In this issue readers will find:
- 29 Organizations Have Endorsed 20/20 Counseling Definition
- In the News: Study Finds College Students Learn Little in First 2 Years
- ACA Member Assists Red Cross in Sheltering-in-Place Guidelines
- CBT Expert Judith Beck to Keynote ACA Conference, Beck Institute Offers Scholarships
- School Counselor Shortage Topic of News Story
- ACA Public Policy Staff to Host Conference Call on February 1
- Fast Fact: Boomers Now Seniors
- ACA Releases Essential New Resource for Working With Children
- Disaster Mental Health Resources: Arizona and Nebraska Shootings Raise Need for Services
- Relevant Research: Children with ADHD Experience Greater Math and Reading Test Difficulty
- New Semester Underway: Time to Submit Syllabi to ACA-ACES Clearinghouse
- Reliable Resource: FAFSA Webinar on February 17 to Focus on Homeless Students
- ACA Conference Career Center Helps Employers and Job Seekers
- Calendar: State Branch Conferences Scheduled in NC, OK, KS, and CO
Visit our website:
ACA blogs, written by counselors, for counselors:
29 Organizations Have Endorsed 20/20 Counseling Definition
The universal definition of counseling created in 2010 has now been endorsed by 29 professional organizations. "20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling" is an initiative co-sponsored by ACA and the American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB). The definition follows:
"Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals."
The delegates crafting and approving the definition encouraged 20/20 member organizations to add statements or passages that emphasized their particular specialty or area of focus. The definition complements the "Principles for Unifying and Strengthening the Profession" statement which was adopted in 2009. A list of endorsing organizations, as well as information about the purpose, and work of the 20/20 initiative can be found
In the News: Study Finds College Students Learn Little in First 2 Years
A new report and book, Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses, has been making print and electronic headlines. Written by Richard Arum of New York University and Josipa Roksa of the University of Virginia, the report calls into question just how much students actually learn in college. The researchers, studying the experiences of 2,300 undergraduate students at 24 institutions, found 45% showed little improvement in their critical thinking, complex reasoning, and writing skills after 2 years of college study.
The authors blame the poor academic progress on both the students and the institutions. They suggest students often elect coursework with limited challenges and they do not to want to work too hard in their academic pursuits. Colleges, on the other hand, allow students to opt for these limited challenges and expect too little once students arrive in the classroom. The report comes at a time when national leaders are calling for increases in college readiness, participation, and degree attainment.
ACA Member Assists Red Cross in Sheltering-in-Place Guidelines
In conjunction with her doctoral dissertation, ACA member Stephanie Dailey has assisted the American Red Cross (ARC) in the development of Sheltering-in-Place guidelines, which are now posted on the ACA website section "Disaster Mental Health" and are being disseminated by the ARC. The Sheltering-in-Place information guides individuals in what they should do during times of a disaster when authorities instruct them to shelter wherever they are–at home, work, school, in between. ACA thanks Stephanie for her insightful and thorough contribution.
CBT Expert Judith Beck to Keynote ACA Conference, Beck Institute Offers Scholarships
Cognitive therapy expert Judith S. Beck, PhD, President of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research will be a keynote presenter on March 25 at the ACA Conference & Exposition in New Orleans. Dr. Beck will share the message about cognitive therapy (also known as cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT), that she has been delivering to mental health professionals nationally and internationally.
The Beck Institute is currently holding a competition that will result in 10 graduate students and faculty being awarded full-tuition scholarships for a 3-day workshop on August 15-17, 2011 in Philadelphia. The workshop will focus on the fundamentals of cognitive therapy and will include a conversation period with the soon to be 90-year-old Dr. Aaron Beck, Institute president emeritus.
ACA members wishing to compete for the scholarships should answer the following questions in 200-500 words in the body of an email (no attachments) and send it to beckinstitute@beckinstitute.org.
- What is your exposure to and experience in CBT?
- How do you intend to use CBT in the future?
- What involvement, if any, have you had in CBT-related research?
The deadline is March 1, 2011. Scholarship winners will be notified by email in early April.
More information about the institute can be found at
For more information on the ACA Conference,
School Counselor Shortage Topic of News Story
A recent story in The Washington Post cited the 2008-09 school year counselor-to-student statistics released by the U.S. Department of Education and discussed how the 1 to 457 national ratio fails to meet the 1 to 250 standard recommended by ACA and American School Counselor Association. The ACA Public Policy staff has prepared a state-by-state breakdown of the latest statistics.
ACA Public Policy Staff to Host Conference Call February 1
ACA's Public Policy staff will host a conference call Tuesday, February 1, 2011 from 1pm – 2pm (ET) for members interested in checking on the status of current policy issues. Topics to be covered: federal budget/appropriations, health care reform, and TRICARE reimbursement policy. With Q&A, the call will be about 45 minutes.
To participate, call (559) 546-1000 and enter participant access code 518740#. Please note that long-distance charges will apply. Questions? Contact Scott Barstow at 1-800-347-6647, ext. 234, or sbarstow@counseling.org.
Fast Fact: Boomers Now Seniors
They were born between 1946 and 1964. They are currently 76 million strong and represent the largest population spurt in U.S. history. And the first of the "baby boomers" started turning 64 on New Years Day. On average, 7,000 boomers turn 65 each day.
