The AACAP Congressional Fellowship provides for one child and adolescent psychiatrist with significant interest in child and/or mental health advocacy to work in a congressional office. The recipient will serve a 10-month fellowship in Washington, D.C., where they will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the federal legislative process, learn more about health care issues, and experience the governmental process while representing the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.

Program Benefits

• Receive $100,000 ($85,000 stipend, $10,000 housing allowance, $5,000 towards health insurance).
• Receive up to an additional $3,500 to support relocation expenses and/or AACAP Annual Meeting travel.
• Opportunity to work on Capitol Hill for ten months in a Congressional office (House or Senate).
• Gain an understanding of how policy affects the practice of medicine, patient care, education, and health insurance issues.
• Interact with health policymakers and advocacy/professional groups.

Program Expectations

• Submit an article to AACAP News highlighting the AACAP Congressional Fellowship experience.
• Sit on AACAP Congressional Fellowship Selection Committee post-fellowship.
• Maintain AACAP membership.

Program Term

August 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027

Criteria/Eligibility

• Be an AACAP member.
• Have completed training in or be scheduled to complete training in one of these child and adolescent psychiatry programs:
  • CAP Training Program
  • Combined General Psychiatry or CAP Program
  • Triple Board Program
  • Post Pediatric Portal Program
• Have demonstrated interest in public policy issues; exhibit an interest in applying medical and scientific knowledge to the resolution of public policy issues.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Application Details

• Current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Letter of recommendation from:
  • Trainee applicant: a letter from department chairperson or training director
  • General Member applicant: a letter from an AACAP colleague, preferably from ROCAP leadership or committee chair noting the applicant’s contributions
• Personal statement, of no more than 1,000 words, describing the reasons for applying to this fellowship, how the fellowship will positively impact child and adolescent psychiatry, and plans for continued involvement in AACAP advocacy initiatives.

Application materials should be sent to govaffairs@aacap.org. Please note “Congressional Fellowship Application” in the email Subject field.

Deadline/Notification

• The application deadline is November 28, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
• Notification of award will be given in December 2025.
• Fellowship runs from August 2026 through May 2027.

For any questions, please contact the AACAP Government Affairs team at govaffairs@aacap.org .