Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Reminder: SCRA Award Nominations/Applications due Dec. 1st

[Announcement from SCRA-L]


SCRA Awards Call 2014
Friendly reminder that applications and nominations for all SCRA Awards are due in a couple weeks.  Please see below for a list of awards and short descriptions.  Check our website link for additional details - http://www.scra27.org/members1/member-awards/scra-awards/2014-2015-awards-call/
Please Note: Individuals may only be nominated for one award per award cycle, and all nominees must be an active member of SCRA in the past one (1) membership renewal year unless otherwise stated in the call. Send all nomination materials and applications to the SCRA Administrative Director, Victoria Scott, at vscott@scra27.org   by December 1, 2014.
DISSERTATION AWARDS
Best Dissertation on a Topic Relevant to Community Psychology:
The purpose of the Society for Community Research and Action annual dissertation award is to identify the best doctoral dissertation on a topic relevant to the field of community psychology completed between September 1, 2012 and August 31, 2014 — any dissertation completed within these dates may be submitted. The completion date for the dissertation refers to the date of acceptance of the dissertation by the granting university's designate officer (e.g., the graduate officer), not the graduation date. Last year's nominees (excluding the winner) may resubmit dissertations if the dates are still within the specified timeframe.
Criteria for the award: Relevance of the study to community psychology, with particular emphasis on important and emerging trends in the field; scholarly excellence; innovation and implications for theory, research and action; and methodological appropriateness.
Materials required: Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by a member of SCRA. A cover letter and a detailed dissertation abstract should be submitted electronically to the SCRA Administrative Director. The nomination cover letter should include the name, graduate school affiliation and thesis advisor, current address, phone number, and email address of the nominee. The abstract should present a statement of the problem, methods, findings, and conclusions. The abstract should be clear about the relevance of the study to community psychology, with particular emphasis on important and emerging trends in the field; scholarly excellence; innovation and implications for theory, research and action; and methodological appropriateness. Abstracts typically range from 8-10 pages and may not exceed 10 double spaced pages, including tables and figures. Identifying information should be omitted from the abstract.
Emory L. Cowen Dissertation Award for the Promotion of Wellness:
This award will honor the best dissertation of the year in the area of promotion of wellness. Wellness is defined consistent with the conceptualization developed by Emory Cowen, to include the promotion of positive well-being and the prevention of dysfunction. Dissertations are considered eligible that deal with a range of topics relevant to the promotion of wellness, including: a) promoting positive attachments between infant and parent, b) development of age appropriate cognitive and interpersonal competencies, c) developing settings such as families and schools that favor wellness outcomes, d) having the empowering sense of being in control of one's fate, and e) coping effectively with stress. The dissertation must be completed between September 1, 2012 and August 31, 2014 — any dissertation completed within these dates may be submitted. 
Criteria for the award: Dissertations of high scholarly excellence that contribute to knowledge about theoretical issues or interventions are eligible for this award.
Materials required: Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by a member of SCRA. A cover letter and a detailed dissertation abstract should be submitted electronically to the SCRA Administrative Director. The nomination cover letter should include the name, graduate school affiliation and thesis advisor, current address, phone number, and email address of the nominee. The abstract should present a statement of the problem, methods, findings, and conclusions. The abstract should be clear about the relevance of the study to community psychology, with particular emphasis on important and emerging trends in the field; scholarly excellence; innovation and implications for theory, research and action; and methodological appropriateness. Abstracts typically range from 5-8 pages and may not exceed 10 double spaced pages, including tables and figures. Identifying information should be omitted from the abstract.
EARLY CAREER AWARD 
The purpose of the SCRA Early Career Award is to recognize community psychologists who are making a significant contribution to the field of community psychology and to APA Division 27, Society for Community Research and Action.
Criteria for the award shall include:
1.   The candidate must be 8 years or less from receiving their terminal degree.
2.   Made an important contribution to community psychology. Examples include a research paper, community organizing, or policy change at the local, state or national level.
3.   Be an active member of the Society for Community Research and Action.
4.   Have two letters of support.
5.   Develop a Significant Contribution statement that includes the following broad headings:
·       Describe your contribution to the field of community psychology and SCRA
·       Describe how your work relates to community psychology
·       Describe how you plan to continue your work within the field of community psychology

