In this edition readers will find:
- College Readiness in Youth Overshadows Career Readiness
- Relevant Research: Experiences of LGBT Families Reflect Harassment
- Career Counselors: Job Seekers Looking for Green Opportunities
- Worth Reading: Study Examines Class Size and Achievement Gap
- Advocacy Matters: April is Counseling Awareness Month!
- Reliable Resource: Family Issues Addressed by Corporate America
- ACA Publishes New Edition of Best-Seller on Solution-Focused Counseling
- Conference Clipping: Charlotte 2009 Call for Programs Opens in April
- Conference Clipping: Early Bird 2009 Conference Registration Rate--$199
- Fast Fact: First Time Use of Alcohol, Tobacco and Illicit Drugs by Youth
- Newsworthy Events and Important Dates: Spring Renewal Opportunities
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COLLEGE READINESS IN YOUTH OVERSHADOWS CAREER READINESS
A new report from the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) raises concern about the "career readiness" of young adults in America and recommends that schools, school districts and states do a better job in providing career guidance and information in assisting students in the transition to technical studies on their way to the workforce. "Lost in Transition: Building a Better Path from School to College and Careers" promotes a better balance in services afforded college-bound and career-bound students and points to the role of community colleges in responding to the needs of students not being adequately addressed by the existing programs.
RELEVANT RESEARCH: EXPERIENCES OF LGBT FAMILIES REFLECT HARASSMENT
Research conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network has found harassment and bullying as a result of family structure to be a significant concern for children in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families. The report, "Gay…Families and Education," also suggests that LGBT parents exhibit a greater involvement in their children's education.
CAREER COUNSELORS: JOB SEEKERS LOOKING FOR GREEN OPPORTUNITIES
Several national news organizations have reported enhanced interest among upcoming June grads in work opportunities with companies that have an "environmentally friendly" reputation. The Environmental Protection Agency has rated 53 of the Fortune 500 corporations as having surpassed the agency's green power goals.
WORTH READING: STUDY EXAMINES CLASS SIZE AND ACHIEVEMENT GAP
In February, the Elementary School Journal reported on a study of class size by Spyros Konstantopoulos, a Northwestern University researcher, that brings into question the effects of smaller class sizes on student achievement. Findings from his Project STAR (Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio) research consistently show that higher-achieving students benefited more from being in small classes in the K-3 grades. However, while all students gained from being in small classes, reductions in class size did not reduce the achievement gap between low and high achievers.
ADVOCACY MATTERS: APRIL IS COUNSELING AWARENESS MONTH!
Looking for a quick project that can be used during ACA Counseling Awareness Month this April to promote your counseling efforts? Look no farther than the bulletin boards that are positioned in your school, agency, organization or institution. The theme can be as simple as "Meet the [Insert Name] Counseling Team." Add a few photographs of the counseling staff and a few sheets of construction paper and that messy, disorganized bulletin board in the hall near the counseling center can be turned almost instantly into a attractive, informative billboard for the counseling services and the magnet you need to call attention to Counseling Awareness Month.
RELIABLE RESOURCE: FAMILY ISSUES ADDRESSED BY CORPORATE AMERICA
Corporate Voices for Working Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization created to develop and advance innovative and sustainable policies that are supportable by the private sector, government and other stakeholders. Specifically, the organization has identified five pillars of involvement: afterschool care and early childhood education, youth transition, mature workforce, flexibility and lower wage work. The organization web site provides additional insights into each of these focus areas.
ACA PUBLISHES NEW EDITION OF BEST-SELLER ON SOLUTION-FOCUSED COUNSELING
ACA's record of producing first-class professional literature and outstanding textbooks for counselor training has taken another step forward with the recent publication of the best seller on solution-focused counseling.
