In this issue readers will find:
- School Doors Swing Open to New Wave of Public Opinion
- National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 – October 15
- In the News: Counselor Education and Recent Legal Decisions
- ACA 2011 National Awards Nominations Due by November 8th
- Fast Fact: Back to School, Back to Bullying
- Relevant Research: International Study Finds Conflict More Prevalent in American Families
- Sign of the Times: Social Network Sites Have Negative Effect on Student Performance
- New Stats on Future Workforce Needs
- Reliable Resource: Tools to Use with Survivors of Suicide
- CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Journal of Counseling & Development Special Section on the Prevention and Treatment of Eating Disorders
- Fall Syllabi Posted at ACA-ACES Clearinghouse
- JCD Seeking International Submissions
- Grants: Opportunities for Child, Youth, and Community Projects
- U.S. Department of Labor Extends Deadline for Career Videos Challenge
- National Drug Facts Week: Opportunity for Teen Involvement
- Conference Clipping: Watch for Registration Brochure with October Counseling Today
- Calendar: NE, ACCA, AL, FL, PA, and KY Conferences Scheduled for September/October
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School Doors Swing Open to New Wave of Public Opinion
One of the signals that a new school term has started is the annual publication of the Phi Delta Kappa / Gallup Poll focusing on the issues, needs, and trends of the day, the successes and failures, and solutions for public education. The highlights of the 42nd Annual Phi Delta Kappa / Gallup Poll, "A Time for Change," include the following:
- Improving teacher quality should be top national education priority.
- A college education is necessary for every U.S. student today.
- Underperforming schools need to be fixed.
- Public charter schools should be added in more communities.
- Funding public education has reached a crisis stage and needs to be addressed.
- Economic stimulus money has influenced educator numbers.
- Teacher pay should be tied to student learning.
- Educators must have public support and trust.
National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 – October 15
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a month long (September 15 – October 15) celebration to honor the traditions of the 48.4 million Americans who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and 18, respectively.
In the News: Counselor Education and Recent Legal Decisions
The summer months have seen multiple stories in the national media regarding court cases involving counselor education students and legal decisions that supported stances taken by Eastern Michigan University and Augusta State University that related to the discrimination provisions in the ACA Code of Ethics. An article in The Huffington Post online newsletter ties the two situations together and offers an overview of the separate, but related, court decisions. The codes of ethics of ACA and the American Psychological Association are cited in the story.
ACA 2011 National Awards Nominations Due by November 8
The ACA Awards Committee is calling for nominations for the 2011 National Awards, which will be presented at the ACA Annual Conference & Exposition in New Orleans, March 23-27. ACA members can nominate one or more members who have made noteworthy contribution(s) to the counseling profession at the local or state levels. ACA divisions/organizational affiliates, branches, chapters, regions or committees can also submit nominations. All nominations must be submitted in accordance with award guidelines by November 8, 2010. Complete information is available at
Fast Fact: Back to School, Back to Bullying
According to the New York University School of Medicine, 50% of U.S. kids are bullied at some time and 10% are victimized on a regular basis. The true number may be even higher as many do not report bullying and cyberbullying incidences. Victims of bullying are more likely to be depressed, lonely, anxious, have low self-esteem, feel unwell, and have thoughts of suicide.
Relevant Research: International Study Finds Conflict More Prevalent in American Families
A study conducted in the developed countries of England, Germany, Israel, Norway, Spain, and the United States has found that only about half of U.S. older parents thought they have good relations with their adult children. The study has been published in the Journal of Marriage and Family and reported on the MedlinePlus website. University of Southern California researcher Merril Silverstein and his colleagues found that affection and conflict exist simultaneously in intergenerational relationships, but significant differences exist in how the emotions are likely to interact. The study found parents in the U.S. and Israel were far more likely than parents in England and Germany to have negative feelings about their adult children.
