ACAeNews is a biweekly electronic newsletter of the American Counseling Association.
In this edition readers will find:
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~ Thank You Detroit, Michigan - Aloha Honolulu, Hawaii ~
More than 3,000 counseling professionals participated in the 2007 ACA Annual Convention & Exposition in Detroit, which ended March 25. Thanks go out to the many Michigan counselors who helped to make the event a rewarding professional experience.
Next up: The 2008 ACA Conference & Exposition in Honolulu, Hawaii, March 26-30. Summer rates are now in effect and you can register online at www.counseling.org/conference. The deadline for submitting proposals to present an education session is June 4, 2007. Online submission opens April 4, 2007.
~ ACA on Rachel Ray! ~
ACA will be mentioned on the Rachel Ray Show on Monday, April 2; the association is sponsoring counseling provided by one of our members for a guest on the show. Rachel Ray’s show airs on the Fox Network in most markets. Check your local listings for time.
~ Medicare Bills Including LPCs Introduced in House and Senate ~
Three bills were introduced in the House and Senate in the past week which would establish Medicare coverage of licensed professional counselors. Counselors are strongly encouraged to start advocating for this legislation by asking their Senators and Representatives to sign on as cosponsors of the bills.
In the Senate, Senators Craig Thomas (R-WY) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) have introduced S. 921, also known as the "Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007." This marks the third consecutive Congress in which Senators Thomas and Lincoln have introduced counselor Medicare coverage legislation.
In the House, Representatives Barbara Cubin (R-WY) and Bart Gordon (D-TN) have introduced H.R. 1588, also known as the "Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2007," to add state-licensed professional counselors as Medicare providers. In addition, Representatives Pete Stark (D-CA), Jim Ramstad (R-MN), and Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) have introduced H.R. 1663, the "Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act." H.R. 1663 would add counselors as Medicare providers and make a number of other improvements to Medicare's mental health benefit. Representatives Stark and Cubin introduced identical legislation in the last Congress.
Further information regarding these bills--and how counselors can help get them enacted!--will be posted shortly on the ACA webpage at www.counseling.org/publicpolicy, and on the ACA legislative action center webpage at http://capwiz.com/counseling. You can also learn more by contacting Peter Atlee with the ACA Office of Public Policy and Legislation at patlee@counseling.org, or by phone at 800-347-6647, Ext. 242.
~ Relevant Research - Dropout Rates and Negative Outcomes ~
While dropout rates have declined over the past several decades, the impact on those electing to leave high school short of graduation continues to be a national problem. The most recent numbers (2004) from the National Center for Educational Statistics at the US Department of Education revealed that five of every 100 students enrolled in high school failed to achieve their diploma.
Dropouts earn significantly less than diploma achievers and are more likely to be unemployed. They also report worse health than adults who are not dropouts and make up a disproportionate percentage of the prison population. The report can be found at: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/dropout/
~ Loving Decision Anniversary to be Marked by International Conference ~
The 40th anniversary of the US Supreme Court's 1967 Loving Decision, legalizing interracial marriage, will be marked with an international conference scheduled for June 21-24 in Chicago. This event will bring together not only "interracial" couples,"multiracial/ethnic" individuals, and "trans-racial" adoptees, but will unite policy makers, professional counselors, educators/students, celebrities, and advocacyorganizations representing all communities on critical issues that continue to fragment our nation. The conference theme is "The Next 40 Years of Multiracial Communities." For additional information and registration details, go to: http://www.lovingconference.com/
~ FYI - Dedicated Workers or Workaholics? ~
A survey of US workers by Yahoo Hotjobs revealed some interesting information about the work-related things people do on their days off. When asked if they perform work tasks, including checking email and voice mail, 60% of men and 47% of women answered in the affirmative.
~ Reliable Resource - Web Site Identifies Government Funding Opportunities ~
Looking for a way to keep track of funding opportunities across federal government departments like Education, Health & Human Services, etc.? Stop your search! The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) maintains the Funding Opportunities Webpage at http://www.aucd.org/template/page.cfm?id=315 where you will find information about grants available from Uncle Sam and some philanthropic organizations. Visit often as the site is frequently updated.
~ Graduate Counseling Student Journal Established ~
Dr. Kathryn Oden and Dr. Chester Robinson will serves as co-editors of The Journal of Graduate Student Scholarship in Counseling, a national, on-line, peer-reviewed professional journal devoted to showcasing the scholarship of graduate counseling students. The new journal, a venture of Texas A&M University-Commerce, seeks manuscript submissions from graduate-level counseling students. Additional information and submission guidelines and information are available at http://www.JGSSC.org.
The Journal is also seeking nominations and application for student editorial board members. Students must submit a current vita, a sample manuscript and a current transcript of their graduate studies to Dr. Oden at Kathy_Oden@tamu-commerce.edu or via fax to 903/886-5780.
~ Fast Fact - 16% of US Population Without Health Insurance ~
According to the Census Bureau, 46.6 million or 15.9% of the US population is without health insurance. Those households with earnings less than $25,000 represent 24.4% of the uninsured. Of the uninsured ages 18-64, 72% worked full or part-time during the year prior to being surveyed.
~ ACAF - 2007 Student Essay Competition ~
Topics for the 2007 American Counseling Association Foundation's Graduate Student Essay Contest have been announced by ACAF Chair Jane Goodman. Grad students can compete for a top prize of a $500 grant, plus ACA membership, and more, by submitting a 750-word essay on one of these topics:
- Is it an advantage or a limitation to have counselors choose a specialty - family, career, addictions, etc. - early in their training?
- Are today's counseling students receiving adequate training to address the counseling issues related to the growing diversity of this country's population?
- Discuss what it means to be a "professional counselor" and how you plan to contribute to the growth and maturation of our profession.
All winning essays will also be posted on the ACA web site and the first place winner will be published in Counseling Today. Complete information, including competition rules, is available at www.counseling.org/foundation. The deadline for essay submission is April 27 2007.
~ Events - Counseling Awareness Month, Mental Health Month and the New Jersey and Connecticut State Conferences ~
Celebrate Counseling Awareness Month throughout the month of April by engaging in outreach activities in your school, college, agency, organization and the entire community served by the counseling profession. Visit the ACA web site at www.counseling.org for tips in how to celebrate this special observance.
National Mental Health Month - May
MIND Your Health will be the theme of the 2007 observance of Mental Health Month in May. The National Mental Health Association and Mental Health America invite all counselors to join them in this important observance. For more information, go to: http://www.nmha.org/go/may
April 22-24, 2007
New Jersey Counselors Association
Sheraton Hotel, Eatontown, New Jersey
Information: www.njcounseling.org or njcounseling2@yahoo.com
May 4, 2007
Connecticut Counseling Association (CCA)
A Day of Enlightenment and Revitalization for Counselors
Rocky Hill Marriott, Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Information: http://www.ccamain.org/servlet/DeRedirect/
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. Additions to that calendar should be directed to JMacdonald@counseling.org and fburtnett@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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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.
Marie A. Wakefield, President
mawakefield@counseling.org
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.