Frequently asked questions

SCBWI encourages the exchange of thoughts and opinions on all our social media platforms. We welcome members and non-members to share on our Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Threads, and YouTube. SCBWI has a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech of any kind. We adhere to the following rules: No personal attacks on SCBWI staff or volunteers or doxing attempts, no threats of any kind, no spamming, and no responses that are off-topic. Failure to follow our policy will result in your text being deleted and your account being blocked from responding on all SCBWI social media platforms.

SCBWI has developed a policy of taking action on issues through programming, member benefits, and resources, as opposed to making statements.

For over 50 years, SCBWI has encouraged and celebrated the creativity, dedication, and lived experiences of our members. This is a bedrock principle of our organization. Therefore, we are opposed to any use of text-prompted generative AI in writing, illustrating or other aspects of creating children’s books until fair policies and regulations are established to protect the work of all human creators. Currently, generative AI developers train their systems on human-made work, unethically using and copying this work without regard for copyright, credit, or compensation. Our position on AI goes beyond these immediate issues. While generative AI is an intriguing technology, we don’t believe it produces unique and meaningful creations. As a community, we craft and cherish transformative books brought to life through imagination and talent, human heart and soul. The power and joys of children’s literature originate from a creator’s inventiveness, talents, and hard-earned skills. We have a responsibility to young readers everywhere to make the immersive books they need and deserve. The stories and art we create have the power to change lives. We make books to share ourselves and inspire others. It is long, difficult, and immensely personal work, and it cannot be any other way. No technology can ever replace your labors, your vision, and your urge to create. Our community wants to see the world through your eyes, and hear your voice. Young people need books as singular and original as you.

You must be 18 years of age or older to join SCBWI as a premium member or to sign up for access to our website as a preview user. SCBWI does not offer memberships or site access to anyone under the age of 18. You must be 18 years of age or older to attend any SCBWI event, whether it is virtual or in-person. Children and teens are not allowed to attend SCBWI events.

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is dedicated to providing a safe and harassment-free environment for all of its members, volunteers, and employees and has a zero-tolerance policy regarding harassment, intimidation and discrimination. This includes all harassment, intimidation and discrimination made on the basis of race, age, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, religion, class, body size, veteran status, marital/domestic partnership status, citizenship or any other marginalized identity. Harassment includes verbal comments, written comments, displayed images, or behaviors such as deliberate intimidation, stalking, body policing, unwelcome photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy applies to all situations where the harassment, intimidation, or discrimination denies or limits a person’s ability to fully participate in or benefit from SCBWI’s programs and activities and is applicable to all SCBWI events and all SCBWI venues, including but not limited to SCBWI events, conferences, meetings, meet-ups, critique groups, and online interactions. Harassment, intimidation, and discrimination at any SCBWI event, any one of the foregoing events, or on-line is prohibited. Code of Conduct All participants in SCBWI events and activities, including faculty, staff and attendees, are required to comply with the following anti-harassment code of conduct. The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy prohibits harassment, including but not limited to the following behaviors: Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following. Sustained disruption of talks or other events. Inappropriate physical contact. Unwelcome sexual attention. Abusive verbal comments. Quid pro quo – sexual harassment that occurs when one in an authority position requests sex or a sexual relationship in exchange for professional consideration or favors. Harassment does not include respectful disagreement or reasonable and respectful critique made in good faith. SCBWI continues to welcome and appreciate presentation of controversial ideas, free speech, and creative artistic expression. SCBWI encourages members to hold one another accountable to the Code of Conduct and to take the perspectives of others seriously when a disagreement arises. Reporting Procedures Any person who believes there has been a violation of the SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy can report the offense in one or all of the following ways: All SCBWI conferences will designate one or more Anti-Harassment Monitors (AHM) who will be available during the conference to provide a safe space for reporting and discussion. The AHM will report directly to the conference director. A complainant may request assistance from any SCBWI officer, employee, or regional team member. SCBWI has a dedicated form for reporting any incident of harassment. Anyone who chooses to report an incident can do so using the Harassment Report Form. Reports can be filed out anonymously or with identifying information. Reports should include the substance of the complaint, date, and whenever possible, a list of witnesses or a reference to the relevant URLs, if the offense occurred online. Emails will be monitored at all times, including during SCBWI events. SCBWI will fully investigate all complaints, including those made anonymously, and take whatever action is necessary and appropriate to prevent a recurrence. Please note, however, that SCBWI will not be able to follow up an anonymous report with the complainant directly, as SCBWI will not have contact information for the anonymous complainant. SCBWI will make every attempt to respond to a named complainant in a timely fashion. Non-Retaliation The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy prohibits retaliation against a member of the SCBWI community for reporting harassment, intimidation or discrimination, or for participating in an investigation relating to any complaint made. The sanctions for retaliation are the same sanctions available to address any other violation of the SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy. Sanctions SCBWI takes all allegations of harassment seriously. Every report will be investigated by a panel consisting of board members, SCBWI staff, and members at large. The results of the investigation and the recommendations of the panel will be reported to the officers of SCBWI, who will determine, in conjunction with the panel or, when appropriate, in consultation with an independent arbiter, the appropriate sanction. Sanctions for faculty, speakers, staff or board members may include any of the following: -warning the party involved that the particular behavior is inappropriate and must be ceased; -immediate removal from the event; -denial of access to SCBWI spaces and venues on a temporary or permanent basis; -withholding of a contracted honorarium; -prohibition from future speaking engagements; -prohibition from future faculty appointments; -expulsion from SCBWI; -removal from the Board of Advisors or Board of Directors, when appropriate Sanctions for attendees, members, and guests can include any of the following: -warning the party involved that specified behavior is inappropriate and must be ceased; -immediate removal from the event, without refund; -denial of access to SCBWI spaces and venues on a permanent or temporary basis; -termination of SCBWI membership, without refund; -prohibition future SCBWI membership Confidentiality SCBWI will make every reasonable effort to conduct all investigations into allegations of harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in a manner that will protect the confidentiality of all parties. Notwithstanding the above, confidentiality is not absolute, and those with a legitimate business reason to know and be informed of the allegations will be so informed. Parties to the complaint should treat the matter under investigation with discretion and respect the reputation of all parties involved. *SCBWI acknowledges the contributions of Geek Feminism, Science Fiction Writers of America, and WisCon for their work in developing anti-harassment policies.