Sign of the Times: Social Network Sites Have Negative Effect on Student Performance
From the "you don’t say" research database, the active use of Facebook and other social networks is resulting in lower grades for users, comparable with the impact that television viewing, video game playing, and other technological distractions have had on student study and performance. Active social media students at one U.S. college were found to devote less time to studying, resulting in lower exam scores and grades. Researchers believe that multitasking—considered by some a contemporary student strength—needs to be given a second look as a positive trait or characteristic.
New Stats on Future Workforce Needs
Forbes.com, massaging new statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, has projected a number of fields that will have workforce needs between now and 2018. The estimates come at a time of declining employment and economic uncertainty, and are worthy of consideration by future high school and college graduates.
According to the Forbes calculations, the following fields offer the greatest opportunity of employment:
- Science and health care
- Business and administration
- Education
- Computer science
- Trades
Reliable Resource: Tools to Use with Survivors of Suicide
The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) has created a number of resources that counselors can use in working with the survivors of suicide. The resources include a number of fact sheets, a bibliography of publications written for and by survivors, and a guide to creating a survivor support group.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Journal of Counseling & Development Special Section on the Prevention and Treatment of Eating Disorders
The Journal of Counseling & Development, the official journal of the American Counseling Association, invites submissions for a special section focusing on the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. The purpose of this special section is to provide a format for disseminating research, theory, and practice related to effective prevention models and best practices in the treatment of eating disorders. This section will include guidelines not only for working with European American women but also for diverse client groups, including men, GLBTQ clients, ethnic minority groups, and international populations.
Interested scholars and practitioners are invited to send proposals of original manuscripts appropriate for the journal. Areas of scholarship include but are not limited to:
(a) Manuscripts that describe and provide support for effective primary prevention programs in schools and communities or for secondary prevention programs for groups at highest risk for the development of eating disorders.
(b) Manuscripts that describe and provide support for best practices in the treatment of eating disorders (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Maudsley Family Therapy Approach, Feminist Therapy). Manuscripts that address the unique treatment needs of diverse client groups are strongly encouraged.
The following information should be included in the proposals:
Title
- Abstract (one-to-two page summary of the proposed manuscript).
- Conceptual Manuscripts: Detailed outline of the manuscript.
- In one page, indicate specifically how the author(s) will (a) contribute to the professional counseling knowledge base, (b) address one or more of the identified goals for the special issue, and (c) address implications for practice for professional counselors.
- Indicate which section under which the manuscript should be considered: Theory, Practice, Assessment and Diagnosis, Best Practices.
Proposals will be initially reviewed by Laura Choate, guest editor of the special section, and the JCD associate editor for the journal section for which the manuscript is being considered. If the proposal is accepted, authors must follow the Guidelines for Authors of the Journal of Counseling & Development. Completed manuscripts will be peer-reviewed by the JCD editorial board, and final acceptance of manuscripts will be determined by the editor of JCD.
Please submit your proposal electronically to Laura Choate (lchoate@lsu.edu) no later than December 15, 2010. If authors have questions regarding the preparation of proposals, they should be directed to Laura Choate at her e-mail address listed above.
Fall Syllabi Posted at ACA-ACES Clearinghouse
New statistics show the ACA-ACES Syllabus Clearinghouse as popular with both contributors and users:
- More than 16,500 hits since January 2009
- Over 350 syllabi are currently available
- 152 counselor educators have contributed their syllabi
Thanks to all for their continued support and willingness to share. Please direct any Clearinghouse questions or feedback to Vikki Cooper, ACA Librarian, at syllabus@counseling.org or 800-347-6647, x281.
JCD Seeking International Submissions
The Associate Editors for the International Section of the Journal of Counseling & Development (JCD) are seeking manuscripts that describe the development of counseling in other countries.
Manuscripts of particular interest are those that contain the following sections:
- A review/history of the development of counseling in a particular country
- Current status
- Future trends for the counseling profession in the country
- Comparisons which can be drawn between counseling in the United States and the country that is being described
It is recommended that all international manuscripts have at least one co-author who is a native of the particular country written about. This might be a counselor, counselor educator, or other mental health professional. Manuscripts should be approximately 2,500 -3,500 words in length (about 12-15 typewritten, double-spaced pages, including references).