Solution-Focused Counseling in Schools, Second Edition
John J. Murphy
This book offers a refreshingly positive and practical approach to resolving a diverse range of problems from preschool through high school. Drawing on the most recent research and on his extensive experience as a school practitioner and trainer, Murphy presents a step-by-step guide to solution-focused counseling in today's schools. This strength-based approach is illustrated through real-world examples and dialogues from actual counseling sessions. User-friendly forms, questionnaires, and handouts are provided for immediate application with students, teachers, and parents.
Order #72873
ISBN 978-1-55620-247-6
List Price: $44.95
ACA Member Price: $33.95
CONFERENCE CLIPPING: CHARLOTTE 2009 CALL FOR PROGRAMS OPENS IN APRIL
The call for programs for the ACA 2009 Conference & Exposition in Charlotte, NC will open on April 9, 2008. Information and forms for an "all new" program submission process will be available at www.counseling.org/conference on and after that date. ACA is actively soliciting proposals for advanced programs that provide in-depth knowledge or skills beyond the introductory or basic level. Deadline: June 2, 2008.
CONFERENCE CLIPPING: EARLY BIRD 2009 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION RATE--$199
Mark your calendars for the 2009 ACA Conference & Exposition scheduled for March 19-23 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The earliest of the "early birds" can register for just $199 by March 31, 2008. To register, call 1-800-347-6647, x222, or download the registration form and fax or mail it in. Online registration is not available for the Early Bird rate.
FAST FACT: FIRST TIME USE OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND ILLICIT DRUGS BY YOUTH
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that on an average day in 2006, US youth used the following substances for the first time:
- 7,970 drank alcohol
- 4,348 used an illicit drug
- 4,082 smoked cigarettes
- 3,577 used marijuana
- 2,517 used pain relievers non-medically
Counselors may wish to access a practical guide to prevention strategies in each of these areas created by SAMHSA, including a comprehensive list of print and electronic resources, that is posted on the agency web site.
NEWSWORTHY EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES: SPRING RENEWAL OPPORTUNITIES
March 31-April 1, 2008 (Pre-conference on March 30)
Event: Maine Counseling Association Annual Conference
Location: Samoset Resort, Rockport, ME
Details...
Or contact Jeannie McKenney at jeannie.mckenney.mma.edu
April, 2008
Counseling Awareness Month
April is Counseling Awareness Month and ACA offers guidelines and information to aid members in creating celebration activities, including proclamations, outreach events and other programs designed to put counseling in the spotlight during April.
Details...
April 3-5, 2008
Event: South Dakota Counseling Association
Location: Rushmore Holiday Inn, Rapid City, SD
Details...
April 5, 2008
Event: Joint Delaware Counseling Association and Delaware Mental Health Counselors Association Conference
Location: Wilmington University, Wilmington, DE
Details...
April 10-12, 2008
Event: ACA of Missouri Annual Conference
Location: Capitol Plaza Hotel, Jefferson City, MO
Details....
Direct questions to: mail@counselingmissouri.org
April 25, 2008
2008 Graduate Student Essay Contest Deadline
The program is sponsored by the ACA Foundation. See p. 45 of April Counseling Today for rules and submission instructions.
View Flyer...
April 27-29, 2008
Event: New Jersey Counseling Association Annual Conference
Location: Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center, Somerset, NJ
Details...
ACA divisions, branches, and regions are valuable sources of learning and professional development. Information on events will be posted approximately eight weeks prior. This information is made available to ACAeNews via the ACA master calendar and the various organization web sites. Send calendar items to jmacdonald@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.
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ABOUT ACAeNews
ACAeNews is published biweekly by the American Counseling Association for the benefit of members and the counseling profession. Any reference to a product, service, activity or listing of a web site 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.
Brian Canfield, President
canfield@sandiego.edu
Richard Yep, CAE, Executive Director
ryep@counseling.org
Debra Bass, Interim Director of Marketing
dbass@counseling.org
Frank Burtnett, ACAeNews Editor
fburtnett@counseling.org
ACA Web site: www.counseling.org
Copyright 2008, 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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