Membership is offered to physicians from all medical specialties who have been recognized by their peers as being experts and leaders in the field of child abuse and neglect.  An applicant’s qualifications include their activities and leadership in the following areas: clinical care, education, research, and advocacy. Applicant must have 5 years of child abuse clinical experience.  Training during residency is excluded but child abuse fellowship training time can be used towards this 5 year requirement.

Membership applications for the Ray Helfer Society are reviewed once each year.  Applications must be completed and received by the Membership Chairman on or before the deadline.  The current deadline for application submission is July 1, 2008. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make certain that the completed application is received on time.  The membership application can be downloaded here.

Two current members of the Ray Helfer Society must sponsor each application for membership.  One sponsor must be identified as the primary sponsor on the application form.

Prior to the annual Ray Helfer Society meeting, members of the Helfer Society will be informed by an email sent through the Helfer Society listserve that the names and affiliations of new applicants are posted on the Helfer Society website. Applicant names will be posted in the “member’s only” section of the Ray Helfer Society website, a password protected site. Members will be encouraged to send supportive or unsupportive comments to the Chair of the Membership Committee. These comments will remain anonymous but will be shared with the Membership Committee.  Three weeks before the annual Ray Helfer Society meeting the completed applications will be distributed to Membership Committee members so that each application will be reviewed by a single committee member.  The Membership Committee will convene during the annual Ray Helfer Society meeting.  During this meeting the qualifications of each applicant will be presented and the Committee will make a recommendation regarding each applicant’s request for membership.  Applicants who are unanimously approved during the Membership Committee meeting will be invited into the Ray Helfer Society.  The applications which are not unanimously approved by the Membership Committee will be reviewed by the Helfer Society Executive Committee. The Executive Committee’s decision regarding the nominee’s admission into the society will be final.  Approved members will be informed of their acceptance into the Ray Helfer Society following the annual meeting.  Membership dues will be assessed every January.  For any questions regarding membership please contact the current membership chair.

Complete applications must include all of the following:  

1. A completed application form.  The application form must be typed or printed clearly.i>
2. A current CV
3. A signed letter from the primary sponsor which describes the applicant’s qualifications and accomplishments.  In order to assist the membership committee in evaluating the application, this letter should provide clear evidence of the applicant’s leadership and activities including advocacy, scientific and clinical accomplishments, contributions to research, teaching, or creation of services for abused and neglected children.  The letter should also address the nominee's adherence to ethical standards.  The primary sponsor must also complete a sponsorship checklist wh which the sponsor should review and consider carefully before submitting a candidate for full membership the the society.
4. A signed letter of recommendation from the seconding sponsor supporting the application’s membership into the Ray Helfer Society.
5. A check should be made out to the Ray Helfer Society for $20 to cover processing costs mailed to Tammy Hurley at the address below.

Email completed application as a PDF to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   before the Deadline of July 1, 2008

If unable to send electronic copies 2 hard copies can be mailed to Tammy Hurley at 12865 Parkside Drive.  Palos Park, IL 60464.