ACAeNews is a biweekly electronic newsletter of the American Counseling Association.
In this edition readers will find:
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~ Virginia - First State to Mandate CyberSafety Education ~
National Public Radio (NPR) reports that Virginia public schools are the first in the nation to require the teaching of Internet safety. The action is in response to concerns about sex offenders and other adults preying on young people and how children and teens are using the social-networking web sites (i.e. MySpace) available on the Internet.
For information about how the Virginia schools are responding to the mandate, visit http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14427020. ACAeNews readers will also find "Cybersafety Tips for Parents and Children," posted at the site.
~ Fourth Annual Ross Trust Scholarship Competition Opens ~
ACA is very pleased to announce the fourth annual Ross Trust Scholarship competition, a program designed to reward excellence among counselor education students who have also engaged in volunteer service in schools and communities. Member counselor educators can nominate high achieving student members who aspire to work in educational environments.
Fifteen scholarships of $1,000, plus a complimentary one year membership and conference registration (Total value - $1,255) will be awarded in early 2008 to ten Master's and five doctoral level students. Beginning October 4, 2004, nominating professors and students can go to www.counseling.org where they will find a link to an electronic nomination/application form at the "student" web link. Instructions for navigating the nomination/application process also appear there.
The forms must be filed electronically and supporting materials received at ACA by November 16, 2007. A panel of ACA, ASCA and ACES members will serve as judges for the competition. Questions about the Ross Trust Scholarship program can be directed to Janice McDonald at jmacdonald@counseling.org. Provide return email and telephone number for response.
~ Fast Fact - Smoking Among Teens and Influence of Movies ~
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that nearly a quarter of high school students in the United States smoke cigarettes. Another 8% use smokeless tobacco. While smoking has health risks for all, the effects on younger smokers can be more devastating. For example:
- People who start smoking before the age of 21 have the hardest time quitting.
- About 30% of youth smokers will continue smoking and die early from a smoking-related disease.
- Teen smokers are more likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs.
- They are more likely to have panic attacks, anxiety disorders and depression.
New evidence is telling health and educational professionals that smoking in films now surpasses the influence of tobacco advertising as half of teen smokers appear to have been influenced by movies. Learn more about the influence of movies on teen smoking behavior by going to the following links: http://smokefreemovies.ucsf.edu/godeeper/Landmark_Study.htmland http://smokefreemovies.ucsf.edu/index.html
~ Get Involved in ACA - Nominations Open for National Committees ~
ACA President-Elect Colleen Logan is seeking nominations for association committee appointments. She will be appointing regular members for each committee who will serve a three-year term, and a student representative to each committee for a one-year term.
ACA members may nominate themselves or be nominated by other ACA members. Nominations are due December 1, 2007. Nomination packets are available from ACA. To receive a packet or for more information about the nominations process, contact Holly Clubb at 800/347-6647, Ext. 212 or e-mail her at hclubb@counseling.org. The packets can also be accessed at www.counseling.org.
~ Reliable Resource - Web Site Creation Assistance for Private Practitioners ~
If you are seeking information about creating your own web site for your private practice, check the ACA web site for guidance! Private Practice Pointers can get you started on your web site design efforts. Go to http://www.counseling.org/Counselors. and click on Private Practice Pointers (Note: This is a "members-only" section)
~ Worth Reading - Resource for Grandparents as Caregivers ~
Across the United States, there are approximately 6.0 million children being raised by their grandparents or other relatives. 4.5 million children are living in grandparent households. As the children's parents struggle with substance abuse, mental illness, incarceration, economic hardship, divorce, domestic violence, and other challenges, these caregivers provide a vital safety net to children inside and outside of the foster care system.
