In this issue readers will find:
- San Antonio School Dedicated to ACA Member Patricia Henderson
- In the News: Mental Health Challenges Facing Survivors of Chilean Mine Ordeal
- ACE Report on Minority Participation in Higher Education
- ACA Public Policy Staff to Conduct Conference Call November 2 from 1-2pm ET
- New ACA Book Offers Step-by-Step Guidance on the How-To's of Play Therapy
- Relevant Research: Children of Working Mothers Not Affected Behaviorally or Academically
- ACA Graduate Student Ethics Competition Opens
- Fast Fact: Binge Drinking by High School Students and Young Adults
- ACA Awards Nominations Due November 8
- Rosa's Law Calls for End of Mental Retardation Terminology
- Toll-Free Helpline for BP Oil Spill Victims
- PBS Documentary on Military Mental Health Wins Emmy
- Calendar: November Conferences Scheduled for MS, MN, WI, TX, VA, IL, MI, AL, AR & TN
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San Antonio School Dedicated to ACA Member Patricia Henderson
Earlier this month the Northside Independent School District (NISD) in San Antonio, TX dedicated a new elementary school to longtime ACA member Patricia Henderson, a veteran counselor, counseling administrator, and author. A news release from the district stated: "Pat Henderson Elementary School is named for a longtime advocate for children, first as a teacher and counselor and later as the Director of Guidance and Counseling for Northside ISD from 1982 to 2001."
Pat is the author of more than 40 books and publications, including ACA's best selling
Pat Henderson Elementary School is one of 68 elementary schools in NISD, the fourth largest school district in Texas with more than 94,000 students. The new school serves 550 pre-K through Grade 5 students. Pat will be the focus of an article in ACAeNews for School Counselors, scheduled for distribution in December.
In the News: Mental Health Challenges Facing Survivors of Chilean Mine Ordeal
After concerns about the physical health of the 33 minors who survived 70 days trapped underground in a Chilean mine were addressed, attention shifted immediately to the mental health concerns that may be associated with their confined experience, dramatic rescue, and the widespread media attention their ordeal has generated. A recent story in the Baltimore Sun points to two major issues that may surface with the survivors: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the longer-term problems associated with the letdown the miners may feel as they recede from the euphoria of their rescue and subsequent media attention. Johns Hopkins University officials state that one-fourth of the victims of large scale disasters experience PTSD and depression.
The field of disaster mental health, according to Jane Webber and J. Barry Mascari, authors of the ACA Foundation book,
ACE Report on Minority Participation in Higher Education
The American Council on Education has released new figures on the enrollment status of minority group members in higher education, highlighted by modest gains among female students and losses by males. The Minorities in Higher Education 2010: Twenty-Fourth Status Report, funded by the GE Foundation, offered these key findings:
- Each generation of younger women in the U.S. is continuing to reach higher levels of postsecondary attainment, while the attainment levels of younger men are falling.
- The strides made by women are mostly driven by Asian Americans and whites. Although other women of color have made generational gains while their male peers have stagnated or fallen, these minority women have not achieved the comparable gains in postsecondary educational attainment that Asian-American or white women have.
- Younger whites (aged 25-34) also have made strides past their older peers. However, their gains are not only smaller than those of Asian Americans, but also attributable only to women.
- Among all racial/ethnic groups in the U.S., Hispanics—the fastest growing population—continue to exhibit the lowest educational attainment levels. Young Hispanic men lag behind Hispanic women, and the gap is growing wider.
An ACE report synopsis and news release
ACA Public Policy Staff to Conduct Conference Call November 2 from 1-2pm ET
ACA's Public Policy staff will host a conference call Tuesday, November 2 from 1pm – 2pm ET for members interested in learning the status of policy issues being addressed by ACA, including recognition of counselors within the Veterans Affairs healthcare system, federal education appropriations, Medicare reimbursement of counselors, and TRICARE reimbursement policy. Join in what is certain to be an informative and advocacy-focused program.
To participate, call 1-866-220-0969 and enter room code *1603550*. The call will be capped at 125 participants. Pre-call questions can be directed to Scott Barstow at 1-800-347-6647, ext. 234, or sbarstow@counseling.org.
New ACA Book Offers Step-by-Step Guidance on the How-To's of Play Therapy
Written for use in play therapy and child counseling courses,
After a discussion of the basic concepts and logistical aspects of play therapy, Kottman illustrates commonly used play therapy skills and more advanced skills. Introduced in this edition is a new chapter on working with parents and teachers to increase the effectiveness of play therapy. Practice exercises and "Questions to Ponder" throughout the text facilitate the skill-building and self-examination process.
