In this issue readers will find:
- New ACA Member Benefit Introduced: Member Logo
- Demand for Mental Health Services on College Campuses Levels Off
- In the News: Impact of New Massachusetts Anti-Bullying Law Debated
- ACTE Issues Brief on Career Readiness
- Worth Reading: Five Green Minutes Boosts Mental Health
- Fast Fact: Number of Multi-generational Families Rising Dramatically
- ACA/ACES Syllabus Clearinghouse Available to Summer Teachers
- Relevant Research: Chocolate Consumption and Depression Linked
- Advocacy Matters: ACA Representing Counseling before SAMHSA
- On the Road Again: ACA President Linde in Romania for International Association For Counselling Conference
- Reliable Resource: List of Colleges Accepting Late Applications Available
- ACA Explores Interest in New Division on Needs of Children, Adolescents
- U.S. Department of Education Announces Three Grant Competitions
- Calendar: Summer and Fall Roundup
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New ACA Member Benefit Introduced: Member Logo
ACA announced a new ACA member benefit via email on April 30—the ACA Professional Member Logo—which can be used on business cards, personal stationery, websites, in private practice brochures, and in many other ways. Displaying the ACA Member Logo demonstrates one's commitment to the profession and its Code of Ethics.
Developed in response to requests from members, the Member Logo is available only to those whose membership type is "Professional" or "New Professional." In addition, Retired members whose previous membership type had been "Professional" also may use the Member Logo.
The logo graphic files are available for free download on the
One member emailed us to ask if it is appropriate to use it in your email signature. The answer was yes! If you discover other ways to use the Member Logo, please let us know. Questions or feedback can be sent to MemberLogo@counseling.org
Our
Demand for Mental Health Services on College Campuses Levels Off
After a decade of increased demand for mental health services on college campuses, counseling center directors reported a leveling off in the 3-year period ending in the 2008-2009 academic year. A May report released by the Association of University and College Counseling Directors (AUCCD) found, however, that even as the mental health needs of students remained constant, the number of students requiring attention was straining existing counseling resources.
Centers responding to the annual AUCCD study reported 10.2% of their students sought counseling assistance in the most recent reporting period. At institutions with smaller enrollments (less than 1,500 students), the percentage using counseling services was 18.3%, while at larger institutions (35,000 +), it dropped to 7.2%. Depression, anxiety, and relationship issues were cited as the most common student conditions. On a positive note, the report found modest gains in the number of counseling center staff.
In the News: Impact of New Massachusetts Anti-Bullying Law Debated
A new Massachusetts law intended to crack down on bullying in schools is being praised by some and criticized by others as not doing enough. Cited by Bay State law makers as the most far-reaching legislation of its kind in the nation, the provision requires mandatory training for educators, development of anti-bullying curriculum, and school driven intervention plans.
Critics believe the absence of criminal penalties against bullies will restrict the law from having full impact on the growing student problem. The legislation was motivated by the suicides of two young people who were victims of bullies.
ACTE Issues Brief on Career Readiness
The American Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) just released a brief addressing the knowledge and skills that students moving from education to work should possess. The paper outlines three broad skill sets students need to be career-ready, including core academic skills, employability skills, and technical skills.
Worth Reading: Five Green Minutes Boosts Mental Health
British researchers have given new meaning to the expression—take a hike. A report in the current edition of Environmental Science and Technology states that an outdoor respite of a little as 5 minutes a day can have a positive effect on one's mental health. The survey of 1,252 individuals of varying ages, genders, and mental health conditions found that simple activities such as walking, cycling, and just being outdoors led to vast improvements in self-esteem and mood.
Fast Fact: Number of Multi-generational Families Rising Dramatically
Viewers of the 1970s television program,The Waltons, got a taste of multi-generational cohabitation by watching the family of 11 parents, grandparents and children cope with living under the same roof during the Great Depression. While the number of children may have decreased, multi-generational living is rising dramatically. A recent study by the American Association of Retired Persons found that 6.6 million U.S. homes had at least three generations of family members in 2009, up 30% from the 2000 census.
ACA/ACES Syllabus Clearinghouse Available to Summer Teachers
Counselor educators putting the finishing touches on their summer session syllabi will find the ACA/ACES Syllabus Clearinghouse the perfect resource. Carol Mitchell-Smith, counselor educator at Marshall University Graduate College, recently lauded the collection for its course descriptions, references and texts, assignment ideas, course policies, and reading lists.
From the homepage at
Relevant Research: Chocolate Consumption and Depression Linked
You read it correctly. A study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine has found that the more clinically depressed individuals become, the greater their consumption of chocolate. When compared with other dietary factors such as caffeine, fat, and carbohydrate intake, only chocolate consumption correlated with mood.