DISTINGUISHED AWARDS
 
Award for Distinguished Contributions to Theory and Research in Community Psychology
The Award for Distinguished Contribution to Theory and Research in Community Psychology is presented annually to an individual whose career of high quality and innovative research and scholarship has resulted in a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in Community Psychology. This award was initiated in 1974.
Criteria for the award shall include:
1.   Demonstrated positive impact on the quality of community theory and research;
2.   Innovation in community theory and/or research. That is, scholarship of a path-breaking quality that introduces important new ideas and new findings. Such distinguished work often challenges prevailing conceptual frameworks, research approaches, and/or empirical results; and
3.   A major single contribution or series of significant contributions with an enduring influence on community theory, research and/or action over time.
4.   All nominees must be SCRA members in the year of the nomination.
Award for Distinguished Contribution to Practice in Community Psychology
The Award for Distinguished Contributions to Practice in Community Psychology is presented annually to an individual whose career of high quality and innovative applications of psychological principles has demonstrated positive impact on, or significant illumination of the ecology of, communities or community settings, and has significantly benefited the practice of community psychology. The person receiving this award will have demonstrated innovation and leadership in one or more of the following roles: community service provider or manager/ administrator of service programs; trainer or manager of training programs for service providers; developer and/or implementer of public policy; developer and/or implementer of interventions in the media (including cyberspace) to promote community psychology goals and priorities; developer, implementer, and/or evaluator of ongoing preventive/service programs in community settings; or other innovative roles.
Criteria for the award include the following. The first criterion applies in all cases; one or more of the remaining criteria must be present:
1.   Engaged at least 75% time, for a minimum of 10 years, in settings such as government, business or industry, community or human service programs, in the practice of high quality and innovative applications of psychological principles that have significantly benefited the practice of community psychology; past winners cannot be nominated;
2.   Demonstrated positive impact on the natural ecology of community life resulting from the application of psychological principles;
3.   Challenged the status quo or prevailing conceptual models and applied methods; and
4.   Demonstrated personal success in exercising leadership based on applied practice.
Nominations should include:
1.     The name and contact information of the nominee.
2.     A statement, which can be from the nominee, that documents clearly specify his or her eligibility for this award by describing how he or she “engaged at least 75% of the time, for a minimum of 10 years, in settings such as government, business or industry, community or human service programs, in the practice of high quality and innovative applications of psychological principles that have significantly benefited the practice of community psychology.” This statement can consist of a brief list of the years, the settings, and the activities, but it should be sufficiently detailed so that there is no doubt about the eligibility.
3.     A vita or summary of accomplishments that is no longer than 6 single-spaced pages.
  1. A letter of recommendation that is no longer than 4 typed double-spaced pages.
  2. One work sample may be submitted in PDF format so that it can be shared with all committee members. This work sample may be submitted in the language of the nominee’s choice.
  3. Those nominees whose work is primarily in a non-English language or context may submit a second letter of recommendation that can clarify the work sample or further inform the committee about the nature of the nominee’s contribution. 
The Ethnic Minority Mentorship Award
The purpose of SCRA's annual Ethnic Minority Mentorship Award is to recognize an SCRA member who has made exemplary contributions to the mentorship of ethnic minority persons. Mentorship may be provided in various forms. It may entail serving as the academic advisor of ethnic minority graduate or undergraduate students; developing strategies to increase the acceptance and retention of ethnic minority students; involvement in efforts to recruit and retain ethnic minority faculty members; or providing opportunities for ethnic minority persons to become involved in positions of leadership within community-oriented research or intervention projects.
Specific criteria for the award include two or more of the following:
1.   Consistent, high quality mentorship and contributions to the professional development of one or more ethnic minority students and/or recent graduates involved in community research and action;
2.   Contribution to fostering a climate in their setting that is supportive of issues relevant to racial/ethnic diversity and conducive to the growth of ethnic minority students and/or beginning level graduates; 