ACA Releases Essential New Resource for Working With Children
Counseling Children: A Core Issues Approach
by Richard W. Halstead, Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, and Jodi Ann Mullen
This innovative book offers a means for practitioners in community, mental health, and school settings to better assess, treat, and monitor children's underlying issues. The diagnostic framework presented condenses what is known about best practices in counseling children, helps uncover the nature of children's core concerns and how to address the issues they are struggling with, and challenges counselors to move beyond the DSM. Part I provides an orientation to the core issues approach and how to conceptualize the nature of clients' presenting concerns. Part II describes intervention strategies for work with children, including narrative approaches, play therapy, sand tray therapy, and expressive arts therapy. The final chapter gives suggestions for bringing parents, teachers, and other professionals together as a collaborative team.
2011 | 192 pgs
Order #72901
ISBN 978-1-55620-283-4
List Price: $29.95
ACA Member Price: $24.95
Disaster Mental Health Resources: Arizona and Nebraska Shootings Raise Need for Services
The recent shootings at a Tucson, Arizona constituent gathering and an Omaha, Nebraska high school are a painful reminder of the need for counselors to be poised to respond when disasters like these occur in our communities. In support of professional counselors, ACA has been engaged in a number of activities addressing disaster and trauma mental health concerns, including:
- ACA is partnering with the American Red Cross (ARC) in the training and deployment of disaster mental health volunteers.
- Counselor Stephanie Dailey represented ACA in working with ARC and other mental health associations in the development of Sheltering-in-Place guidelines which are posted on the Disaster Mental Health section on the ACA website (see related news item above.)
- The ACA Traumatology Interest Network, under the leadership of Karin Jordan, has developed a series of 12 fact sheets representing a base platform for learning about the skills associated with disaster mental health. Those fact sheets are also posted on the DMH section.
- Links to a series of valuable websites addressing various aspects of disaster and trauma relief are posted on the DMH section.
As a reminder, the ACA Foundation published
Relevant Research: Children with ADHD Experience Greater Math and Reading Test Difficulty
In a long-term study, Florida State University researchers have used identical and fraternal twins to examine the genetic and environmental influences underlying Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) behaviors. The findings, published in Psychological Science, indicate that children with ADHD are likely to experience greater difficulty on mathematics and reading tests than their peers. The study of twins allowed the researchers to study the nature and nurture influences simultaneously.
New Semester Underway: Time to Submit Syllabi to ACA-ACES Clearinghouse
Counselor educators who have created new or revised syllabi for this semester are encouraged to share them by submitting to the ACA-ACES Syllabus Clearinghouse, joining the more than 120 counselor educators who have made contributions to date. It is easy to contribute your syllabi. Go to
Reliable Resource: FAFSA Webinar on February 17 to Focus on Homeless Students
The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, in partnership with the Texas Education Agency and the National Center for Homeless Education, is offering a free webinar to provide school counselors with information about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and homelessness. Specifically, the webinar will address questions 55-57 on the FAFSA, the definition of homeless, how to identify and verify such students, and how to support their college access.
The webinar will be held from 1pm – 2:30pm (CT) on Thursday, February 17, 2011. To register,
ACA Conference Career Center Helps Employers and Job Seekers
Attendees at the ACA Conference & Exposition in New Orleans, March 23-27, will find a variety of services available at the Career Center in the Exhibit Hall:
- Job seekers can sign up for Career Consults to include resume critiques and job search strategies
- Employers can sign up for space to interview candidates; resumes will be available to you in February
- Job seekers can post their resumes (both Master's and Doctoral-level candidates)
- Private practitioners can also sign up for private practice consults (offered by two successful counselors in private practice)
Members who have registered for the New Orleans conference should click on
Should the Career Consults schedule be filled, interested individuals can still "drop in" and every attempt will be made to accommodate you. Direct questions about the Career Center services to Rebecca Daniel-Burke at rdanielburke@counseling.org
Not yet registered for the
Calendar: State Branch Conferences Scheduled in NC, OK, KS, and CO
Branch: North Carolina Counseling Association
Theme: Professional Counselors – Fit To Serve
Dates: February 16-18, 2011
Location: Embassy Suites, Concord, NC
Branch: Oklahoma Counseling Association
Theme: Mid-Winter Conference
Dates: March 4-5, 2011
Location: National Center for Employee Development, Norman, OK
Branch: Kansas Counseling Association
Theme: Picture Yourself...Attending the 2011 KCA Convention
Dates: March 9-11, 2011
Location: Wichita Marriott Hotel 9100 Corporate Hills Drive, Wichita, KS
Branch: Colorado Counseling Association
Theme: Community and Collaboration ~ Promoting Personal & Professional Development
Dates: March 11-12, 2011
Location: Doubletree Hotel Denver North, Denver, CO
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 to meet space parameters.
Marcheta P. Evans, Ph.D., President
Marcheta.evans@utsa.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 Web site: www.counseling.org
Copyright 2011, 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.
CONTACT INFORMATION
5999 Stevenson Ave. Alexandria, VA 22304
800.347.6647 | 800.473.2329 (fax)
Copyright 2011, American Counseling Association, All Rights Reserved.