2011 | 375 pgs
Order #72905
ISBN 978-1-55620-305-3
List Price: $54.95
ACA Member Price: $39.95
Special Offer: Through November 30, order this book and add Terry Kottman's
Relevant Research: Children of Working Mothers Not Affected Behaviorally or Academically
A review of 69 studies conducted between 1969 and 2010 and published in the Psychological Bulletin has determined that the children of mothers who went back to work before they reached age 3 had no worse behavioral and school-related difficulties than the children with stay-at-home moms. Counter to the prevailing thinking by some, the researchers also found some evidence of higher academic achievement and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety.
ACA Graduate Student Ethics Competition Opens
Registration officially opened on October 13 for the annual ACA Graduate Student Ethics Competition. The purpose of the competition is to educate members of ACA about ethical issues and to engage graduate students (masters and doctoral level) in critically analyzing a potential ethical case and creating an appropriate ethical decision making plan to respond to the situation. Competition rules, registration, and other details can be found at
- Registration Opens: 10/13/2010
- Cases Available to Teams: 10/13/2010
- Registration Closes: 11/28/2010
- Case Submission Deadline: 12/12/2010
- Decisions Made: 1/16/2011
Interested counselor education programs that submitted their team's registration before October 15 should check on their status because a computer issue may have prevented the registration from processing. If you have NOT received an email confirming registration, please contact Erin Martz, Manager of Ethics and Professional Standards, at 800-347-6647 ext. 314 or emartz@counseling.org
Fast Fact: Binge Drinking by High School Students and Young Adults
More than 1 in 4 high school students and adults ages 18 to 34 engaged in recent binge drinking, according to a new "Vital Signs" report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Binge drinking, defined as having four or more drinks over a short period of time (usually a couple of hours) has been rising over the past two decades and has become a major public health issue.
CDC findings show that each year more than 33 million adults reported binge drinking, a behavior that has not declined during the past 15 years. More than 79,000 deaths each year in the U.S. result from excessive drinking and approximately half of these are attributable to binge drinking. Comparing 2009 to 1993, binge drinking among adults increased significantly in 20 states, stayed the same in 29 states, and declined significantly in 2 states.
ACA 2011 Awards Nominations Due November 8
The ACA Awards Committee is accepting nominations for the 2011 National Awards that will be presented at the
Complete awards information is available at
Rosa's Law Calls for End of Mental Retardation Terminology
In early October, President Obama signed into law S. 2781, "Rosa's Law," which changes references in many federal statutes that currently refer to "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability." Named for Rosa Marcellani, an 8-year-old Maryland girl with Down Syndrome, this law will change references in federal laws from "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability" and, similarly, it will change references from "a mentally retarded individual" to "an individual with an intellectual disability". The change and other efforts to remove slurring references to "retarded" and "retardation" from the vernacular are being applauded by persons with disabilities, caregivers, and advocates.
Toll-Free Helpline for BP Oil Spill Victims
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently announced the availability of a new toll-free helpline to provide information, support, and counseling for families and children affected by the BP oil spill that occurred six months ago. The Oil Spill Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) links callers to behavioral healthcare services and will serve as an important resource for the localized oil spill outreach efforts in the Gulf Coast states.
PBS Documentary on Military Mental Health Wins Emmy
A Public Broadcasting Systems (PBS) documentary, "The Next Mission," which focuses on the mental health issues of returning service women and men has been honored with a regional Emmy Award. Aired for many attendees at the 2010 ACA Conference & Exposition in Pittsburgh, the program includes interview excerpts with David Fenell, chair of ACA's Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.
Calendar: November Conferences Scheduled for MS, MN, WI, TX, VA, IL, MI, AL, AR & TN
November is an active month for ACA state branch conferences. Check out the following ACA state branch conferences and register today!
Mississippi Counseling Association
November 3-5, 2010
Jackson Convention Complex, Jackson, MS
Minnesota Counseling Association
November 5, 2010
Shoreview Community College, Shoreview, MN
Wisconsin Counseling Association
November 6, 2010
Mid-State Technical College, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Texas Counseling Association
November 10-13
Austin Convention Center, Austin, TX
Virginia Counselors Association
November 11-13
Williamsburg Marriott, Williamsburg, VA
Illinois Counseling Association
November 12-13, 2010
Lisle Hilton, Lisle, IL
Michigan Counseling Association
November 12-14, 2010
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI
Alabama Counseling Association
November 17-19, 2010
Mobile Renaissance Plaza Hotel and Mobile Convention Center, Mobile, AL
Arkansas Counseling Association
November 17-19, 2010
Hot Springs Convention Center, Hot Springs, AR
Tennessee Counseling Association
November 21-23
Marriott Cool Springs Conference Center, Nashville, TN
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.
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