Advocacy Matters: ACA Representing Counseling before SAMHSA
ACA represented the counseling profession at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) behavioral health workforce meeting on April 23. SAMHSA, the lead Federal agency focusing on mental health and substance abuse counseling in the United States, is convening such meetings to discuss the impact of the new health care reform.
On the Road Again: ACA President Linde in Romania for International Association For Counselling Conference
In April, I represented ACA at the International Association For Counselling Conference in Bucharest, Romania. About 100 counselors and counseling students from across North America, Europe, Israel, New Zealand and other countries attended the event, which was held at a university. Over the 4 days of the conference we had opportunities to discuss the status of counseling in the countries represented, the challenges counselor face, and to learn about research being conducted by participants.
Early in the conference, I realized that we all share a passion for the profession and believe in the need for counseling. Counseling is an emerging profession in many parts of the world, and it was interesting to hear the challenges participants face as they attempt to gain recognition and acceptance for counseling in their countries. In some countries, there is no word for counseling in their language, which makes it particularly hard to explain what they do. Many of the attendees could not imagine what counseling looks like here in the U.S as we have been a recognized profession for much longer and have so many more counselors than they do.
I felt that the non-U.S. attendees identified with each other much more so than they did with us for those reasons, but they would like to move in the direction of the counseling profession in the U.S. I participated in a group that presented research on working with children of POWs, substance abuse prevention, working with children whose parents have emigrated to another country for work, and establishing career centers in higher education.
The theme of the conference was "The Role of Counseling in Times of Crisis." This theme proved very prophetic—during the last full day of the conference, the volcano in Iceland erupted. By the last day of the conference, it became clear that none of us was going to be leaving Bucharest as the airspace in Europe had closed. It was difficult to accept that we no longer had control over our situation and that we had no idea when we might be able to leave. But we pulled together, practiced our resiliency skills, laughed together, and supported each other through day after day of bad news. Finally, after 5 days, the airports began to reopen and we were able to book flights home. In the interim, we toured Bucharest, a lovely city whose people are very welcoming. Everyone was extremely helpful during our extended stay, but it was truly a pleasure to come home.
ACA member and past president Courtland C. Lee is president of IAC and he also attended the conference.
Reliable Resource: List of Colleges Accepting Late Applications Available
The results of National Association for College Admission Counseling's annual Space Availability Survey were released in early May, identifying openings at hundreds of member institutions. According to the survey, 240 four-year colleges have at least some available spaces for freshman or transfer students.
The survey, which will be updated throughout the summer, also queried the colleges on other available resources. Nearly all of the institutions that reported available spaces for freshmen or transfers also reported available financial aid and housing opportunities.
ACA Explores Interest in New Division on Needs of Children, Adolescents
A group of ACA members is assessing the interest level among members for a new ACA division focused on child and adolescent counseling issues. Tentatively called the Association for Child & Adolescent Counseling (ACAC), the group would promote best practices, research, networking, and collaboration opportunities for professional counselors who work with children and adolescents in a variety of counseling settings. If you are interested, please complete a short survey at http://tinyurl.com/acac-survey.
You can also email Randy Astramovich at randy.astramovich@unlv.edu.
U.S. Department of Education Announces Three Grant Competitions
The U.S. Department of Education has announced a number of grant programs of interest to the counseling community. Expanded objectives for each program, eligible applicants, expected number of awards, and submission guidelines can be found at the web addresses listed.
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs)
Focuses on the improvement of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1970 through advanced research, training, technical assistance and dissemination activities. Application deadline: June 22, 2010.
Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training
Provides financial assistance for training projects leading to academic degrees and certificates in areas of personnel shortages in rehabilitation. Application deadline: June 7, 2010.
Building State Capacity for Preventing Youth Substance Abuse and Violence
Provides comprehensive grants to state education agencies (SEAs) to build and sustain capacity to prevent youth substance abuse and violence and support collaboration between SEAs and other State agencies and SEAs and local education agencies (LEAs) that are involved in efforts to prevent these problems. Application deadline: June 7, 2010.
Calendar: Summer and Fall Roundup
National Career Development Association
June 30-July 2, 2010
Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, CA
American School Counselor Association
July 3-6, 2010
Hynes Convention Center, Sheraton Boston, Boston, MA
Information...
American Mental Health Counselors Association
July 15-17, 2010
Westin Waterfront Hotel, Boston, MA
Association for Adult Development and Aging
July 30, 2010
Roosevelt Hotel, New York, NY
Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling
August 1-3, 2010
Springmaid Beach Retreat and Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC
Association for Assessment in Counseling and Education
September 10-11, 2010
Holiday Inn Select, Memphis, TN
Association for Creativity in Counseling
September 18-19, 2010
Portland Doubletree Hotel, Portland, OR
American College Counseling Association
October 6-9, 2010
Hyatt Regency St. Louis - Riverfront, St. Louis, MO
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 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.
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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