Service and Emerging Leader Service Award

Purpose
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) annually recognizes individuals for their outstanding organizational service to APT, its Foundation for Play Therapy, and/or its Chartered Branches, whose contributions have significantly promoted or advanced the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists. 

There are two awards in this category: the Service Award and the Emerging Leader Service Award. At the start of the application, you will be prompted to select which award you wish to submit a nomination for.

Service Award: a professional or affiliate member in good standing who has been licensed for more than 10 years.

Criteria
The Service and Emerging Leader Service Award is presented to a Nominee who:

1. Is an APT member in good standing.
2. Abided by the code of ethics, standards of practice, and all other legal standards or requirements promulgated by those authorities from which Nominee has been granted a license.
3. Rendered outstanding voluntary service to APT, its Foundation for Play Therapy, and/or its Chartered Branches for which they received no financial or in-kind compensation during the most recent 36-month, January – December period.
4. Is nominated by three or more APT Professional members in good standing.
5. May not be awarded to any individual more than once.

Benefits
The award recipient is honored during the next Annual Conference and is granted:

• One complementary 12-month APT Professional membership.
• Complementary registration to the APT Leadership Academy
• Complementary registration to the APT Annual Conference.

There are two awards in this category: the Research Award and the Student Research Award. At the start of the application, you will be prompted to select which award you wish to submit a nomination for.

Research Award: a professional or affiliate member in good standing who has published research.

Student Research Award: research conducted by graduate or doctoral students.

1. Abided by the code of ethics, standards of practice, and all other legal standards or requirements promulgated by those authorities from which Researcher has been granted (or will seek) a license;
2. Produced original research that is designed and conducted by rigorous standards and appropriately analyzed.
3. Is deemed to potentially offer high impact towards advancing the field of play therapy.
4. Demonstrates the value and effectiveness of play and/or play therapy.
5. Addresses critical gaps in knowledge or application of play therapy among diverse populations.

• Research Award: Authored or edited research in peer-reviewed publications, or authored significant research contributions to the field of play therapy that:
  • Is not a student thesis or dissertation;
  • Was published within the most recent 24-month period concluding December 31.
• Student Research Award: Authored or co-authored original work in the form of a Master’s thesis, doctoral dissertation, or other major research project for which the student is primarily responsible.
  • Designed and conducted by rigorous standards and appropriately analyzed.
  • Completed the research within the last two (2) years [if nomination is unsuccessful, the manuscript may be resubmitted within two (2) years of project completion].
  • It is preferable that the research, in its entirety be published in the International Journal of Play Therapy®. However, if this research has been submitted elsewhere, applicant agrees to the preparation of an article based on the research submitted and appropriate for either Play TherapyTM magazine or the International Journal of Play Therapy®.

• One complementary 12-month APT Professional membership for each researcher (max of 3).
• Complementary registration to the APT Annual Conference for each researcher (max of 3).

• One complementary 12-month APT Professional membership,
• Complementary registration to the APT Leadership Academy for up to two (2) authors,
• $1500.00 to defray conference-related expenses if attending the APT Annual conference.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Purpose
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges outstanding lifetime achievement that develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, or credentialed play therapists.

Criteria
The Play Therapy Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a nominee who:

1. Is or, if retired, has been an APT Professional member in good standing.
2. Abided by the code of ethics, standards of practice, and all other legal standards or requirements promulgated by those authorities from which Nominee has been granted a license or certification.
3. Generated a body of consistent achievement, outstanding leadership, including contributions and services, for 20 or more years that significantly advanced the field and image of play therapy and/or the programs and activities sponsored by APT, its Foundation for Play Therapy, and/or its Chartered Branches at a National/International level.
4. Is nominated by three or more APT Professional members in good standing.
5. Is endorsed by one or more past Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.
6. May not be awarded to any individual more than once

Benefits
The award recipient is honored during the next Annual Conference and is granted:

• Lifetime APT Professional Membership, and
• Complimentary registration to the APT Annual Conference.

Charles Schaefer Play Therapy Scholarship