials such as brochures, posters, and other promotional content. Logo use is generally approved, provided that materials are consistent with SCCAP’s professional standards and do not require prior Board review.

To support tracking and documentation of logo use, SIGs should submit electronic copies of any materials featuring the SCCAP logo to the Director of Operations. These may be provided alongside the annual SIG report or at the time of submission.

Research, Publications, and Conference Presentations

SIGs are encouraged to collaborate on research projects that may lead to conference presentations and scholarly publications. In all such work, SIG members should follow APA guidelines for authorship and ethical publication practices.

SIGs may use the SCCAP logo on presentations and publications when appropriate, in accordance with SCCAP branding guidelines. Groups are also welcome to identify themselves as a “Special Interest Group of SCCAP” when relevant to the context of the work.