In this edition readers will find:
- Higher Education Attainment Gains Have Stalled, Especially for People of Color
- New Autobiographical Book by Counseling Leader Shares Stories From the Field
- ACA Link to Amazon Helps Members, Supports Association
- Sign of the Times: Recession Proof Jobs
- Conference Clipping: Super Saver Registration Deadline is November 30
- For Counselor Consideration: Network Supports Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- AMCD & ACES Announce 2nd International Conference on Culturally Competent Disaster Relief
- Relevant Research: Suicide Rate for Boomers, Particularly Women, is Rising
- Student Grants to ACA 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
- Calendar: Professional and Leadership Development Meetings
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Higher Education Attainment Gains Have Stalled, Especially for People of Color
According to a new report from the American Council on Education (ACE), the gains in college degree attainment made by young adults in the United States over the past half century have stalled, and for many people of color, the percentage earning degrees has receded. The Minorities in Higher Education 2008 Twenty-third Status Report also reports that high school diploma attainment among racial groups is widening.
With respect to high school completion, the report states the rate for African Americans remained "relatively flat" (at about 76 percent) over the past two decades. Hispanics, even with some improvement, continued to have the lowest rate (68 percent) among all racial and ethnic groups, while Asian Americans had the highest rate (about 91 percent).
New Autobiographical Book by Counseling Leader Shares Stories From the Field
A new release from ACA, Becoming a Counselor: The Light, the Bright, and the Serious, Second Edition by Sam Gladding, provides insight into the turning points that influence professional growth and development as a counselor. Through the use of memorable and often humorous personal vignettes, Dr. Gladding shares his life and career experiences. His personal experiences reflect universal themes in becoming a helping professional, and both novice and seasoned counselors will benefit from his knowledge, skill, and the wisdom drawn from more than 30 years in the profession.
Topics addressed include personal growth; finding what works and learning from failure; basic skills and counseling processes; creativity in counseling; multicultural and spiritual considerations; the influences of colleagues, friends, and family; working with groups and families; professional development; leadership; and termination. Each section of the book contains "Points to Ponder" to facilitate classroom discussion and personal reflection. Published by the ACA Foundation. 2009. 336 pgs.
Ed. Note: Dr. Gladding will present an ACA Author Content Session on the same topic as his book (Program ID #399) at the ACA 2009 Conference & Exposition in Charlotte.
Order #72886
ISBN 978-1-55620-281-0
List Price: $24.95
ACA Member Price: $19.95
ACA Link to Amazon Helps Members, Supports Association
Get an early start on holiday shopping and support your association at the same time. Each time you use the ACA link to Amazon.com and purchase items, the association earns a referral fee. These funds are used to support professional programs and services. Should you be shopping for books, robot vacuum cleaners, iPods, or a wide range of other products, check out Amazon and you will be participating in the largest Internet partnership of its kind. Please continue, however, to order your ACA book titles through the ACA bookstore.
Sign of the Times: Recession Proof Jobs
The current economic crisis finds many counselors in varied settings working with clients regarding career concerns and lifestyle questions. Will I find a job after preparation? Will the recession affect my career and standard of living? Should I transition to a career that offers more security? These and other questions have the electronic job boards projecting the best jobs in a bad economy. CareerBuilder.com offers the following fields as being the most recession proof:
- Education
- Energy
- Environmental sector
- Health care
- Security
Conference Clipping: Super Saver Registration ends November 30
Save up to $55 by registering for the ACA 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition before midnight November 30.
Register online or by phone at 800-347-6647, Ex. 222, Monday-Friday, 8am - 7pm ET.
To learn more about the Education Sessions, Learning Institutes and other conference events, visit the various links at www.counseling.org/conference.
For Counselor Consideration: Network Supports Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD Anonymous (PTSDA) is a national networking effort created to support military personnel with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSDA meetings across the country focus on creating local social support groups for those facing the initial stigma of seeking help for mental health and the continued stress of daily life issues. Veterans returning from conflict, according to PTSDA "live in two worlds" of war and home and improving their social support systems enhances their re-integration.
AMCD & ACES Announce 2nd International Conference on Culturally Competent Disaster Response
The Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD) and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) jointly invite ACA members to participate in the second international conference to be held in Gabarone, Botswana, located in southern Africa July 8-11, 2009. AMCD/ACES visualize a multidisciplinary discussion in which a diversity of viewpoints is investigated.
Proposals from community outreach workers, mental health practitioners, researchers, educators, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), health service providers, and spiritual/religious leaders are encouraged. Significant inquiry and innovative discourse relative to systemic oppression and social marginalization as they affect the lives of individuals, families, and communities are welcome.
Relevant Research: Suicide Rate for Boomers, Particularly Women, is Rising
Reversing a decade long trend, the suicide rate among middle-aged, white Americans, particularly women, is rising. This finding is reported in Mid-Life Suicide, disseminated online by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. During the 1999-2005 period, the study shows, the rate of suicide for 40-64 year old men rose by 2.7% and 3.9% for women. Rates did not increase in other age or racial groups.
Student Grants to ACA 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition
The ACA Foundation is once again offering student grants to the ACA 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition in Charlotte, NC. Each grant covers student member registration for the conference, but recipients are personally responsible for their transportation and lodging expenses. Applicants must be a student member enrolled currently as a graduate student at a university or college in the field of counseling or a related course of study and must be attending the ACA conference for the first time. Applications must be received by January 23, 2009 and recipients will be notified by February 18, 2009.
Calendar: Professional and Leadership Development Meetings
The following conferences and meetings offer unique professional development and renewal experiences for practicing counselors, counselor educators, and students.
November 12-14
Arkansas Counseling Association
Fort Smith Conference Center and Holiday Inn City Center, Fort Smith, AR
Details...
November 12-14
Puerto Rican Professional Counseling Association
El Gran Melia Hotel, Puerto Rico
Details: Contact Ramonita de Lourdes Díaz Jimenez at ramonitadj@hotmail.com
November 13-15
Florida Counseling Association
The Plaza Resort and Spa, Daytona Beach, FL
Details...
November 19-21
Alabama Counseling Association
Von Braun Conference Center and Embassy Suites Hotel, Huntsville, AL
Details...
November 22-25
Tennessee Counseling Association
Memphis Hilton Hotel, Memphis, TN
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 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.
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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