2025 Call for Award Nominations
Each year, AAMFT and the Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems (FAHS) honors individuals for their unique contributions to MFT research and practice. We invite you to nominate or apply for the awards described below. Award recipients will be announced in the summer of 2025. All nominations and applications are submitted online. Applications are now open. Please contact the Awards Committee at [email protected] for any questions.
All award recipients must be members of AAMFT with the exception of:
- Those receiving the Excellence in Media award.
- At least one author of the Outstanding Research Publication award must be a member.
Note: The AAMFT Annual Conference registration fee will be waived for all award recipients. In order to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest, anyone who is on the AAMFT, the FAHS, or AAMFT sponsored payroll is ineligible to be considered for an award so long as that financial relationship exists. All award recipients must be members of AAMFT with the exception of those receiving the Excellence in Media award, and at least one author of the Outstanding Research Publication award must be a member.
AAMFT Awards
Organizational Contribution Award
Click here to view past recipients
Description
Since 1991, AAMFT has honored up to three members each year for distinctive organizational contributions to the Association.
Criteria
Nominees must be an AAMFT member for at least the past five years and show significant leadership in two of the following criteria:
1. As an association officer;
2. As an AAMFT Board, committee, or commission member, or engagement leader;
3. By achieving passage of federal policies and programs which promote marriage and family therapists;
4. By promoting marriage and family therapy on a national level;
5. By promoting family well-being through public policies.
Letter of Recommendation
All self-nominations require a letter of recommendation to be submitted with materials.
Award
The award consists of:
• An engraved plaque presented at the Systemic Family Therapy Conference.
• Reimbursement of up to $1,000 per recipient for travel to the Systemic Family Therapy Conference* during years the conference is held in-person. If the award is given during virtual years, the awardee may use the travel award toward the upcoming Advanced Institutes or Leadership Symposium.
• The event registration fee will also be waived for the award recipient(s).
How to Apply: In order to qualify for this award, interested candidates must complete an online application that will close on December 15.
Outstanding Contribution to Marriage and Family Therapy Award
Click here to view past recipients
Since 1991, AAMFT has honored up to three members each year for outstanding contributions to the field of marriage and family therapy.
Criteria
Nominees must be AAMFT members and have made outstanding contributions to the field by having:
A. Made exceptional, outstanding, ongoing, and cumulative contributions of an empirical or theoretical nature to the field; or,
B. Made significant contributions to the field of marriage and family therapy as reflected in their meeting at least three of the following five criteria. Nominators must submit a curriculum vitae of the person being nominated and a written statement of ways that the nominee meets the criteria:
1. Major plenary on the clinical practice of marriage and family therapy and related issues such as supervision at national/international conferences sponsored by a major professional mental health association;
2. A distinguished record of publications/scholarly contributions in professional journals, both paper or web-based, on topics related to marriage and family therapy;
3. Editorship of a major professional marriage and family therapy journal, newspaper, or magazine;
4. Experience as a director of a nationally or internationally recognized marriage and family therapy training program that has had an impact on the field; and
5. A recognized leader in promoting the field of marriage and family therapy within the United States and Canada or internationally.
Required Materials
All nominations must be made by a third party; self-nominations will not be accepted. Nominators do not need to be AAMFT members. Nominators must submit a curriculum vitae of
the person being nominated and a letter of recommendation, which should be no more than 500 words. The letter should detail how the nominee meets the award criteria and highlight the nominee’s efforts and achievements in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in their work.
Award
The award consists of:
• An engraved plaque presented at the Systemic Family Therapy Conference.
• Reimbursement of up to $1,000 per recipient for travel to the Systemic Family Therapy Conference* during years the conference is held in-person. If the award is
given during virtual years, the awardee may use the travel award toward the upcoming Advanced Institutes or Leadership Symposium.
• The event registration fee will also be waived for the award recipient(s).
How to apply: In order to qualify for this award, interested candidates must complete an online application that will close on December 15.
Outstanding Volunteer Service Award
Click here to view past recipients
AAMFT recognizes up to two members annually who exhibit exceptional leadership and commitment to the association through outstanding volunteer efforts. These members
demonstrate generative contributions through areas such as engagement programs, mentoring, and association growth.
Criteria
Nominees must be AAMFT members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to the association in at least one of the following areas:
A. Notable leadership of a topical or geographic interest network, such as overseeing significant membership growth or generating essential resources for the profession; or
B. Extensive and ongoing mentorship of students or new professionals, whether informal or through formal opportunities such as the Certificate of Leadership or Minority Fellowship Program.
Required Materials
This award may be self-nominated by an AAMFT member or nominated by another AAMFT member. All self-nominations require a letter of recommendation to be submitted with materials. Nominators must submit a curriculum vitae of the person being nominated and a letter of recommendation, which should be no more than 500 words. The letter should detail how the nominee meets the award criteria and highlight the nominee’s efforts and achievements in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in their work.
