In this issue readers will find:
- Bradley T. Erford, Loyola University Professor, Elected 61st ACA President
- ACA Files Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of Eastern Michigan University
- More Than 3,500 Attendees Expected for New Orleans Conference
- In the News: Student and Community Voices Heard in Counselor Reduction Discussion
- Public Policy Conference Call --- Tuesday, March 1st - 1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern
- Fast Facts: Women Pulling Farther Ahead in Degree Attainment
- ACA Announces Wiley-Blackwell Journals Partnership
- Reliable Resource: Suicide Prevention Training Video for Substance Abuse Treatment Providers
- New Book on "How-tos" of Incorporating Clients' Spiritual and Religious Issues into Counseling
- CACREP Seeking Applications for 2016 Standards Revision Committee
- On the Lighter Side: Economy Having Effect on Spring Break Activities
- Calendar: OK, KS, CO, NJ, MO, ME, CT, and SD Conferences Coming in Spring
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Bradley T. Erford, Loyola University Professor, Elected 61st ACA President
ACA Nominations and Elections Chair Lynn Linde and Executive Director Richard Yep have announced that Bradley T. Erford has been elected to serve as the Association's 61st President. Dr. Erford, currently a professor at Loyola University in Maryland, has served as a volunteer leader at the ACA branch, region, division, and national levels. Currently, Brad serves on the ACA Governing Council as the representative from the Association for Assessment in Counseling and Education and is the ACA Bylaws Chair.
The slate of candidates this year included Christine Moll, Michael D'Andrea, and Jeffrey Freiden, three highly qualified and talented professional counselors and Association contributors at multiple levels. The membership is fortunate to have found such a committed group of candidates for national office.
Dr. Erford will begin his term as President-Elect on July 1, 2011 and he will assume the role of ACA President on July 1, 2012 for a 1-year term. Congratulations!
More than 2,800 votes were cast, the highest number of voters in four years. An overwhelming majority (98%) commented positively on using the new online voting platform. ACA continues to explore cost-savings by going electronic where feasible.
Please ensure that ACA has your current contact information in your member record, particularly your email address. Login to your account at
ACA Files Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of Eastern Michigan University
ACA has filed an amicus curiae (friend-of-the-court) brief with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Ward v. Wilbanks et al. The case involves Julea Ward, a former counselor education student at Eastern Michigan University, who refused to counsel a gay practicum client. After remediation efforts failed, Ms. Ward was dismissed from the counseling program. She then sued the EMU counseling program faculty and the university claiming that her first amendment right to practice her religion was being infringed upon.
The case was decided in July, with the judge ruling in favor of the EMU counseling program. ACA provided expert written testimony supporting the EMU counseling program and faculty and that testimony was quoted by Judge George Caram Steeh in his summary judgment. Ms. Ward has now filed an appeal in the Sixth Circuit Court and ACA has filed an amicus curiae brief supporting the original ruling and the denial of the motion to appeal. The complete 23-page ACA amicus brief is available
More Than 3,500 Attendees Expected for New Orleans Conference
There is still time to
Watch for an email in early March with specific travel details for attendees. Questions? Call 800-347-6647, x222.
Career Center Preparing for Busy ACA Conference Activity
Members searching for their first counseling position and those interested in career mobility will find a number of Career Center conference consult opportunities supportive of their quest. Click
- Employers/Universities: List your open position and conduct live interviews at the conference.
- Job Seekers/Candidates: Interview for open positions during the conference.
- Career consults: Participate in job search strategies sessions, mock interviews, and resume critiques.
- Private Practice Consults with the experts (two very successful private practitioners) are free at the Career Center, sign up
here .
Direct any questions about Career Center activities to confconsults@counseling.org.
In the News: Student and Community Voices Heard in Counselor Reduction Discussion
Counselor advocacy takes many forms these days, but none better than when passionate Portsmouth High School students and community members appeared before a New Hampshire school board meeting earlier this month and argued against a reduction in the counseling staff and elimination of student services. Faced with finding ways to keep from adding expenses to the school budget, consideration was being given to reducing the size of the counseling staff that currently exceeds the required state student to counselor ratio.
According to press accounts, the discussion was sprinkled with personal examples of how one particular counselor had befriended, helped, and supported students and become a vital contributor to their educational experience. The effort met with partial success when the board voted to find a way to spare at least one counselor position from the budget cuts.
Public Policy Conference Call --- Tuesday, March 1st – 1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern
The ACA public policy staff will host a conference call Tuesday, March 1, 2011 from 1pm - 2pm ET for members interested in learning more about the current ACA legislative agenda and how to get involved in advocating for counselor-friendly policies. Topics to be covered will include federal budget/appropriations, Medicare coverage of counselors, and an update on VA/TRICARE policy. The call should last about 45 minutes, including time for Q&A.
To participate, call (559) 546-1000 and enter participant access code 518740#. Please note that long-distance charges will apply. Direct questions to Scott Barstow, at 1-800-347-6647, x234, or sbarstow@counseling.org.
Fast Facts: Women Pulling Farther Ahead in Degree Attainment
Women in the U.S. are almost twice as likely as men to earn a bachelor's degree by age 23, underscoring decades of gains by females in schools and the workforce, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey. By that age, almost one in four women earned a college degree compared with one in seven men, BLS said in a report released earlier this month.
Women's outperformance is thought to coincide with increasing opportunities in the workforce as jobs have shifted over time to a more balanced situation, especially for those who have attained a college degree. The gap is so wide, however, that it is not expected to close quickly.
