The Child and Adolescent SIG creates a place for clinicians and researchers to discuss, debate, and address issues relevant to the understanding and treatment of childhood anxiety and mood disorders. The group promotes networking between clinicians and researchers and helps combat isolation for therapists in private practice. The SIG offers opportunities for learning and connection between the annual conferences through online communication and continuing education.  

If you’re interested in joining this SIG, please login to your member account and choose Groups from the green menu bar at the top of your screen. Have a question about the member platform? Please contact Vickie Spielman, ADAA Associate Director of Membership and Marketing.

Please view the ADAA SIG Guidelines for responsibilities and expectations. 

SIG Co-Chairs

  • Krystal Lewis, PhD, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • Ruth Lippin, LCSW, JD, Alighieri Care Management 

SIG Vice-Chairs

  • Liza Bonin, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine 
  • Julia Burch, PhD, McLean Hospital 

Board Liaison: 
Sheila Rauch, PhD, ABPP, Emory University School of Medicine 

Congratulations!

Click here for more information or to register now.

 

 

 

2019-2020 Annual Report

The Child and Adolescent SIG focuses on bringing together clinicians and researchers and provide a supportive place for clinical dialogue. Our SIG continues to host monthly peer video consultations. In December of 2019, we had Dr. Emily Becker-Haimes present on a toolkit for using exposure therapy across clinical contexts (e.g. private practice, community mental health). Dr. Becker-Haimes highlighted why therapists struggle to deliver exposure therapy, reviewed a free clinician toolkit which helps to address some of these barriers, and discussed strategies that organizations can employ to support clinicians in delivering exposure therapy. This toolkit provides well organized guidance and practical strategies for effective implementation of exposures for anxiety disordered youth. This presentation was well-received and greatly appreciated by attendees. 

We are also continuing to explore the possibility of having topic focused consultations following a professional development webinar to discuss the clinical relevance for providers. An important goal for our SIG is to bridge the gap between research and practice and ensure that we are highlighting the relevance and applicability of current research. Although our SIG is largely private practice clinicians, we want to maintain a balance between clinical and research priorities.   
Following the development of a brochure created by members of our SIG and the Public Education Committee, a webinar was given highlighting our work and discussing creative ways to partner with pediatricians. There is continued focus on identifying and disseminating resources for pediatricians and other providers with the goal of increasing mental health awareness in youth. 

During 2019, the SIG hosted a second annual award competition for students, trainees, and early career clinicians. Applicants were invited to submit a presentation for the annual Child & Adolescent SIG meeting at the 2020 ADAA Annual Conference. Submissions reflected the application of evidence-based practices to the assessment and/or treatment of a youth(s) with anxiety and/or depressive disorders. We received very strong submissions and our award winner will present their work at the 2020 conference and the runner up will be invited to present their work on one of our online per consultation calls.  We plan to continue to host this award each year. 

At the 2020 Conference, we will host a Brown Bag Lunch, where our award winner will present their work. We will then ask each table to spend 10-15 minutes to discuss what brings them joy in their work. Finally, new attendees and online consultation members will be acknowledged. We plan to continue recruitment at the SIG evening happy hour. 

The SIG plans to continue collaborating with other SIGs across ADAA, including the OCD and Multicultural Advances SIG. We would like to have a speaker from the Multicultural Advances SIG on our consultation call to discuss clinical issues pertinent to transgender youth, children of immigrants, refugee kids, and other marginalized groups.