Award
The award consists of:
- An engraved plaque presented at the Systemic Family Therapy Conference.
- The conference registration fee will also be waived for the award recipient(s).
How to apply: In order to qualify for this award, interested candidates must complete an online application that will close on December 15.
Excellence in the Media Award
Click here to view past recipients
Description
AAMFT recognizes up to two people annually who have demonstrated excellence in promoting the practice and profession of marriage and family therapy through the media.
Criteria
Nominees do not need to be AAMFT members. Nominees must have used media to:
A. Effectively portray marriage and family therapists’ exceptional and substantive contribution to health and mental health care; or
B. Promote the profession of marriage and family therapy to the public; or
C. Significantly contribute to family well-being.
Submissions are encouraged from all popular media, including, but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, radio, television, blogs, and social media. Entries must have been published or
broadcast in the previous year from the date of nomination submission.
Required Materials
This award may be self-nominated or nominated by a third party and does not need to be a member of AAMFT. All self-nominations require a letter of recommendation to be submitted
with materials, which should be no more than 500 words. Nominators must submit a letter of recommendation, which should be no more than 500 words, detailing how the nominee meets
the award criteria and highlighting the nominee’s efforts and achievements in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in their work. Hyperlinks to media appearances or publications must be included, in addition to PDFs/presentations if the link requires a login.
Award
The award consist
- An engraved plaque presented at the Systemic Family Therapy Conference.
- Reimbursement of up to $500 per recipient for travel to the Annual Conference* during years the conference is held in-person. If the award is given during virtual
years, the awardee may use the travel award toward the upcoming Advanced Institutes or Leadership Symposium.
- The event registration fee will also be waived for the award recipient(s).
How to Apply: In order to qualify for this award, interested candidates must complete an online application that will close on December 15.
Supervision and Training Award
Click here to view past recipients
This award is granted by AAMFT and honors members and/or training programs for significant contributions to the advancement of the field of marriage and family therapy by encouraging
and training the next generation of marriage and family therapy researchers and/or practitioners.
Criteria
Nominees are AAMFT members or training programs who have made significant, ongoing, and cumulative contributions to the training of marriage and family therapy research and/or
practitioners in at least one of the following ways:
A. Teaching, training, or leadership in a marriage and family therapy program (e.g., master, doctoral, or postgraduate); or
B. Clinical supervision of students and/or new professionals, especially in an area of practice that addresses historically unmet needs (e.g. rural areas, aging populations, economically oppressed clients, etc.); or
C. Training and/or mentorship of marriage and family therapy scholars; or
D. Mentorship of students and/or new professionals in a manner not covered under previous criteria.
Required Materials
This award may be self-nominated by an AAMFT member or nominated by another AAMFT member. All self-nominations require a letter of recommendation, which should be no more
than 500 words. The letter must detail how the nominee meets the award criteria and highlight the nominee’s efforts and achievements in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in their work.
Award
The award consists of:
- An engraved plaque presented at the Systemic Family Therapy Conference.
- The conference registration fee will also be waived for the award recipient(s). For training programs, up to two awardees can accept the award.
How to apply: In order to qualify for this award, interested candidates must complete an online application that will close on December 15.
Clinical Practice Innovation Award
Click here to view past recipients
Description
This award is granted by AAMFT and honors members who have made significant contributions to the practice of marriage and family therapy through development, advancement, or innovation of the delivery of systemic therapy.
Criteria
Nominees must be AAMFT members who have consistently demonstrated the highest ethical standards in business practices, ensuring that all professional activities are conducted with
integrity and respect for clients, colleagues, and the community and have advanced the practice of marriage and family therapy through at least one of the following:
A. Development and implementation of innovative or forward-thinking business models that enhance the delivery and sustainability of marriage and family therapy practices; or
B. Introduction and utilization of creative ways for clients to access therapy, including new payment structures, reimbursement models, or sliding scale fees to improve financial accessibility; or
C. Advancements in clinical practice, such as new therapeutic environments, interdisciplinary collaborations, or integrating non-traditional therapy methods; or
Effective use of technology to enhance the delivery of therapy, such as teletherapy platforms, digital therapeutic tools, or innovative use of social media and online resources for client engagement and education.
Required Materials
This award may be self-nominated by an AAMFT member or nominated by another AAMFT member. All self-nominations require a letter of recommendation, which should be no more
than 500 words. The letter must detail how the nominee meets the award criteria and highlight the nominee’s efforts and achievements in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in their work.
Award
The award consists of:
- An engraved plaque presented at the Systemic Family Therapy Conference.
- The conference registration fee will also be waived for the award recipient.
Announcements
Announcements of award winners will be distributed via the eNews and other platforms as they apply.
How to apply: In order to qualify for this award, interested candidates must complete an online application that will close on December 15.
Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems Awards
The 2025 Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems Awards are now open. Click here for more information.