Candidate Training Grants for Equity & Diversity
[Note: all policies stated below are subject to change at the recommendation of our attorney, our accountant/auditor, the SFCP Board of Trustees or the Management Team should unforeseen issues arise].
In accordance with a January 2023 ratification vote by all analyst and candidate members (based on majority-supported initiatives in the All-Member Survey on Diversity & Accessibility in Analytic Training – Fall 2022), SFCP is piloting a new Candidate Training Grants for Equity & Diversity Program to help cover costs of analytic training for candidates who identify as a person of color (POC) and candidates with financial need. The goal of the Candidate Training Grant program is to make psychoanalytic training more affordable and accessible to individuals affected by systemic inequities which have previously served as barriers to pursuing analytic training (e.g. race-based or class-based inequities). In recognition of the pervasiveness of systemic inequities, the application process is deliberately focused on the applicant’s self-identification and personal goals rather than ‘assessment questions’.
Who is eligible for Candidate Training Grant funding?
Any candidate who self-identifies as POC and/or who self-identifies as having financial need is eligible for a Candidate Training Grant if they are enrolled in the SFCP Psychoanalytic Training Program or have accepted an offer of admission for the upcoming year. [Note: the Candidate Training Grant program operates entirely separately from the Admissions process for the SFCP Analytic Training Program– only candidates who have already enrolled or accepted an offer of admission into the SFCP Psychoanalytic Training Program are eligible for the Candidate Training Grant.]
How is eligibility for the Candidate Training Grant determined?
Interested candidates who self-identify as POC and/or who self-identify as having financial need are asked to write a brief (250 words or less) description of themselves, including their identity, and what impact they hope that their analytic training will have. Descriptions of existing interests and involvement in the SFCP community are welcome.
Are candidates who apply for a Candidate Training Grant still eligible to apply to the Enrico Jones Fund (EJ Fund)?
Yes! POC candidates are encouraged to apply for both EJ Funds and Candidate Training Grants, and the application process is essentially identical. Distribution of any funds will be coordinated between the two programs as described below.
How much money is available for Candidate Training Grants?
Because this is a pilot program which will begin collecting donations for the first time in 2024, we have no way of knowing what level of Candidate Training Grant support can be offered. All donated funds will be distributed equally amongst all eligible candidates as described below.
How are funds for Candidate Training Grants collected?
At the time of annual SFCP membership renewal in 2025, and annually therafter, all members will be asked whether they wish to contribute an additional amount to support Candidate Training Grants for Equity and Diversity on their annual membership renewal form. In addition, there will be fundraising efforts throughout the year.
How will the Candidate Training Grants funds be coordinated with The Enrico Jones Fund for Equality and Excellence (EJ Fund)?
For now, donations toward Candidate Training Grants and donations toward the Enrico Jones Fund (EJ Fund) will be maintained separately, but distribution of funds will be closely coordinated between the two programs with the goal of maximizing distribution of all donated funds to as many eligible SFCP trainees as possible.
The EJ Fund Committee will continue to launch their annual collection drive in the summer, and will distribute tax-free tuition credits to analytic training candidates (up to $5000), psychotherapy trainees (up to $1125 – $2250 depending on the program), and CCSW trainees (up to $300) as per existing policies and timelines of the Enrico Jones Fund for Equality and Excellence.
Going forward, the Candidate Training Grants Committee will collect funds at the time of annual SFCP membership renewal (winter for Analyst/Associate members; summer for Community/Candidate members) and periodically throughout the year. All distributions of donations toward Candidate Training Grants will first attempt to maximize tax-free financial support to as many eligible candidates as possible in the form of full tuition & fees credits for the Analytic Training Program. Any additional funds to support other costs of training will be distributed to candidates in the form of training grants paid directly to candidates (these additional grants are considered taxable income). Further details are described in the section below.
How will funds donated for Candidate Training Grants be distributed?
To take full advantage of tax-free methods of fund distribution, the first priority will be to offer analytic training tuition & fees credits up to the full amount to all eligible candidates. If a candidate has already received a $5000 tuition credit from the EJ Fund, they are also eligible to receive an additional credit from the Candidate Training Grant Fund (up to the full tuition & fees amount).
If insufficient funds are available to offer a full tuition credit to every eligible candidate, the priority will be to equally distribute all available funds in the form of tuition & fees credits up to $5000 amongst all eligible candidates, except candidates who have already received the EJ fund credit of $5000. If there are funds left over once everyone has received a $5000 credit, any leftover amount will be equally distributed amongst all eligible candidates (including EJ recipients) up to the full tuition & fees credit
If donated funds exceed the amount required to offer all eligible candidates the tax-free full tuition & fees credit, any remaining amounts will be distributed in the form of Candidate Training Grants paid directly to the candidate. The Candidate Training Grants can be used at the candidate’s discretion to help cover additional costs of analytic training beyond tuition & fees. Candidate Training Grants paid directly to the candidate are considered by the IRS to be taxable income for the candidate. Any candidate who accepts such a Candidate Training Grant will be required to fill out an I-9, and will be responsible for reporting this portion of the grant (i.e. the amount above the tax-free tuition & fees credit) as income on their tax return. Tuition & fees credits are not considered taxable income (as they are a credit), and thus do not need to be reported on the candidate’s personal income tax return.
What other efforts are underway within the PED to make psychoanalytic training more affordable and accessible to individuals affected by systemic inequities (e.g. race-based/class-based inequities)?
All Training Analysts and Supervising Analysts are encouraged to offer an ultra-reduced fee analysis or supervision to a candidate who self-identifies as POC and/or a candidate who self-identifies as having financial need through the Affordable Training Analysis policy and Affordable Supervision policy. In addition, in January of 2023, the PED voted to change training requirements to reduce the cost and time commitment for analytic training, in order to make psychoanalytic training more accessible overall.
When will this program begin and how will these grants be administered?
A Candidate Training Grant Committee chaired by PED Chair Beth Steinberg and reporting to the Board is in the process of being formed. Once established, the committee will develop fundraising efforts and procedures to implement the selection and distribution of Candidate Training Grants as described above. Anyone interested in volunteering to participate in the Candidate Training Grant Committee (including candidates!) should contact besteinberg@comcast.net.
How do I make a donation to the Candidate Training Grant Fund?
All funds will be collected via voluntary contributions from SFCP Members. Please consider donating to this important fund!