SCBWI will refund new memberships or renewals within seven (7) calendar days from the date of purchase. Refund requests will not be issued after this timeframe. Please click the green "Help" button at the bottom right of this page to request a refund, and allow 7-10 days for processing.

PARTICIPATION PROMISE: You agree, on behalf of yourself and on behalf of any other person for whom you are obtaining this registration, that you will not attend the Event if, under the CDC's guidelines in effect at the time of the Event, it is recommended that, as of the date of the Event, you stay at home, quarantine and/or isolate (e.g., as a result of your testing positive, developing symptoms, or having a direct exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19). For reference, the CDC's current recommendations are available here: { https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html}. In addition, you acknowledge and agree, on behalf of yourself and on behalf of any other person for whom you are obtaining this registration, that you will perform daily COVID-19 screening each morning of the event by 8:00 a.m. and will be prepared to submit proof of screening if requested to do so by the venue or the organization. All participants to the Event with symptoms of COVID-19 should not enter or participate in the Event. Further, all participants must comply with Safety Policies, health guidance, and signage at the Event, including wearing a high quality mask (for example, an N95, KN95, KF94, or well-fitting surgical mask) while at the Event.

DAILY SELF-SCREENING QUESTIONS: (1) Do you have any of these symptoms that are not caused by another condition? Fever or chills; Cough; Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; Fatigue; Muscle or body aches; Headache; Recent loss of taste or smell; Sore throat; Congestion; Nausea or vomiting; Diarrhea. (2) If you are not fully vaccinated, have you been in close contact with anyone with COVID19 in the past 14 days? Close contact is being within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period with a person; or having direct contact with fluids from a person with COVID-19 with or without wearing a mask (i.e., being coughed or sneezed on). (3) Have you had a positive COVID-19 test for active virus in the past 10 days, or are you awaiting results of a COVID-19 test? (4) Within the past 14 days, has a public health or medical professional told you to self-monitor, self-isolate, or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID-19 infection? ***Participants answering YES to any of these questions will not be permitted access to the Event.

SCBWI regions outside the US must abide by the Covid policies set by their local governments and health organizations.

Audio taping, videotaping, and/or transmitting or aiding in any of the foregoing of any part of an SCBWI conference or event (including, but not limited to, presentations, individual sessions, and networking events) is prohibited. Additionally, the material in all handouts and presentations is copyrighted and may not be reprinted, blogged, written, orally transmitted, and/or reproduced without written permission of the copyright holder only.