Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Resident Grants Program

catch@aap.org

CATCH district resident liaisons

Chapter CATCH facilitators

CATCH Resident Grants support pediatric residents in the planning and/or implementation of innovative, community-based initiatives that increase children's access to optimal health and well-being and address unmet child health needs.

Grant requirements:

• Project must be new in the community or a new program from an existing initiative
• Project includes plans for strong community partnerships
• Project is for planning and/or implementation activities. If project proposal only includes implementation activities, then prior planning must be demonstrated

Project activities should lead to a program that will:

• Demonstrate creativity or innovation in the designated community
• Predominantly serve a population of children with unmet health needs
• Aim to develop strong, broad-based community partnerships
• Assess children's health or well-being and/or increase access to needed health services not otherwise available
• Be led by a pediatrician who plays a significant role in the project
• Address an important need and likely achieve stated goals
• Include plans for sustainability beyond the grant period

CATCH partners with American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Councils and Sections to support pediatric residents to conduct community-based projects that advance child health and well-being. These entities will help to sponsor grants that address topics that are of current interest to their membership. Descriptions of special topics are available in the application instructions.

Eligible trainees may apply solo, with a co-applicant, or as a team of up to 4 residents.

Eligibility requirements:

• U.S. or Canadian pediatric resident with at least 1.5 years left (or a chief year) by the grant submission date in January
• Current AAP (National and chapter) membership
• Project is based in the U.S. or Canada

Up to $2,000

Links to application instructions and the online application system are available on the program website.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their CATCH district resident liaisons or Chapter CATCH facilitators prior to submission of an application.

There are 3 types of grants (Planning, Implementation, and Resident) which are based on the eligibility guidelines (current level of training/practice) and the developmental stage for the community-based project (How to decide which application to use).

Applicant office hours
(Registration required)

• November 18, 2026
  7:00 p.m. Eastern
• December 8, 2026
  7:30 p.m. Eastern