In this issue readers will find:
- ACA Responds to Earthquake in Haiti
- New Report States Mental Health Needs of Americans Going Unmet
- Department of Education Announces Three Grant Programs for K-12 Schools
- Sign of the Times: Rosie the Riveter has Become Paula the Professor
- Reliable Resource: State Report Profiles 50+ Licensure Laws
- Fast Fact: ACA-ACES Syllabus Clearinghouse Gets 10,000 Hits, Solicits More Postings
- New Book on Operationalizing the ACA Advocacy Competencies Released
- Member Survey and Webinar on Military Mental Health Inspire PBS Documentary
- Health Insurance Available to ACA members and their Families
- Worth Reading: But Be Wary of Using
- Calendar: ASGW, ND, NC and KS Conferences Approaching
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ACA Responds to Earthquake in Haiti
Responding to the tragedy in Haiti has taken many forms within ACA and was accomplished with the characteristic compassion and caring for which counseling professionals are known. Within days, ACA developed and posted a 48-minute podcast to help Haitian Americans cope with the disaster that was unfolding in their homeland. ACA member and University of Florida Associate Professor, Cirecie A. West, PhD, was interviewed by ACA's Rebecca Daniel-Burke for the free program that addresses symptoms of distress, ways to cope, and when and where to get help. The program, intended for Haitians who are living in the U.S., was translated into Creole by Shirley St Juste, a doctoral student at Howard University in Washington, DC.
ACA President Lynn E. Linde issued a statement that was sent via email to all members announcing the podcast and other ACA efforts including the distribution of a special Red Cross flyer Taking Care of Your Emotional Health after a Disaster, setting up a donation program through the ACA Foundation, and monitoring the need for ACA members who are certified Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Volunteers.
A call for deployment will be sent to ACA members if requested to do so by the Red Cross.
New Report States Mental Health Needs of Americans Going Unmet
A new study by researchers at Wayne State University confirms a dire situation known to many counselors and helping professionals---Americans with major depression are not having their mental health needs addressed with proper treatment and in accordance with accepted practices. The study further indicates that Mexican and African American populations are faring worse than the majority population in accessing mental health care. The findings were derived from the National Institute of Mental Health Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys and are included in a story posted on the Medscape Today website. Users of the website must register to access the report.
Department of Education Announces Three Grant Programs for K-12 Schools
Counselors in K-12 settings may be interested in the three grant programs recently announced by the U.S. Department of Education.
Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (Federal Register: January 12, 2010 [CFDA# 84.215E)
The purpose of the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling program is to support efforts by LEAs (public school districts) to establish or expand counseling programs.
- Application submission deadline: February 26, 2010.
- Eligible Applicants: Local education agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are considered LEAs under State law that do not have an active grant under this program (CFDA 84.215E), and consortia thereof.
- Estimated Available Funds: $15,437,591
- Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000-$400,000
- Estimated Average Size of Awards: $350,000
- Estimated Number of Awards: 44
The FY 2010 grant application package may be downloaded from the following Department of Education's websites: http://e-Grants.ed.gov or http://www.ed.gov/programs/elseccounseling/applicant.html.
Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems (Federal Register: January 8, 2010 [CFDA# 84.215M])
The purpose of the Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems program is to increase student access to high-quality mental health care by developing innovative approaches that link school systems with the local mental health system.
- Application submission deadline: February 22, 2010.
- Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are considered LEAs under state law, and Indian Tribes.
- Estimated Available Funds: $5,913,000.
- Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000-$400,000.
- Estimated Average Size of Awards: $347,800.
- Estimated Number of Awards: 17.
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (Federal Register: January 8, 2010 [CFDA# 84.184E])
Past emergencies, such as the events of September 11, 2001, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and emergencies related to other natural and man-made hazards, reinforce the need for schools and communities to plan for traditional crises and emergencies, as well as other catastrophic events. The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) grant program provides funds to local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish an emergency management process that focuses on reviewing and strengthening emergency management plans, within the framework of the four phases of emergency management (Prevention-Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery).
The program also provides resources to LEAs to provide training for staff on emergency management procedures and requires that LEAs develop comprehensive all-hazards emergency management plans in collaboration with community partners including local law enforcement; public safety, public health, and mental health agencies; and local government.
- Application submission deadline: February 26, 2010
- Eligible Applicants: LEAs, including charter schools that are considered LEAs under state laws that do not currently have an active grant under the REMS program. For the purpose of this eligibility requirement, a grant is considered active until the end of the grant's project or funding period, including any extension of those periods that extend the grantee's authority to obligate funds.
- Estimated Available Funds: $29,000,000.
- Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000-$600,000.
- Estimated Average Size of Awards: $150,000 for a small-size LEA (1-20 education facilities); $300,000 for a medium-size LEA (21-75 education facilities); and $600,000 for a large-size LEA (76 or more education facilities).
- Estimated Number of Awards: 96.
Sign of the Times: Rosie the Riveter has Become Paula the Professor
According to the Pew Research Center, the ascent of women in the workplace and women's economic empowerment could arguably be the largest social change of the current millennium. Pew found only a small minority of Americans (19%) currently believe that women should return to traditional roles like Rosie the Riveter, who was encouraged to return home from the workplace after World War II.
Reliable Resource: State Report Profiles 50+ Licensure Laws
Professional counselors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are now governed by licensure laws. How do these laws compare? Which states require a jurisprudence exam? How many continuing education credits does each state require for licensure renewal? Which states have reciprocity? These and many more licensure questions are answered in the newly revised ACA licensure guide, Licensure Requirements for Professional Counselors: A State-By-State Report.