Answers4Families, a web site created by the Nebraska Health & Human Services System and the Center on Children, Families and the Law at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, provides valuable social, educational and legal information for grandparents thrust into this parenting role and for counselors working with these families. The web site also has links to other Internet locations that have been reviewed for content and accuracy by the Answers4Families staff. Go to: http://answers4families.org/gparents/
~ ACA to Exhibit at ACES Conference in Columbus ~
Counselor educators and supervisors participating in the ACES National Conference, October 10-14 in Columbus, Ohio are encouraged to stop by the ACA exhibit and preview firsthand the most recent additions to the association textbook line. The ACA booth will offer the newest textbooks in the field including Counseling for Social Justice (Lee), The Counselor and the Law(Wheeler & Bertram), Tough Kids, Cool Counseling(Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan), Multicultural Issues in Counseling (Lee), ACA Ethical Standards Casebook(Herlihy & Corey), Youth at Risk (Capuzzi & Gross) and Assessment in Counseling (Hood & Johnson). Membership materials and the latest information on the ACA Conference in Hawaii, March 26-29, will also be available.
~ Relevant Research - Finding Good Job is Hard Work ~
Despite generally good economic conditions, many among the U.S. labor force remain apprehensive about job growth and development prospects. About half of American adults (49%) say job finding is difficult in their community and 55% say so when the qualifier "good job" is added to the question; still, the trend in views about the job market is notably more optimistic than the continuing pessimism expressed about the overall state of the economy. To access the full report, go to: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/516/are-americans-out-of-sync-with-economic-reality
~ Advocacy Matters - "Got Issues" Campaign Wins National Award ~
The ACA Marketing Team is proud to announce that the "Got Issues?" Counseling Awareness Month campaign held in April of 2007 won an award of distinction from Print Magazine's annual Communicator Awards. Print is a leading publication for the marketing communications and graphic design industry.
The next ACA sponsored Counseling Awareness Month is six months away, giving counseling advocates an excellent opportunity to plan activities and events now that can be realized in April, 2008. For suggestions and tips, go to: http://www.counseling.org/PressRoom/NewsReleases.aspx?AGuid=429e0a19-242a-4cff-acdd-63672729f811
~ ACA Student Ethics Competition Opens in October ~
The fourth annual Ethics Committee Student Competition resumes October 15, 2007. Counselor educators can use this national activity as a tool for teaching counseling ethics in the classroom. Winners of the competition will be invited to receive their awards at the awards ceremony held at the ACA Conference in Hawaii. Visit the www.counseling.org web site for information about the student competition. Details can also be obtained from Larry Freeman at lfreeman@counseling.org or 703/823-9800, Ext. 314.
~ Grants, Gifts and Recognition for Counselors and their Clients ~
ACAeNews readers may be interested in one or more of the following grant, gift or recognition opportunities:
- Cable in the Classroom's Leaders In Learning Awards recognize teachers, counselors and others (school or community based) who are helping to improve and transform education for children, creating 21st century learning environments children need to succeed in the world that awaits them. Award: $3,000. Deadline: January 16, 2008. Go to: http://www.leadersinlearningawards.org/
- The Staples Foundation for Learning provides funding to public and non-profit organizations that support or provide job skills and/or education for all people, with an emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Award: $25,000. Deadline: December 7, 2007. Go to: http://www.staplesfoundation.org/foundapplication.html
- The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people in grades 5 through 12 who have demonstrated exemplary voluntary service to their communities. Award amount: $5,000. Deadline: October 31, 2007. Eligibility guidelines and additional information can be found at : http://www.prudential.com/spirit
~ ACA National Awards Nominations Now Open ~
Know an ACA member long due recognition for his or her service and contributions? The ACA Awards Committee encourages ACAeNews readers to place their names in nomination for one of 19 distinct honors that will be bestowed on recipients at ACA National Convention in Hawaii. Any ACA member can submit a nomination of one or more ACA members. ACA Divisions/Organizational Affiliates, Branches, Chapters, Regions or Committees can also submit nominations.
Complete information, including criteria for each award is available on the ACA web site at www.counseling.org under 'Resources' . ACAeNews readers may request a 2008 National Awards Packet by calling ACA Member Services at 800/347-6647, Ext. 222. All nominations must be submitted by mail and postmarked by October 31, 2007.