ACA Announces Wiley-Blackwell Journals Partnership
ACA is pleased to announce a new journals partnership with Wiley-Blackwell. Beginning in 2012, Wiley-Blackwell will publish the following journals on behalf of ACA and its divisions: Journal of Counseling & Development, Adultspan Journal, The Career Development Quarterly, Counseling and Values, Counselor Education and Supervision, Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, Journal of College Counseling, Journal of Employment Counseling, Journal of Humanistic Counseling, and the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. Visit
In addition to providing printing, subscription fulfilment, and marketing services, Wiley-Blackwell will make all of the content from ACA's 10 journals available through the
Richard Yep, Executive Director of ACA, said, "For nearly 60 years, ACA has been at the forefront of building and developing the counseling profession. Our partnership with Wiley-Blackwell is one that we believe will allow us to ensure that the best research and practical information about counseling is available to practicing professionals, scholars, and the public."
Philip Carpenter, Vice-President and Managing Director for Social Sciences and Humanities at Wiley-Blackwell, said of the partnership, "We look forward to building on the valuable teamwork that has been achieved during our discussions with the Association. We are committed to disseminating research in the counseling field, and currently publish more than 300 counseling books and over 100 psychology journals, as well as reference works, and practitioner-oriented series related to the counseling profession."
Carolyn Baker, ACA's Director of Publications, said, "This partnership will greatly expand the global visibility of our journals and has the potential to positively impact article citations and journal rankings as well. Now, more than ever, ACA needs an experienced publishing partner with the international reach, technical prowess, and marketing expertise necessary to increase readership and ensure the long-term success of our journals."
For more information, visit
Reliable Resource: Suicide Prevention Training Video for Substance Abuse Treatment Providers
Suicide is the leading cause of death among people who abuse alcohol and drugs, making suicide risk a problem that every frontline substance abuse and addictions counselor must be able to address. In collaboration with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has developed a training video as a companion piece for SAMHSA’s Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP 50): Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment.
In the video, a moderator and three panel members discuss ways to manage and address suicidal thoughts and behaviors among individuals with substance abuse issues. Actors portray case scenarios that the panelists discuss. Although the video is designed for VA settings, the content is applicable to all treatment settings.
This 75-minute video depicts and explains appropriate counseling methods, administrative support, and clinical supervision for substance abuse providers treating clients with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Special attention is given to risk factors, warning signs, and follow-up care. The counseling sessions portrayed in the video employ the specific counseling techniques and the four-step process recommended by TIP 50. A catalog of other SAMHSA videos is also available at the site.
New Book on "How-tos" of Incorporating Clients' Spiritual and Religious Issues into Counseling
Integrating Spirituality and Religion Into Counseling: A Guide to Competent Practice, Second Edition
edited by Craig S. Cashwell and J. Scott Young
An introductory text for counselors-in-training and clinicians, this book describes the knowledge base and skills necessary to effectively engage clients in an exploration of their spiritual and religious lives to further the therapeutic process. Through an examination of the 2009 ASERVIC competencies and the use of evidence-based tools and techniques, it will guide you in providing ethical services to clients. The book also includes:
- Numerous strategies for clinical application
- New chapters on mindfulness, ritual, 12-step spirituality, prayer, and feminine spirituality enhance application to practice.
2011 | 320 pgs
Order #72906
ISBN 978-1-55620-310-7
List Price: $54.95
ACA Member Price: $39.95
CACREP Seeking Applications for 2016 Standards Revision Committee
The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is calling for applications for individuals to serve on the 2016 Standards Revision Committee (SRC). The process will begin with a meeting in July 2011 and end when the Committee gives their final draft to the CACREP Board for adoption in July of 2014. As well as several SRC meetings each year, committee members are expected to attend national and regional conferences as needed.
The deadline for applications is March 21, 2011. The full announcement and application can be found on the CACREP website under News (
On the Lighter Side: Economy Having Impact on Spring Break Activities
College students across the nation, according to HuffingtonPost.com, are turning to more modest and less expensive spring break plans this March and April. The villain is the economy and less discretionary funds for travel and other expensive spring break activities.
Rather than head off for a week of fun and frolic in the sun, it is reported that as many as half of the traditional spring break travelers this year will be spending the time either at home or on campus. This "lifestyle" change is forcing many students to be more creative in planning their leisure pursuits. HuffingtonPost.com addresses the issue, including a list of seven strategies for the "stay at home or school" students:
- Take time off
- Be the biggest loser
- Become a college connoisseur
- Finish your sentences
- Think outside the bar
- Treat yourself
- Embrace the solitude
Details about each of the above suggestions are online.
Calendar: OK, KS, CO, NJ, MO, ME, CT, and SD Conferences Coming in Spring
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, 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
Branch: New Jersey Counseling Association
Theme: Counseling in the Cyber Age
Dates: April 1-3, 2011
Location: The Donald Warner Student Life Center, Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ
Branch: American Counseling Association of Missouri
Theme: Annual Education Conference
Dates: April 7-9, 2011
Location: Capitol Plaza Hotel, Jefferson City, MO
Branch: Maine Counseling Association
Theme:
Dates: April 11-12, 2011
Location: Samoset Resort, Rockport, ME
Branch: Connecticut Counseling Association
Theme: Counseling Connections 2011 ~ Wellness Across the Lifespan
Dates: April 28-30, 2011
Location: Westside Campus of Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT
Branch: South Dakota Counseling Association
Theme: 50 Years of Counseling Excellence
Dates: April 28-30, 2011
Location: Sioux Falls Conference Center, Sioux Falls, SD
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, theme, 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. Past editions can be found
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.
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