SCRA Awards

Submit an electronic copy of the cover letter and award materials to awards@scra27.org by the December 23rd deadline.

SCRA Awards

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. 

Past Award Recipients

Criteria for the award:

  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, or educational settings 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. Full-time, tenure and tenure-track university faculty and/or those with traditional teaching/research/service responsibilities, would rarely be eligible for this award. 

  2. Demonstrated positive impact on the natural ecology of community life resulting from the application of psychological principles; 

  3. Challenge to the status quo or prevailing conceptual models and applied methods; or

  4. Demonstrated personal success in exercising leadership based on applied practice. 

Nomination Process:

  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, or educational settings 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.

  4. A letter of recommendation that is no longer than 4 typed double-spaced pages.

  5. 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. 

  6. 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.


Submission Deadline:Submit an electronic copy of the cover letter and award materials to awards@scra27.org by the  deadline.


Award for Distinguished Contribution 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. 

Past Award Recipients

Award Criteria:

  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. 

  3. A major single contribution or series of significant contributions with an enduring influence on community theory, research and/or action over time. 

Nomination Criteria:

  1. The name and contact information of the nominee.

  2. A 250-500-word summary of the rationale for nomination.

  3. A vita or summary of accomplishments that is no longer than 6 single-spaced pages.

  4. A letter of recommendation that is no longer than 4 typed double-spaced pages.

  5. 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. 

  6. 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.

 

Submission Deadline:Submit an electronic copy of the cover letter and award materials to awards@scra27.org by the December 23rdth  deadline.

Award for Special Contribution to Community Psychology

On occasion, by vote of the Executive Committee, the Society gives a special award to a person inside or outside of community psychology who has advanced the interests or goals of the field. The Special Contribution Award is granted for a contribution that is outside of the scope of other SCRA sponsored awards. Reasons for recognition could include, but are not limited to, advancing public policy, having an impact on legislation; bringing significant resources to the field, or contributing to the development of the field by, for example, mentoring others.

Past Award Recipients

Community Psychology Dissertation of the Year Award

The Society for Community Research and Action grants an annual dissertation award to the best dissertation identified on a topic in the field of community psychology completed during the prior two years. The Dissertation Award was established in 1982. 

Past Award Recipients

Criteria for the award: 

1.       Relevance of the study to community psychology, with particular emphasis on important and emerging trends in the field; 

2.       Scholarly excellence; 

3.       Innovation and implications for theory, research and action; and 

4.       Methodological appropriateness.

 

Nomination 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 awards@scra27.org by the December 23rd  2021 deadline. 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.

 

Evaluation process: All abstracts will be reviewed by the dissertation award committee. Finalists will be selected and may be asked to submit full or partial dissertation electronically. 

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 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, 2020 and August 31, 2022 — any dissertation completed within these dates may be submitted.

Past Award Recipients

Criteria for the award: 

1.       Relevance to the promotion of wellness, including but not restricted to: 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, with particular emphasis on important and emerging trends in the field; 

2.       Scholarly excellence. 

 

Nomination materials required: Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by a member of SCRA. A nomination cover letter and a detailed dissertation abstract should be submitted electronically to awards@scra27.org by the December 23 deadline. 

1.       The nomination cover letter should include the name, graduate school affiliation and thesis advisor, current address, phone number, and email address of the nominee. 

2.       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.

 

Evaluation process: All abstracts will be reviewed by the dissertation award committee. Finalists will be selected and may be asked to submit full or partial dissertation electronically. 

Outstanding Contributions for Mentorship in Racial Justice Award

The purpose of SCRA's annual Outstanding Contributions for Mentorship in Racial Justice Award is to recognize an SCRA member who has made exemplary contributions to mentorship of students and others to support and inspire them toward conducting racial justice and transformative work. Mentorship may be provided in various forms. The goal of the award is to acknowledge the importance of encouraging racial justice and equity in research, practice, activism, policy, or other multidisciplinary areas within community psychology. The goal is also to support and promote mentorship of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in ways that is equitable and transformative for individuals, organizations, and institutions. 

Past Award Recipients

Criteria for the award: Two or more of the following:

1.    Consistent, high quality mentorship and contributions to the professional development of BIPOC 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 justice and conducive to the dismantling of systemic racism and equitable transformation of systems;  

3.    A history of involvement in efforts to support BIPOC persons either in their own institutions, research programs, or within SCRA; and mentor them to inspire/foster research, practice, activism, or policy work grounded in racial justice.

4.    Consistent contributions to the structure and process of training in psychology or other multidisciplinary fields related to racial justice and equity, particularly in, but not limited to community programs. 

 

Nomination Process: Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by a student or colleague. Nominations consist of a nominations letter, letter(s) of support and a CV submitted electronically to awards@scra27.org by the December deadline. 

 

  1. A nomination letter (no more than 3 pages long) summarizing the contributions of the nominee to the mentorship of BIPOC students and others toward racial justice and transformation; 

  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 BIPOC persons (see above criteria)--at least one reference must be from a BIPOC person who was mentored

  3. A curriculum vita of the nominee. Collaborative work with BIPOC mentees, as well as other activities or publications relevant to racial justice and the criteria indicated above, should be highlighted.

 

Evaluation process:All nominations will be reviewed by an award committee constituted by the Council on Cultural, Ethnic, and Racial Affairs.

Seymour B. Sarason Award for Community Research and Action

The Seymour B. Sarason Award for Community Research and Action was established in 1993 to recognize people working in the conceptually demanding, creative, and ground breaking tradition of Seymour B. Sarason. 

Past Award Recipients

 

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 thisaward, 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. 

