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Regular Membership

Regular Membership in the Ray Helfer Society honors 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.  Criteria for membership include activities and leadership in clinical care, education, research, and advocacy. All applicants must have at least 5 years of committed involvement in the field of child maltreatment.  Training during residency is excluded, but fellowship training can be used towards the 5 years. Those certified in Child Abuse Pediatrics will still need to meet the other criteria for regular membership in the Society, such as the 5 years commitment to the field. After review, the Membership Committee can decide that the applicant is not ready for Regular Membership and will be approved as a Scholar Member.

Membership applications for the Helfer Society are reviewed once each year. The deadline is July 1 each year. Two current regular members of the Helfer Society must sponsor an application for regular membership. One sponsor should be identified as the primary sponsor on the application form. The membership application can be downloaded below.

Applications for membership must include all of the following:

  1. A completed online application form. Please select this link to access the Regular Member application form.

  2. A current CV and a brief synopsis (PDF format preferred) of your current child-abuse related activities - must be provided when submitting the online application.

  3. A signed letter from the primary sponsor (PDF format preferred) who is a Regular or Emeritus Helfer Society Member, describing the applicant’s qualifications and accomplishments should be sent directly to the Helfer Society. This letter should provide clear evidence of the applicant’s leadership and activities including advocacy, scientific and clinical accomplishments, and contributions to research, teaching, or development of services for abused and neglected children. The letter should also address the nominee's adherence to ethical standards. This can be provided at the time you are submitting your online application or it can be provided separately by July 1.

  4. The primary sponsor must complete the alt Primary Sponsor Report Form, which the sponsor should consider carefully before nominating a candidate for regular membership in the Society. (This is a PDF fill-able form that can be completed and saved on your computer in most cases.) Please type or print clearly. This can be provided at the time you are submitting your online application or it can be provided separately by July 1.

  5. A signed letter of recommendation from the seconding sponsor (PDF format preferred) who is a Regular or Emeritus Helfer Society Member, supporting the application’s regular membership in the Society. This can be provided at the time you are submitting your online application or it can be provided separately by July 1.

  6. Payment for $20 to cover processing costs. You will have the option to pay by credit card or check. This is nonrefundable.

All supporting documents that are not included with your application submission should be emailed to Dee Dee Bandy at [email protected] by the July 1 deadline. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all materials are received by July 1 each year. Applicants and sponsors will be notified of the Membership Committee decision in July or August. Successful applicants will immediately become Regular Members of the Society. Membership dues are $275 per year.