In this edition readers will find:
- Red Cross and ACA Join Hands Again in Disaster Service Delivery
- Counseling vs Life Coaching: Counseling Today Needs Your Input
- Worth Viewing: Television Documentary Examines Child Play in America
- 600+ ACA Members Respond to Veteran's Counseling Call
- Solution-Focused Counseling in Schools Subject of Latest ACA Podcast
- Relevant Research: Effects of Inhalant Use and Abuse on Youth
- Call for ACA Committee Nominees: Opportunity for Professional Engagement
- HSF and McDonalds Team to Promote College for Hispanic Students
- Conference Clipping: Student and New Professional Input Needed for Charlotte
- Reliable Resource: SAMHSA Website Offers Wealth of Back-To-School Information
- Special Interest Network Focuses on Jewish Issues
- Important Dates
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Red Cross and ACA Join Hands Again in Disaster Service Delivery
As a Red Cross partner, ACA put out a call to members on August 30th for volunteers who could assist with the mental health needs related to Hurricane Gustav. The American Red Cross (ARC) set up more than 300 shelters that housed more than 45,000 individuals displaced by the early September storm.
With mental health now thoroughly integrated into Red Cross disaster services, ARC wanted to make certain that all 300+ shelters were staffed with disaster mental health volunteers. ACA may well be sending out a follow-up call for the storms following in Gustav's footsteps, so all members are encouraged to keep their email address and other contact information current. You may log in to your account at www.counseling.org and click on 'Manage Membership' to perform this update or call member services at 800-347-6647, Ext. 222.
Each year at its annual conference, ACA provides the ARC Disaster Mental Health training that is necessary for entry into the Red Cross deployment system. For information and to register for the free training in Charlotte (Friday, March 20, 2009, from 8am-4pm) please contact Debbie Beales at dbeales@counseling.org or 800-347-6647, Ext. 306
Counseling vs Life Coaching: Counseling Today Needs Your Input
The December issue of Counseling Today is going to feature a cover story on "Counseling vs. Life Coaching" and is currently vetting possible sources to interview. If you are an ACA member who offers coaching services or has strong opinions about how coaching could affect the counseling profession (either positively or negatively) in the coming years, e-mail editor Jonathan Rollins (jrollins@counseling.org) with a brief description of your experience or views. There is no guarantee that everyone who contacts CT will be interviewed, but all e-mails will be reviewed carefully.
Worth Viewing: Television Documentary Examines Child Play in America
Where Do the Children Play? is a one-hour documentary produced by Michigan Television for public television that examines how restrictive patterns of sprawl, congestion, and endless suburban development across America are having an impact on children's mental and physical health and development.
Using the adage that children represent 20 percent of the world's population but 100 percent of its future, the film opens by examining differences between growing up today, with all its inherent obstacles and temptations, and childhood as it was lived 50 years ago. The one-hour program profiles successful efforts to build urban, suburban and small town programs that are attempting to get kids outside and away from the screens (computer and television) that have captured them.
600+ ACA Members Respond to Call for Services to Veterans
More than 600 ACA members responded to a late August call by Heritage of America, a designated disabled veteran owned company, to provide compensated counseling services to veterans who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries. ACA, a major subcontractor to the HOA Department of Veterans Affairs contract, has the responsibility for identifying counselors, conducting training and providing professional oversight throughout the initiative.
This program may continue, contingent upon federal funding, for up to five years. ACA members from the District of Columbia and all states except Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee will be needed on an ongoing basis. (HOA did not get the contract for these six states). ACA members living outside the U. S. are also needed in Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Rim including Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Guam and Somoa.
The contract requires professional counselors who have a masters or doctoral degree and are licensed to diagnose and treat mental disorders (e.g. LPC, LCPC, LMHC). ACA members who meet these qualifications can submit a letter of interest along with their resume to Tom Kiley, HOA Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at tom@heritageofamerica.com
Solution-Focused Counseling in Schools Subject of Latest ACA Podcast
In one of the newest ACA Podcast releases, author John J. Murphy takes the listener through his pragmatic book Solution-Focused Counseling in Schools and provides an overview of the counseling strategies employed and why this technique is especially effective in schools. View the free 50-minute Podcast program and learn more about Murphy's award winning ACA book.
Relevant Research: Effects of Inhalant Use and Abuse on Youth
Inhalant use and abuse constitute a public health problem that disproportionately affects youth. The 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that the prevalence of past-year inhalant use was almost four times higher among persons ages 12 to 17 than among young adults ages 18 to 25 (1.3 vs. 0.4 percent). Among adolescents, inhalant use and abuse have been found to be associated with depressive symptoms.
Call for ACA Committee Nominees: Opportunity for Professional Engagement
ACA President-Elect Lynn Linde is seeking nominations for committee appointments. She will be appointing professional members for each committee who will serve a three-year term, and a student representative to each committee for a one-year term. Positions on the following committees will be available beginning July 1, 2009: Awards, Branch Development, Bylaws and Policies, Ethics, Graduate Student, Human Rights, International, Interprofessional, Professional Standards, Public Awareness and Support, Public Policy and Legislation, Publications, and Research and Knowledge.
