Research Recognition Awards

Annually, the ACLP presents two research recognition awards, the Professional and Student Research Recognition Awards. The Professional Research Recognition Award honors significant work by a child life specialist, and the Student Research Recognition Award acknowledges research conducted by a student.

Both of these research awards celebrate research initiatives that contribute to theory and practice within the field of child life.

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Award Eligibility

In order to be considered for an award:

  • The nominated research project must address a facet of child life.
  • The nominated research project must have met IRB requirements prior to data collection.
  • At least one of the authors must be an ACLP member in good standing.
  • For the Professional Research Award, the nominated research project must have been completed and submitted for publication / presentation within the last two years.
  • For the Student Research Award, the nominated research project must have been completed and submitted for publication / presentation within the last two years while author(s) was still a student. Completion date and unofficial transcripts are part of the application.
 

Award Criteria

Applicants will be reviewed for the following:

  • The research increases child life knowledge or improves/evaluates child life interventions, processes and/or programming.
  • The research was designed and conducted under rigorous standards and was appropriately analyzed.
  • The research is evidence-based.
  • The research is innovative and relevant to child life practice.
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Award Applications

We encourage ACLP members to submit their research and to share news of the award with others who may be interested in applying. Applications for the 2023 Research Recognition Awards will be open January 2, 2023 - January 13, 2023. Winners will be notified by February 2023.

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More Information

For questions regarding the awards or application process, please contact awards@childlife.org. 
 


Child Life Profession