SESSIONS FORMAT

A Special Interest Study Group allows participants to share their clinical or research experience, develop collaborations or networks, or discuss mutual interests. It is a particularly useful event for emerging or ongoing collaborative groups. Slides should NOT be used in a Special Interest Study Group.

GUIDELINES

A Special Interest Study Group (SIG) should follow these guidelines in order to be considered by the Program Committee for the 2025 Annual Meeting program:

• Be designed around a larger topic pertinent to CAPs.
• Based on high anticipated interest, relevance to the field, and timeliness.
• Should be a facilitated conversation with a small group of ticketed attendees.
• Should NOT be a presentation without audience interaction.
• The Review Abstract must provide details about how the session will be structured and facilitated, INCLUDING the roles of all presenters included in session.

STANDARD ROOM SETUP AND AV

A Special Interest Study Group will be in a room with seating in a u-shape or hollow square. No AV equipment will be provided.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Each submission for a SIG should include the following items:

• Submission Title
• Chair(s) affiliation, contact information, and email address(es)
• At least two (2) educational learning objectives
• Review Abstract (*See details below)
• Names, organizations, contact information, email addresses, and disclosures for all co-presenters.

* Submitters should organize the Review Abstract for the entire Special Interest Study Group presentation under the following headings:

• Objective (what is the topic(s) related to CAP this session will be focused on)
• Background (some information about the topic presented in the Objective)
• Methods (give at least a one paragraph description of what will be discussed)
• Conclusions (what aspect will each of the presenters or discussants address)
• Bibliography (provide at least 1 and no more than 5 references supporting this work)

NOTE: Special Interest Study Groups do not require a Proceedings Abstract.

CONTENT ADDRESSING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

AACAP has a strong commitment to promoting mental health equity and combating health disparities. We support cultural competency efforts that enable practitioners to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities. Each presentation MUST include relevant information on differences in prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment pertaining to diverse racial and ethnic populations and/or consider other ways of infusing diversity, equity and inclusion principles into the proposal. This may include selecting diverse presenters, including participants with lived experience, using the backdrop of Chicago to the benefit of the program, or many other ways that reflect AACAP’s values. If information is not available or if the presenters’ research does not include this information, speakers should address limitations of current research data in addressing needs of minoritized groups.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A Special Interest Study Group (SIG) is a ticketed event. Attendance is limited to twenty-five (25) participants in addition to the presenter.

The Chair and/or Co-Chair MUST be an AACAP member. AACAP recommends no more than three (3) presenters including the chair/co-chair.

All SIGs are held concurrently on Friday and Saturday of the Annual Meeting as a live event. If a SIG has been held in the past, please indicate how this submission will either build off of previous years' events or add value to the meeting by being presented again.

START YOUR SUBMISSION

AACAP will accept approximately twelve (12) Special Interest Study Groups this year. All SIGs must submit a complete proposal each year to be considered for the scientific program at the Annual Meeting. To submit a SIG for consideration, select “Begin a Submission” at the bottom right-hand side of this page.

Questions regarding SIGs can be directed to can be directed to meetings@aacap.org.