~ Events - Fourteen Fall Opportunities for Professional Development and Networking ~
In addition to the national ACES and ARCA conferences, the fall month offers an incredible calendar of professional development opportunities for counselors:
October 4-6, 2007
Event: Minnesota Counseling Association Annual Fall Conference
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Information: http://www.mncounseling.org/
October 6-10, 2007
Event: Louisiana Counseling Association Annual Conference
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Information: http://www.lacounseling.org/conference.htm
October 10-14, 2007
Event: Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Annual Conference
Theme: Vanguards of Change and Social Justice
Location: Easton Center, Columbus, Ohio
Information: http://www.aces2007.net/
October 12-13, 2007
Event: West Virginia Counseling Association Annual Conference
Location: South Charleston, WV
Information: http://wvcounseling.org/WVCAFallConference.htm
October 12-13, 2007
Event: Washington Counseling Association Fall Conference
Location: Seattle, WA
Information: http://wacounseling.org/
October 17-19, 2007
Event:Puerto Rican Professional Counseling Association Annual Convention
Location: Ponce, PR
Information: Maribel Perez Mercado: 787/758-2525, Ext. 4000 or Nelson Vazquez 787/993-0000, Ext. 4094
October 18-20, 2007
Event: Wyoming Counseling Association Annual Conference
Location: Casper, WY
Information: http://www.wyoca.org/conference.htm
October 18-21, 2007
Event: Illinois Counseling Association Annual Conference
Location: Tinley Park, IL
Information: http://www.ilcounseling.org/
October 19-20, 2007
Event: Oregon Counseling Association Fall Conference
Theme: Our Cultures and Communities - The Ties That Bind
Location: Best Western Ocean Vie Resort, Seaside, Oregon
Information: www.or-counseling.org or Dina Yerex at 971/226-4040 or dinayeres@or-counseling.org
October 19-21, 2007
Event: Pennsylvania Counseling Association Annual Conference
Location: State College, PA
Information: http://www.pacounseling.org/fallconf.htm
October 23-26, 2007
Event: Kentucky Counseling Association Fall Conference
Location: Louisville, KY
Information: http://www.kyca.org/online/
October 25-27, 2007
Event: New York Counseling Association Annual Conference
Location: Rochester, NY
Information: www.nycounseling.org
October 31-November 2
Event: Ohio Counseling Association Conference
Location: Columbus, OH
Information: http://www.ohiocounseling.org/aocc.htm
November 8-10, 2007
Event: American Rehabilitation Counseling Association 50th Anniversary
Educational Conference
Theme: Counseling & Crisis Interventions for Individuals with Disabilities in Critical Times
Location: Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore, Tampa Florida
Information: patricia.nunez@cna.com;mpointer@coppin.edu
ACA divisions and branches are valuable sources of learning and professional development and ACAeNews readers will find relevant future meetings and conferences posted here regularly. Information of this nature will be posted approximately 8-10 weeks before the conference is held. This information is made available to ACAeNews via the ACA master calendar and the various organization web sites. Calendar additions should be directed to jmacdonald@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.
~ Tell a Professional Colleague or Counseling Student About ACAeNews ~
ACAeNews is disseminated by subscription only. If you believe a colleague would like to receive this electronic newsletter, they can send an email to listserv@listserv.counseling.organd leave the subject blank. In the body of the email, type the following: Subscribe aca-enews First Name Last Name. Counseling students can also keep abreast of important professional information by reading ACAeNews regularly and grow more knowledgeable about the important worked being performed by ACA.
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 or 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.
Brian Canfield, President
canfield@sandiego.edu
Richard Yep, Executive Director
ryep@counseling.org
Brandt Heatherington, Director of Marketing
bheatherington@counseling.org
Frank Burtnett, ACAeNews Editor
fburtnett@counseling.org
ACA Web site: www.counseling.org
© 2007, 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.