3.   A history of involvement in efforts to increase the representation of ethnic minority persons either in their own institutions, research programs, or within SCRA; and
4.   Consistent contributions to the structure and process of training in psychology related to cultural diversity, particularly in community programs.
Nomination Process: Both self-nominations and nominations by students or colleagues will be accepted. Those submitting nominations should send: 1) A nomination letter (no more than 3 pages long) summarizing the contributions of the nominee to the mentorship of ethnic minority persons; 2) Name and contact information (address, telephone, email) of at least one additional reference (two if a self-nomination) who can speak to the contributions the nominee has made to the mentorship of ethnic minority persons (see above criteria)--at least one reference must be from an ethnic minority person who was mentored; and 3) A curriculum vita of the nominee. Collaborative work with ethnic minority mentees, as well as other activities or publications relevant to the criteria indicated above, should be highlighted.
The Seymour B. Sarason Award for Community Research and Action
This award was established in 1993 to recognize individuals working in the conceptually demanding, creative, and groundbreaking tradition of Seymour B. Sarason.
The criteria include:
1.     novel and critical rethinking, reframing, and reworking of basic assumptions, approaches, and issues in the human services, education, psychology, mental retardation and other areas of community research and action,
2.     major books and other scholarship that reflect these new approaches within the context of historical wisdom, and
3.     action-research and other action efforts that reflect these new approaches. 
Those working both in academia and applied settings, including government, are eligible for this award, given biennially. The award winner is invited to present a major address at the Society for Community Research and Action biennial conference which takes place every other June. The address is published in the American Journal of Community Psychology. 
Award for Special Contributions to Public Policy
The purpose of SCRA's Award for Special Contributions to Public Policy is to recognize individuals or organizations that have made exemplary contributions in the public policy arena. Those whose work contributes to public policy, whether from community agencies, academia, or non-government agencies, both national and international, are eligible for consideration. Priority will be given to a living member of SCRA, an allied discipline, or an organization involving individuals who have made important contributions to public policy, broadly defined.
Nomination Process: Both self-nominations and nominations by SCRA students or colleagues will be accepted. Those submitting nominations should send: 
  • For an individual: CV or resume (full or abbreviated), statement (maximum of four pages) regarding major social policy contributions of the individual, and up to three letters of support.
  • For an organization: CV or resume for organization head or key individual, organization description/mission statement, statement (maximum of four pages) regarding major social policy contributions of the organization, and up to three letters of support.
SCRA COUNSEL OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS (CEP) AWARDS
Criteria for these awards include two or more of the following:
1.   Promotion of innovative strategies in education that integrate community psychology theory and action;
2.   Significant contributions to the structure and process of education in community psychology, research, and action;
3.   Consistent, high quality teaching and mentorship contributing to the professional development of students and/or recent graduates involved in community research and action; and
4.   Contribution to fostering a positive climate that supports undergraduate and graduate students in their setting.
Outstanding Educator Award
The purpose of this annual Award is to recognize a SCRA member who has made exemplary and innovative contributions to the education of students about community psychology and community research and action.
Nomination Process: Both self-nominations and nominations by SCRA students or colleagues will be accepted. Those submitting nominations should send:
1.     A nomination letter (no more than 3 pages long) summarizing the innovative educational strategies promoted by the nominee, and how they contribute to the education of community psychologists and the development of the field of community research and action (and speak to the criteria listed above);
2.     One letter of reference (2 letters if the nomination is a self-nomination);
3.     Course evaluations and other types of evaluations from students/recent grads; and
4.     A curriculum vita of the nominee.
 Excellence in Education Programs Award
The purpose of this biannual Award is to recognize an exemplary undergraduate and/or graduate program that has innovative structures, strategies, and curricula that promote development of the field of community psychology and community research and action.