ACA members may nominate themselves or be nominated by other members. Nominations are due December 1, 2008, and must be sent to ACA headquarters, c/o Holly Clubb, 5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304. Nomination packets are available from ACA. To receive a packet or for more information about the nominations process, call Holly Clubb at 1-800-347-6647, ext. 212 or e-mail her at hclubb@counseling.org. Indicate whether you are requesting an application as a professional committee member or as a student representative. The packets are also available on the ACA website.
HSF and McDonalds Team to Promote College for Hispanic Students
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the McDonalds Corporation are collaborating this fall to present a series of workshops encouraging Hispanic students to matriculate to college. Eleven workshops, scheduled for various locations around the nation, will address everything from academic and admission requirements to sources of financial aid.
Conference Clipping: Student and New Professional Input Needed for Charlotte
ACA is calling for student and new professional member input into the annual conference series, For Graduate Students and New Professionals Only. This popular series was designed to bring specific programs of interest to members in these categories. One of the goals of the series is to provide students and new professionals an opportunity to meet and interact with some of the most well-known and respected scholars in the profession. Past presenters in the series include Sam Gladding, Jeffrey Kottler, Jane Goodman and others. Graduate students and new professionals can contribute to the construction of a meaningful program by responding to the following two questions:
- Other than a faculty member in your own program, who is a famous counselor that you would enjoy seeing (and meeting) at the conference? Who is the person most likely to get the following reaction from you: "I can't believe I'm seeing her/him in person!"
- What topic(s) would you like to see at the Charlotte conference for the For Graduate Students and New Professionals Only series? Most of our student attendees are from masters programs, so while we certainly want doctoral level related programs, ACA is especially desirous of topics that are meaningful to masters level students and new professionals.
Email your response to David Kaplan, ACA Chief Professional Officer at dkaplan@counseling.org no later than September 15th.
Register for the Conference...
Reliable Resource: SAMHSA Website Offers Wealth of Back-To-School Information
For parents, teachers, counselors and caregivers, the start of the new school year is often exciting, but it can be difficult for kids of all ages. Peer pressure, bullying and social anxieties can take their toll on kids in hallways, on the playground, and in classrooms.
On its web site, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has posted research-based and practical information that can be shared with children and parents as they transition from basking in the summer sun to zipping up their backpacks.
Special Interest Network Focuses on Jewish Issues
The agenda of the ACA Jewish Interest Network is to serve as a resource and point of collaboration and support for members who would like to discuss issues that relate to Judaism and religiosity in counseling. The network does not view itself as a political organization and stands clear of taking positions. Rather, it brings together members to collaborate on research, teaching practices and other appropriate activities within ACA and the profession. A meeting at the Charlotte conference will allow for face-to-face discussion of network concerns. This is one of nine special interest networks available to ACA members.
The Jewish Interest Network is co-chaired by Dana Levitt (levittd@mail.montclair.edu) and Rick Balkin (Rick_Balkin@TAMU-Commerce.edu) who is the contact for membership and listserv correspondence.
Note: Upcoming editions of ACAeNews will profile each of the ACA Special Interest Networks.
View Special Interest Networks...
Important Dates
September 18-20
Event: Nebraska Counseling Association
Location: Kearney, NE
Details...
September 18-21
Event: North Atlantic Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
Location: Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland, ME
Details...
September 19-20
Event: Association for Assessment in Counseling and Education National Conference
Location: Radisson Dallas East & Conference Center, Dallas, TX
Details...
September 25-27
North Atlantic Region Leadership Conference
Hollywood Slots Hotel, Bangor, Maine - 1-877-779-7771
Conference Registration - Contact Robin Hayes at ACA - 800-347-6647, x296 or download the registration form (PDF)
For additional information, contact ACA's North Atlantic Region Chair, Terry Mitchell - terrymitchell56@hotmail.com
October 2-4
Midwest Region Leadership Conference
Hotel Orrington, Evanston, Illinois - 888-677-4648
Online Registration...
For additional information, contact ACA's Midwest Region Chair, Jean Underfer-Babalis - jean_underferbabalis@yahoo.com
October 2-5
Event: Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
Location: Great Divide Lodge, Breckenridge, CO
Details...
October 16-18
North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
Location: Crown Plaza, Indianapolis, IN
Details...
October 22-25
Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
Hilton-Post Oak, Houston, TX
Details...
October 23-26
Southern Region Leadership Conference
The Peabody Hotel, Little Rock, Arkansas - 501-906-4000
Online Registration...
For additional information, contact ACA's Southern Region Chair, Jeffrey Freiden - Qwerty613@aol.com
October 31-November 2
Colorado Counseling Association Annual Fall Conference
Holiday Inn, Estes Park, CO
Details...
November 6-9
Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
Doral Desert Princess Resort, Palm Springs, CA
Details...
November 6-9
Western Region Leadership Conference
Seattle University, Seattle, WA
Silver Cloud Hotel - 800-497-1261
Online Registration...
For additional information, contact ACA's Western Region Chair, Mary Schroeder - schrmary@gmail.com
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 websites. Send calendar items to dwilliams@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.
ACAeNews Transitions to Member Only Service
Effective with the September 23rd edition, ACAeNews will only be disseminated to active members of the association. Non-members can join ACA by completing our application form at: https://www.counseling.org/Counselors/MemberJoin.aspx
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.
Colleen Logan, President
clogan@argosy.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
Don Kenneally, Internet Development / Production
dkenneally@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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