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 Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric
Nurses (ACAPN) Division
The Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses (ACAPN
), formerly Advocates for Child Psychiatric Nursing, was founded in 1971. ACAPN was, and is, dedicated to offering an association of support, networking, advocacy and education for children and their families and
the nurses who provide care for them. Members range from the psychiatric staff nurse Generalist in the secure adolescent unit to the advanced practice Clinical Nurse Specialist providing psychotherapy,
consultation, and psychopharmocological intervention in various settings including inpatient, outpatient, schools, and community mental health centers to the doctorally prepared PhD and DNS teaching in university
settings or conducting research.
ACAPN's Purpose
- Promote mental health of infants, children, adolescents and their
families through clinical practice, public policy and research.
- Promote excellence in the education of child and adolescent psychiatric nurse practitioners.
- Promote communication among child and adolescent psychiatric nurses.
- Foster public awareness and professional recognition of specialty practice in child and adolescent psychiatric nursing.
ACAPN's Goals
- Promote public policy, legislation and funding mechanisms in
support of mental health services for infants, children, adolescents and their families.
- Ensure access to mental health services for children with serious mental illnesses and their families.
- Promote the delivery of mental health services that are culturally sensitive and provided in the least restrictive setting.
- Promote advanced practice in child and adolescent psychiatric nursing.
- Promote improvements in the clinical care of children and adolescents with mental illnesses through research and education.
ACAPN Publications and Resources
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