The 2010 edition covers the new California law, details the requirements to be a clinical supervisor in each state, and provides updates to all contact information, fees, renewal requirements, scope of practice information and more.
Order #: 72903
$19.95 - ACA members
$29.95 - nonmembers
Order online or call 1-800-422-2648, x222.
Fast Fact: ACA/ACES Syllabus Clearinghouse Gets 10,000 Hits, Solicits More Postings
In its first year, the ACA/ACES Syllabus Clearinghouse has become a popular professional resource for counselor educators, one that requires continued updating and refreshing. Counselor educators who have created new or revised syllabi for their spring classes are urged to contribute their work to the Clearinghouse by February 15.
ACA/ACES Syllabus Clearinghouse...
Member Survey and Webinar on Military Mental Health Inspire PBS Documentary
A new PBS documentary, "The Next Mission," was inspired by a 2008 military mental health survey and webinar in which ACA members participated. The moving documentary focuses on the mental health issues faced by returning service members. The survey is referenced in the documentary and Dr. David Fenell, who chaired ACA's Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and represented ACA in the webinar, is interviewed as part of the documentary.
Watch for the documentary on your local PBS station or view it here. Capella University, which conducted the study, is also making copies of the DVD available free of charge for training or informational purposes. To request a copy, email Joshua.Basara@capella.edu.
New Book on Operationalizing the ACA Advocacy Competencies Released
ACA Advocacy Competencies: A Social Justice Framework for Counselors
edited by Manivong J. Ratts, Rebecca L. Toporek, and Judith A. Lewis
Experts discuss how counselors, counselor educators, and students can use the ideals in the ACA Advocacy Competencies with diverse client populations, across various counseling settings, and in multiple specialty areas. Examples in each chapter provide guidance as to when individual empowerment counseling is sufficient or when situations call for advocacy on behalf of clients or their communities within the public arena or political domain. Thought provoking and engaging, this book is an invaluable resource for teaching and course work and a call for all counselors to participate in social justice and systems change.
2010 | 264 pgs
Order #72896
ISBN 978-1-55620-293-3
List Price: $64.95
ACA Member Price: $46.95
Health Insurance Available to ACA members and their Families
The ACA Insurance Trust has developed health insurance plans to meet the immediate needs of private practitioners and small group practices. This insurance is offered through Assurant Health and is administered by National Affinity Services. Go to www.insnetwork.net. Click on "get a quote" and provide basic information. The response time is prompt, and a personal representative will call, if you wish. The plans offer a decreasing deductible feature which is generating great interest. Short Term medical plans are also offered, which are guaranteed issue and provide protection for as short as thirty days and up to one year.
Contact the ACA Insurance Trust at 800-347-6647, ext. 284 for assistance or questions.
Worth Reading: But Be Wary of Using
It has become an end-of-year tradition at Lake Superior State University to add new words and phrases to the university's "List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness." Since some of these words and expressions have been overheard from time to time in counseling environments, and quite possibly used in ACAeNews, they are presented here for your review and entertainment.
- Shovel-ready
- Transparent/transparency
- Czar
- Tweet
- App
- Sexting
- Friend as a verb
- Teachable moment
- In these economic times
- Stimulus
- Toxic assets
- Too big to fail
- Bromance
- Chillaxin
- Obama-prefix or roots
Lake Superior State University story...
Calendar: ASGW, ND, NC and KS Conferences Approaching
February 1-3, 2010
North Dakota Counseling Association
Best Western / Ramada, Bismarck, ND
Information...
February 17-19, 2010
North Carolina Counseling Association
Embassy Suites, Concord, NC
Information...
February 18-21, 2010
The Art and Science of Group Work
Association of Specialists in Group Work
Doubletree Hotel, New Orleans, LA
Information...
March 11-12, 2010
Kansas Counseling Association
Doubletree Hotel, Overland Park, KS
Information...
ACA divisions, branches, and regions are valuable sources of learning and professional development. Information on events will be posted approximately 8-10 weeks prior. This information is made available to ACAeNews via the ACA master calendar and the various organization web sites. Send calendar items to dbrown@counseling.org. Please provide the sponsor, dates, site and contact person information. Information posted here is restricted to that sponsored by ACA divisions, branches, regions and related organizations.
ABOUT ACAeNews
ACAeNews is published 24 times annually by the American Counseling Association for the benefit of members across the counseling profession. Any reference to a product, service, activity, or listing of a website in ACAeNews does not imply endorsement by ACA. Any views and opinions are those of the sponsoring organization and may or may not be shared by ACA.
Direct comments, questions, and submissions to fburtnett@counseling.org. All submissions will be subject to review by ACA for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance to the readership and may be edited.
Lynn E. Linde, President
llinde@loyola.edu
Richard Yep, CAE, Executive Director
ryep@counseling.org
Debra Bass, Director of Marketing and Communications
dbass@counseling.org
Frank Burtnett, NCC, NCCC, ACAeNews Editor
fburtnett@counseling.org
Don Kenneally, Internet Development / Production
dkenneally@counseling.org
ACA Website: www.counseling.org
Copyright 2010, American Counseling Association, 5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone: 703-823-9800. Email: fburtnett@counseling.org. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce anything contained in this newsletter as long as the American Counseling Association is identified as the original source of the information.
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