 

Submission Deadline:Submit an electronic copy of the cover letter and award materials to the awards@scra27.org by the December deadline.

Special Contributions to Public Policy

The Award for Special Contributions in Public Policy is given to those individuals or organizations that have made exemplary contributions in the public policy arena.  The Award allows individuals in the political arena, as well as those within international non-government agencies, to receive the recognition they deserve for public policy contributions, broadly defined.

Past Award Recipients

 

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.

 

Submission Deadline:Submit an electronic copy of the cover letter and award materials to awards@scra27.orgby the December deadline. 

Award for Excellence in Education Programs

The purpose of the Award for Excellence in Education Programs 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. 

Past Award Recipients

Outstanding Educator Award

The purpose of the Outstanding Educator Award is to recognize an SCRA member who has made exemplary and innovative contributions to the education of students about community psychology and community research and action. 

Past Award Recipients

 

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.

 

Submission Deadline:Submit an electronic copy of the cover letter and award materials to awards@scra27.org by the December deadline.

The SCRA Early Career Award

The SCRA Early Career Award recognizes community psychologists within 10 years of their last degree who have made a significant contribution to the field of community psychology, the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA, APA Division 27) including action towards the Call to Action on Anti-Blackness, and to the Early Career Interest Group

Past Award Recipients

Criteria for the award:

1. The candidate must be 10 years or less from receiving their terminal degree. 

2.  Made an important contribution to community psychology. Examples include a research or policy paper, community practice and organizing, excellent teaching and mentoring in a community psychology program, or policy change at the local, state or national level, led an important initiative in service of SCRA.

3. Candidate focus areas include: Researchers, Practitioners, Educator/Program Director, and Service to SCRA.

4. Be an active member of SCRA.

5. Nominations (including self-nominations) are especially sought from Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC) community psychologists.

6. One or more candidates may be selected to be awarded the Early Career Award.

Nomination materials required: Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by a member of SCRA. Nominations consist of letters of support and a statement of significant contribution submitted electronically to awards@scra27.org by the December deadline

  1. Two letters of support should outline the merits of the nominee in the criteria, above 

  2. A statement of significant contribution should highlight the nominees significant contributions in the areas of: a) contribution to the field of community psychology and SCRA, b) how work relates to community psychology, c) nominees plan to continue work within the field of community psychology


Evaluation process: An awards committee consisting of early career as well as more senior SCRA members will review nominations.


The 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. 

Past Award Recipients

The John Kalafat Awards in Applied Community Psychology

John Kalafat's life work integrated the principles and research of community psychology with their practical applications.  John died suddenly in 2008, and he left a rich legacy in the published literature and in the many communities he helped strengthen. John was the Coordinator of the Community Psychology Concentration at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology of Rutgers University. His gifts at bringing diverse people together led to the creation of a consensual definition of the field, and it is his vision of community psychology that is the context for these awards: 

“By integrating research with action, Community Psychology seeks to understand and enhance the quality of life of individuals, communities, and societies.  Community Psychology approaches are characterized by collaboration with stakeholders, interventions that focus on problem prevention and/or wellness promotion, ecological and systems levels of analysis and action, an outreach versus waiting orientation, and a commitment to the empowerment of underserved communities.”

To continue his vision, two annual awards have been created in his honor, sponsored by the Society for Community Research and Action of the American Psychological Association.

The first 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.

The second award will be a monetary stipend to an 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.

Past Award Recipients

Barbara Dohrenwend Lecture in Social and Community Epidemiology

In honor of Barbara Dohrenwend, on a periodic basis an invited lecture by a scholar in social and community epidemiology is delivered as part of the SCRA program at the American Psychological Association Convention.

Past Distinguished Lecturers

Community Psychology Award Recognizing Achievements by Black, Indigenous, or other Person of Color (BIPOC) Graduate Student

The Society for Community Research and Action in partnership with the Kalafat Foundation grants an annual award to recognize the outstanding achievements by a Graduate Student identifying as Black, Indigenous, or other Person of Color (BIPOC). The award specifically recognizes a BIPOC graduate student who has demonstrated an outstanding achievement in contributing to the promotion of the core principles of community psychology – social justice, diversity, community engagement, ecological thinking, decolonizing thinking, and other critical action work. The achievements can be in the area of activism, research, evaluation, policy work, or other related areas. This Graduate Student Award was established in 2020.

Award Criteria:

  1. Relevance of work to community psychology, supporting and promoting core principles, with a special emphasis on social justice, including anti-racism, police brutality/state sanctioned violence, immigrant justice, activism or research with LGBTIA communities, activism or research with Indigenous communities, environmental justice/climate change, human rights, animal rights, peace, and other related work. 

  2. Innovation or outstanding work in activism, research, evaluation or policy.

  3. Recommendations from mentors, community activists, or others advocating for graduate student, highlighting how their work reflects and promotes the principles and ideals of community psychology.

Nomination Process:

  1. A person may self-nominate or be nominated by a member of SCRA. A cover letter and 2 letters of recommendation highlighting the relevant work and achievements of the graduate student, should be submitted electronically to awards@scra27.org. 

  2. A sample of an action related project (activism, research, evaluation, policy related) promoting core principles of community psychology should also be submitted electronically to awards@scra27.org. The sample can be a community report, video, policy brief, evaluation report, peer-reviewed publication, art-based project, or other innovative product exemplifying the outstanding achievements and contributions to social justice and other community psychology ideals.  

  3. The Graduate Student Award will review all nominations received by the deadline. 

  4. Only one individual can receive the award each year.

Submission Deadline:Submit an electronic copy of the cover letter and award materials to awards@scra27.orgby the December deadline.