CACAP is run by its members for its members. Please contact the national office at cacap@cacap-acpea.org if you would like to become involved in committee work.
Advocacy Committee
Chair: Dr. Raj Rasasingham
The Advocacy Committee consists of clinicians that are interested in advancing the interest of children, youth and families. In collaboration with CACAP’s board of directors, various causes will be advocated for with government, professional governing bodies and the public at large. The group also serves as a hub for scholars in the area of advocacy and transcultural psychiatry. It can also serve as a networking opportunity for clinicians actively working in this area. Mentorship may also be provided for junior faculty and residents by members of this committee.
Communications Committee
Chair: Dr. Matthew Morrissette
The Communications Committee aspires to enhance communication with the Board of Directors, CACAP members, and the general public. This committee also oversees the development and maintenance of CACAP’s virtual presence, including CACAP’s website and social media accounts. The Communications Committee endeavours to highlight regional initiatives and accomplishments, collaborates with other committees to make available educational resources, and provides a space for hosting CACAP’s Journal.
Conference Committee
Chair: Dr. Raj Rasasingham
The CACAP Conference Committee oversee matters related to the CACAP Annual Conference. The committee is closely involved with the planning, budgeting and raising funds for the conference. The General Manager, Research and Scientific Program Committee chair and conference planner are core members of this committee. They collaboratively work with the chair to oversee the annual CACAP Conference.
Education Committee
Chair: Dr. Khalid Bazaid
The Education Committee develops, implements, and coordinates education activities and resources for the benefit of CACAP members.
The committee strives to include a variety of members from academic and non-academic settings as well as members-in-training and at various stages of clinical practice. The time commitment for committee members includes 3-4 teleconferences per year, one in-person meeting occurring during the CACAP annual conference, and work to advance committee projects throughout the year.
Finance Committee
Chair: Dr. Lila Amirali
The CACAP Finance Committee (Committee) is a Standing Committee of the Board of Directors (Board). It assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities legally, ethically, functionally and fiscally relating to corporate auditing or review and reporting, financial policies, strategies and activities, as well as financial risk management. The Committee will liaise with external auditors on behalf of the Board.
The Committee will perform the following key tasks:
- Provide information to enhance the quality of Board discussion on financial matters and facilitate effective Board decision making
- On the periodic advice of the Academy’s Financial Auditors develop and recommend for Board approval appropriate policies and procedures to ensure sound financial policies and practices are in place
- Review CACAP financial statements quarterly to obtain explanations for variances to the Board approved Budget
- Participate in the review of the annual Financial Budget and the development of a Longer Term Financial Plan
- Discuss annually with the external auditors the result of their audit and any issues, findings or concerns that they wish to raise prior to presentation to the Board
- Produce and keep current, documents needed for recruitment and education of current, new, and potential individual members to serve on the Finance Committee
Global Psychiatry Committee
Chair: Dr. Raj Rasasingham
The Global Psychiatry Committee consist of member that are interested in Global Psychiatry work. Our goal is work together as a collective to advance children’s mental health initiatives on an international level. We have been successful collaborating as a group at numerous conferences in the past. Our members have advocated for, and advanced, the global curriculum on the national and international level. This group also closely collaborates with other international organizations like IACAPAP. It can also serve as a networking and mentoring opportunity for junior faculty interested in this area of focus in their career.
Governance Committee
Chair: Dr. Jana Davidson
The Governance Committee was formed in June 2016 in response to CACAP’s Strategic Plan. The purpose of the committee was to ensure that board governance supports the mission, vision, and priorities of the organization, and that the board reflects the diversity of CACAP’s membership. The Committee initially conducted a review of board governance resource materials, in order to better understand “best practice” in non-profit board governance performance. This information then served as a guide for CACAP governance development work, which has included providing education to the board about board roles and responsibilities, and governance models.
The Committee then conducted a CACAP board self-assessment survey and CACAP governance model survey with all board members. The results were shared with the board at the spring 2018 board meeting, highlighting the strengths and priority areas for improvement for CACAP’s board. A number of recommendations have been made to the Board with regard to clarification of roles and responsibilities, clarification of the governance model and strengthening the decision-making framework.
Future work will focus on board composition and developing an orientation package for new board members. The Committee will continue to be involved in developing strategies for ongoing monitoring and improvement of board performance.
Membership Committee
Chair: Dr. Jordan Cohen
The Membership Committee provides guidance and leadership on recruitment, retention and recognition of members. Its priorities are to:
- Develop and implement membership recruitment and retention plans. Monitor implementation of such plans; evaluate the outcomes.
Recommend plans, procedures, and policies related to membership matters to the Board. - Apply the criteria for membership contained in the Bylaws.
- Periodically review the criteria for membership categories and propose changes as appropriate to the Board.
- Monitor the dues structure and recommend changes as appropriate to the Board.
- Receive applications for any class of membership or for advancement or transfer from one class of membership to another.
- Work with national and international psychiatric associations on membership programs and activities of mutual interest and benefit.
- Review the list of members whose dues are in arrears and recommend appropriate actions to the Board.
- Carry out other actions, as needed, in the interest of the membership and the organization.
Awards Committee
Chair: Dr. Jordan Cohen
The Awards Committee is comprised of a chair and six to seven members representing various regions and practice areas. The Committee calls for, receives, and reviews nominations for recognition awards given by the Academy in order to recognize the contributions of individuals and organizations to the field of child and youth psychiatry. Members are recognized for individual contributions in advocacy (the Steinhauer Award), community intervention and consultation (Naomi Rae Grant Award), in education (Excellence in Education Award) and for outstanding contribution in child and adolescent psychiatry (Certificate of Special Recognition). The yearly task of this committee takes place at the end of July preceding the annual conference. The committee members will review and rank the candidates in each award category to determine a winner.
The Awards Committee can also propose new awards and develop the terms for these awards in conjunction with the Board of Directors.
The scientific conference awards are chosen by a panel of members appointed by the Chair of the Research and Scientific Program Committee.
Research & Scientific Program Committee
Chair: Dr. Daphne Korczak
The Research and Scientific Program Committee is charged with developing the scientific program for the Academy’s annual conference, and to represent the research interests of members. The Committee members are responsible for the review of submitted abstracts, selection of presenters, and adjudication of research and scientific awards.
Development of the research agenda depends on the interests of the Committee members and Chair. It may include facilitation of networks, publication of projects, areas of interest and arrangement of special research sessions at the Annual Meeting amongst others.
Editorial Committee
Chair: Dr. John McLennan
The JCACAP Editorial Committee consists of the Editor, Associate Editors and the Editorial Board. The aims of the Committee are to improve the scientific quality and increase the variety of content of the JCACAP as the Journal of our Academy. Members of the Academy are encouraged to provide feedback to the editorial team. We meet in person at the CACAP annual meeting. In between meetings, feedback can be sent directly to the Editor.