AACAP Legislative Conference
Registration Is Open For AACAP's Legislative Conference!
The 2025 AACAP Legislative Conference will be held May 5-6, 2025 at the Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf.
This is a key opportunity for AACAP members of all career-levels to meet with Members of Congress and their legislative staff to promote children’s mental health and efforts to support the psychiatric workforce.
Conference registration is FREE, and open to AACAP members only. Meeting registration will close on April 10, 2025 and no registration is available onsite.
Share your expertise to inform policies that promote equitable access to high-quality pediatric mental health care and that grow a diverse child and adolescent psychiatry workforce!
This is a key opportunity for AACAP members of all career levels to meet with Members of Congress and their legislative staff to promote children’s mental health and efforts to support the psychiatry workforce. Legislative Conference participants will engage in advocacy training, mental health policy discussions, and in-person meetings with Members of Congress and their staff.
About the AACAP Legislative Conference
Fellow Travel Grants
A limited number of travel grants will be available to support fellows and residents attending the conference. These are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be matched by an awardee’s regional organization. For more information on these awards, please contact the AACAP Government Affairs team at govaffairs@aacap.org.
Family Advocates
AACAP is once again recruiting family advocates to join the Legislative Conference alongside AACAP members. Family advocates participate in all portions of the conference, including Congressional meetings, where they help promote AACAP policy priorities by sharing how children's mental health has impacted their family. AACAP encourages its members to suggest interested family advocates, which can include youth, to participate. AACAP will cover the cost for family advocate to attend the conference, but a limited number of spaces are available. A parent or guardian must accompany youth attendees. To learn more about this opportunity email govaffairs@aacap.org.
Conference Hotel
Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf
480 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20024
Rates: $335 (plus taxes)
Book online or call 1.800.HILTONS (1.800.445.8667) and use the code AACA25 when making your reservation.
Please note that rooms are held at the discounted rate of $335 until Thursday, April 10, 2025, and are first-come, first-served on a limited basis.
Tentative Schedule of Events (all times are in EDT)
Legislative Conference
Monday, May 5
- 2:00 pm: Legislative Conference Check-In Opens
- 2:30 pm-6:00 pm: Mandatory Legislative Conference Training and Practice Sessions for all attendees
- 6:30 pm-7:30 pm: Legislative Conference Reception, hosted by AACAP-PAC
Tuesday, May 6
- 8:00 am-9:00 am: Training breakfast for all attendees
- 10:00 am-4:00 pm: Capitol Hill Visits
AACAP will schedule your Congressional meetings on Tuesday, May 6, on your behalf. Your meeting schedule will be communicated to you closer to the conference.
For information about the AACAP Assembly of Regional Organizations, please visit www.aacap.org/Assembly
Read about 2024 Legislative Conference member experiences and conference successes in AACAP News.