Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award

The Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award is given to recognize a significant contribution, or a notable and impactful achievement or accomplishment that advances racial equity. The contribution may involve, but is not limited to, the application of racial identity theory in psychology, the implementation of program(s) or intervention(s) that benefits People of Color, high-quality research inquiries that generate new insights or knowledge regarding racism, or exceptional leadership skills and qualities that have contributed to the advancement of racial equity. Significant contributions in any of the following domains would qualify: community building, outreach and advocacy, teaching and training, clinical practice, research and scholarship, and other areas of psychology. The scope and impact of the achievement should have the potential for inspiring and influencing future generations. This contribution may be made by a psychologist(s) at any stage of their career (early, mid-career, or senior). The award is funded by the Society of Counseling Psychology, Division 17 of the American Psychological Association (APA). The distinction will be awarded annually at the APA Convention.

PROCEDURES

NOMINATION

  1. The Co-Chairs of the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee should work with the Co-Chairs of the SCP Awards and Recognition Committee to review previous Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award “Call for Nominations” and make any necessary changes to update the text.
  2. The Co-Chairs of the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award will work with the Co-Chairs of the SCP Awards and Recognition Committee to make sure the updated “Call for Nominations” is widely distributed through multiple means (e.g., placed in the fall SCP Newsletter, updated on the SCP website, sent out on the SCP listserv, etc.).
  3. The Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award “Call for Nominations” text should include the following information:
    1. Complete description of the award
    2. Instructions for submitting nomination materials, including complete contact information for the Co-Chairs of the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee.
  4. The Co-Chairs for the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee, the Co-Chairs of the SCP Awards and Recognition Committee, in conjunction with the Awards Committee of the Section of Ethnic and Racial Diversity (SERD), Janet E. Helms’ mentees and/or the Co-Chairs’ designee will be responsible for collecting nominations. SERD, Janet E. Helms’ mentees or other designee will put forward nominations for the award annually while honoring the SCP Awards and Recognition Committee’s independent process.
  5. Nominations for the award are to be in the form of a letter that makes the nomination (from self or other) and discusses the significance of the nominee's contributions to the racial justice. In total, nomination packets should include (a) no more than three letters, one of which should be a letter of nomination (from self or other) and no more than two additional letters of support; all letters should directly address how the nominee meets the criteria for the specific award (b) a copy of the nominee’s vita.
  6. Deadline for nomination materials: January 16th (check with Co-Chairs of the SCP Awards and Recognition Committee to make sure the date has not been changed).
  7. Any member of SCP may submit a nomination.
  8. Include instructions for the nomination letter (self or other) and supporting letters to document evidence of excellence, markers of significance, and sustained contributions.
  9. Individuals who serve on the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee or Executive Board who opt to submit a nomination or supporting letter will need to recuse themselves from any subsequent deliberations and voting.

COMMITTEE COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS
The Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee shall consist of 6 individuals and the Co-Chairs for a total of 8 members. The six members will each serve a three-year term. The Co-Chairs of the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee are the immediate past co-chairs of the SCP Awards and Recognition Committee and serve a one-year term. Each SCP President-Elect appoints two SCP members to the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee. The President-Elect’s two appointments join those of the two previous Presidents. In making the appointments, special attention needs to be paid to appoint individuals who have made substantial and sustained contributions to one or more of the domains outlined in the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award criteria with a specific focus on contributions to racial justice. The President-Elect should review the roster of the returning committee members to determine which domains (community building, outreach and advocacy, teaching and training, clinical practice, research and scholarship, and other areas of psychology) have the least amount of representation. Once those “least covered” domains have been determined, the President-Elect should focus attention on identifying individuals who have substantial experience in those specific domains. Individuals appointed to the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee based on their record of expertise and accomplishments can represent multiple domains. It is the responsibility of the President-Elect to guarantee that all five domains have solid representation on each year’s Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee.

SELECTION

  1. Though the award ordinarily will be given annually, the Executive Board may elect not to make an award in any given year.
  2. The Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee will be responsible for receiving submitted documents and selecting 2 or 3 finalists to be forwarded to the Executive Board prior to their mid-year meeting.
  3. The Executive Board makes the final decision. Selection of the award winner will be decided by vote at the Executive Board’s mid-year meeting, or an Executive Board meeting soon after.

RECOGNITION

  1. Notification of Awardee: Following the selection by the Executive Board, the President will call the winner. In addition, written notification should be sent to the award winner signed by the SCP President and Co-Chairs of the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee. The letter should include details about the award announcement that occurs at the SCP Business Meeting at the upcoming APA convention, and the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award address and dinner that occur at the APA Convention one year after the announcement of the award.
  2. Public Announcement: The Co-Chairs for the SCP Awards and Recognition Committee announce the newly selected Award winner at the SCP Business Meeting. The award winner comes forward to have a picture taken with the SCP President and Co-Chairs of the Awards and Recognition Committee. The Co-Chairs prepare a description and picture of the award winner for publication in the SCP newsletter, listserv, website, division services and any other SCP or APA related media outlets. This occurs immediately after the APA convention.
  3. Monetary Award: In anticipation of the address at the subsequent APA convention, the Co-Chairs of the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee will work with the Co-Chairs of the SCP Awards and Recognition Committee to make sure that a check for $2000 is authorized as well as the production of the award plaque. For the text of the certificate, the Co-Chairs will consult with the nominator and letter writers and invite one or more of them to draft the text of the certificate. The Co-Chairs will provide them with copies of examples of previous text as a model of style and length. They will work with the Co-Chairs of Awards and Recognition Committee, the SCP Treasurer, and APA Division Services to make sure the plaque and check are ready in time for presentation at the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Address.
  4. Award Address: The award address occurs at the APA Convention one year after the announcement of the award winner’s recognition. The awardee selects an individual of their own choice to make the introduction of the award winner at the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Address.
  5. Presentation of the Plaque/Check: Ideally the President will present the plaque and check to the award winner after which they will introduce the introducer who will provide the introduction of the award winner. If the President is not able to present the plaque and check, the Co-Chairs of the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee during the year of awardee’s selection will stand in for the President.
  6. Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Dinner: The dinner will be arranged by the SCP association manager within the confines of the SCP budget. Attendees at the dinner typically will include the awardee, the person who introduced the award at the address, the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award Committee Co-Chairs in year of selection, the SCP President, and one guest each. There should be a maximum of 10 attendees. If there are open seats available, the awardee may invite additional guests. This dinner is meant to be a small intimate celebration. The recipient will be consulted for restaurant preferences.  Reservation will be made at a restaurant that is ideally in a private dining room/area.