Mission Statement
The mission of AACAP is to promote the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families through research, training, prevention, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment and to meet the professional needs of child and adolescent psychiatrists throughout their careers.

Our Leadership
Between 7 and 12 million American youth suffer from mental, behavioral, or developmental disorders at any given time. AACAP (the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) is the leading national professional medical association dedicated to treating and improving the quality of life for children, adolescents, and families affected by these disorders.

AACAP, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was established in 1953. It is a membership-based organization, composed of over 8,600 child and adolescent psychiatrists and other interested physicians. Its members actively research, evaluate, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders and pride themselves on giving direction to and responding quickly to new developments in addressing the health care needs of children and their families.

AACAP widely distributes information here, and elsewhere, in an effort to promote an understanding of mental illnesses and remove the stigma associated with them; advance efforts in prevention of mental illnesses, and assure proper treatment and access to services for children and adolescents.