In order to avoid duplication, persons interested in making a contribution should clear the article with Norm Amundson at amundson@interchange.nbc.ca and Tom Hohenshil at thohen@vt.edu prior to beginning work. Writers will then be provided with a structured format for preparing the manuscript. Recent JCD articles have been published describing counseling in Botswana, China, Denmark, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Romania, Turkey, and Venezuela and submissions involving those countries are not needed at the present time.
Grants: Opportunities for Child, Youth, and Community Projects
Several corporate and foundation programs have grant objectives for child, youth, and community projects that may be of interest. Each has a November deadline.
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people in grades 5 through 12 who have demonstrated exemplary voluntary service to their communities. Maximum award: $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. Eligibility: Students grades 5-12 who have conducted a volunteer service activity within the past year. Deadline: November 1, 2010. Information and nomination forms:
Nestle USA
The Nestle Very Best In Youth Program recognizes young people who not only excel academically, but are working hard to make their communities a better place. Students (ages 13-18) are eligible to apply and must be legal residents of the U.S. or its territories. Twenty five winners will: be profiled in a special publication; awarded a trip to Los Angeles, plus $500 spending money, and receive a $1,000 donation in their name that will be given to a charity of choice. Deadline: November 1, 2010. Information and applications:
Office Depot Foundation
The Office Depot Foundation 5 X 5 program is accepting applications in three areas: Making a Difference in Children’s Lives, Building Communities, and Disaster Relief. Grant amounts will be a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $3,000 (very limited). Deadline: November 15, 2010. Information and guidelines:
U.S. Department of Labor Extends Deadline for Career Videos Challenge
The Department of Labor has extended the deadline for its Career Videos for America’s Job Seekers Challenge to allow submissions as late as November 1, 2010. The Challenge invites members of the public to produce and submit 1-3-minute videos focusing on the daily activities of 15 high-wage and in-demand occupations. This competition is intended to provide greater visibility for the selected occupations and thereby increase the number of workers seeking training and placement in those areas. The creator(s) of the top video in each of the 15 categories will win a $1,000 cash prize. To view the press release, visit:
National Drug Facts Week: Opportunity for Teen Involvement.
National Drug Facts Week (NDFW), scheduled for November 8-14, 2010, is an opportunity for teens to shatter the myths about drug abuse and to get answers from a scientific expert. To help teens in building program activities for NDFW, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has created a step-by-step how-to kit, including a list of activities, instructions on how to obtain copies of Shatter the Myths to distribute at events, assistance in finding a scientific expert in the community, and an online interactive quiz. Encourage teens to organize an event during NDFW and support them by being an adult advisor and registering an event with NIDA.
For more information or questions, please contact NIDA staff at drugfacts@nida.nih.gov
Conference Clipping: Watch for Registration Brochure with October Counseling Today
The program has been finalized for the 2011 ACA Annual Conference & Exposition, March 23-27 in New Orleans. Watch for your Advance Registration Brochure, which will be mailed in the polybag with the October issue of Counseling Today. The Brochure is available online now at the link below. Register by November 30 and save!
Calendar: NE, ACCA, AL, FL, PA, and KY Conferences Scheduled for September/October
Nebraska Counseling Association
September 23-24
Cornhusker Marriott, Lincoln, NE
American College Counseling Association
October 6-9, 2010
Hyatt Regency St. Louis – Riverfront, St. Louis, MO
Alaska Counseling Association
October 6-8, 2010
Westmark Hotel, Fairbanks, AL
Florida Counseling Association
October 9-12, 2010
Hilton Miami Airport, Miami, FL
Pennsylvania Counseling Association
October 15-17, 2010
Penn State Conference Center Hotel, State College, PA
Kentucky Counseling Association
October 20-22, 2010
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Louisville, KY
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 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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