Nomination Process: Both self-nominations and nominations by individuals or organizations outside the program will be accepted. Those submitting nominations should send:
1.  A nomination letter (no more than 4 pages long) should describe the basis of the recommendation and summarize the features of the program that would qualify it for the award (in relation to criteria specified above). The nomination letter should also include a listing of the program faculty and other resources (e.g., community-based organizations, community expertise), relevant publications, and the ways in which they contribute to the education of undergraduate and/or graduate students; and
2.  One letter of reference (2 letters if the nomination is a self-nomination). Reference letters should come from individuals outside the program, and may include representatives of community agencies/organizations with whom the program is associated, graduates of the program (out for at least 3 years), or colleagues in other programs in the college/university or outside the college/university.
 JOHN KALAFAT AWARDS
John Kalafat’s life work integrated the principles and research of community psychology with their practical applications. John left a rich legacy in the published literature and in the many communities he helped strengthen. To continue his vision, two annual awards have been created in his honor.
The Community Program Award
This award will honor programs or initiatives that demonstrate a positive impact on groups or communities as validated by program evaluation; build foundational bridges between theory, research, and improving the world, and/or demonstrate excellence in integrating training and program development in crisis intervention.
Nomination Process: Self-nominations and nominations by SCRA students or colleagues will be accepted. Those submitting nominations should send the CV or resume for the organization head or key individual, organization description/mission statement, statement (maximum of four pages) regarding major social policy contributions of the organization, and up to three letters of support.
The Practitioner Award
This award will honor an SCRA individual who exemplifies John’s unique characteristics as mentor, teacher, and advocate, and especially his passion in making the benefits of community psychology accessible to all.
Nomination Process: Both self-nominations and nominations by SCRA students or colleagues will be accepted. Those submitting nominations should send the nominee’s CV or resume (full or abbreviated), statement (maximum of four pages) regarding major social policy contributions of the individual, and up to three letters of support.
DON KLEIN PUBLICATION AWARD TO ADVANCE COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE
The Don Klein Publication Award to Advance Community Psychology Practice is awarded biennially at the SCRA Biennial. The purpose of the award is to encourage and acknowledge excellence in promoting the field and practice of community psychology through publications with strong dissemination potential across disciplinary lines.  The award will be presented biennially to recognize the publication that best exemplifies the practice of community psychology.
The criteria for the award shall include:
  1. A publication whose authorship includes at least one SCRA member. Authors may be researchers, faculty, students or practitioners or any combination thereof, from any field, from any country.
  2. Publications may include books, handbooks, videos, periodicals, tools, journals, practice manuals, evaluation tools, video productions and web based presentations and reference resources.
 SCRA FELLOWS
What is a SCRA Fellow? SCRA seeks to recognize a variety of exceptional contributions that significantly advance the field of community research and action including, but not limited to, theory development, research, evaluation, teaching, intervention, policy development and implementation, advocacy, consultation, program development, administration and service. A SCRA Fellow is someone who provides evidence of “unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in community research and action.” Fellows show evidence of (a) sustained productivity in community research and action over a period of a minimum of five years; (b) distinctive contributions to knowledge and/or practice in community psychology that are recognized by others as excellent; and (c) impact beyond the immediate setting in which the Fellow works.
Applications for Initial Fellow status must include the following materials: 
1.   A 2-page Uniform Fellow Application (available from the SCRA Administrative Director and completed by the nominee);
2.   3 to 6 endorsement letters written by current Fellows,
3.   Supporting materials, including a vita with refereed publications marked with an “R,” and
4.   A nominee’s self-statement setting forth her/his accomplishments that warrant nomination to Fellow Status.
 VIDEO CONTEST AWARD 
This is an annual award for videos submitted with a contest application to the Society of Community Research and Action. The primary purpose of the video contest is to incentivize SCRA members to create videos of their important work. A secondary aim is to use the contest as a vehicle to increase the visibility of high-quality community psychology online video media by featuring videos on the SCRA website, through the SCRA listservs, and through outlets such as the APA Monitor and Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice.
Submission Procedures: Videos must be posted online (e.g., YouTube or Vimeo). Applicants must be current members of SCRA, but the videos may be made in collaboration with community groups and other organizations. The application for this award requires that video creators provide details regarding the location, activities, and participants of the video. Video creators must also submit recommended search terms or keywords and other relevant links to help increase traffic to the video.


Nellie Tran, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Community Based Block Program
Department of Counseling & School Psychology
San Diego State University

Office Phone:619-594-5333
*please note new position and change of email address*

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