ACAeNews is a biweekly electronic newsletter of the American Counseling Association.
In this edition readers will find:
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~ ACAeNews Black History Month Quiz ~
February is Black History Month, a fitting time to recognize the contributions of African Americans to our nation and to our professional association. Test your memory regarding the contributions of African American to both the US and ACA by taking the following quiz:
- Who was the founding President of the Association for Non-White Concerns in Personnel and Guidance, today known as the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development?
- Name two of the three African Americans to serve in the US Senate since Reconstruction? (Last names will suffice)
- Dr. Thelma Daley was the first African American to serve as ACA President. Who was the first African American male to achieve that distinction?
ACAeNews readers who email the correct answers to fburtnett@counseling.org will be included in a drawing to win a copy of ACA's Multicultural Issues in Counseling, Third edition. Emails must be received by February 20, 2007 and the winner will be announced in the next edition of ACAeNews. Additional Black History Month information from the Study of Afro-American Life and History can be found at: http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/aajourney/blackhistory
~ ACAF Announces Student Essay Competition Topics ~
Topics for the 2007 American Counseling Association Foundation's Graduate Student Essay Contest have just 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 competition rules will be posted on www.counseling.org on or about February 20, 2007. The deadline for essay submission is April 27 2007.
~ Relevant Research - Binge Eating is #1 US Eating Disorder ~
Researchers have identified binge eating---not anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa-as the number one eating disorder among Americans. The disorder, common to 3.5% of women and 2% of men, can lead to serious obesity. An account of the recent research by a team led by James Hudson of McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, is reported at the following web address: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=79275
Additional information and links about eating disorders can be found at SAMSHA's National Center for Health Information. Go to: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/search.asp?q=binge+eating&restrict=NMHIC&btnG=Search&output=xml_no_dtd&site=NMHIC&client=NMHIC&proxystylesheet=NMHIC
~ O'Donnell Scholarship to Aid Mental Health Study ~
Melanie Merola O'Donnell dedicated her career and life to people in need. She volunteered with and later became a staff member of the National Organization for Victim Assistance. She was both a participant and trainer in crisis response activities, including the 9-11 attacks in 2001. Her untimely death in a car accident in 2006 has deprived us of her talent, compassion and generosity.
In her memory, the Melanie Merola O'Donnell Memorial Scholarship Fund has been created to help students pursuing a doctoral or master's degree in mental health. A $2,500 scholarship will be awarded annually. To learn more about the scholarship, go to: http://mmoscholarship.com/default.aspx. The deadline for applications is April 9, 2007.
~ Fast Fact - US Teen Pregnancy Declines to Record Low ~
Figures released by the National Center for Health Statistics indicate that pregnancy rates for teenagers 15-19 years of age in the United State have declined significantly in the most recent reporting period, 1990-2002. The estimates for 2002 represent record lows for the nation, the fewest reported since this series of national pregnancy estimates began in 1976. Detailed information about teen pregnancy can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/teenpreg1990-2002/teenpreg1990-2002.htm
~ ACA Bookstore Event With Authors Scheduled for Detroit ~
Be sure to attend one of the most popular events at the ACA Convention-the ACA Author Book Signings! Participants will have the opportunity to converse with some of the most influential and distinguished counselors in the field while they sign their latest publications. For graduate students and seasoned professionals alike, this experience is not to be missed.
Thursday, March 22, 2007 * 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Patricia Arredondo, Craig Cashwell, Gerald Corey, Janice DeLucia-Waack, J. Sam Gladding, Richard Hazler, Barbara Herlihy, Courtland Lee, Mark Pope, Garry Walz, and Scott Young
Friday, March 23, 2007 * 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Laurie Carlson, Suzanne (Hobson) Dugger, Sally Gelardin, Jane Goodman, Jeffrey Guterman, Norm Gysbers, Richard Halstead, Patricia Henderson, John and Rita Sommers-Flanagan, and Richard Yep
~ Advocacy Matters - April is Counseling Awareness Month ~
The important work of counselors in education, mental health and countless related settings is celebrated annually by ACA in April, designated by the association as Counseling Awareness Month (CAM). It is a time when counselors can call public attention to the counseling needs of people and the roles which professional counselors play in helping children, youth, adults and seniors. To assist in organizing a formal CAM celebration, ACA is creating a special online guide that includes celebration strategies, sample VIP proclamations and related resources. Visit http://www.counseling.org in late February and you will be able to access this list of ideas. Celebrate your work. Make the 2007 observance of ACA Counseling Awareness Month the best ever!
~ A Helping Hand - 100 Scholarships for Foster Care Youth ~
The Orphan Foundation of America (OFA), along with Casey Family Programs and other generous sponsors, has announced 100 new scholarships to be awarded annually to young people out of foster care. Ranging from $2,500 - $6,000 these scholarships are renewable with continued eligibility up to six years or until degree attainment. Applications and additional information can be found at www.orphan.org. The deadline for online applications is March 21, 2007, and supporting materials must be received by April 18, 2007.
~ Reliable Resource - Teen Depression Subject of Web Site ~
The www.depressedteens.com web site has a wealth of information for counselors and educators working with adolescents, including a five minute video on recognizing the signs of depression among teens. Also available on the website are excerpts from Most Commonly Asked Questions About Teen Depression & Bipolar Illness.
~ ACA Career Center Open for Business ~
Looking for a job? Trying to find just the right counselor to fill your staff opening? The ACA Detroit Convention will provide great career assistance opportunities for participants, including the opportunity to interview. Registration information for candidates and employers is posted in PDF format on the Career Center page of the ACA website (www.counseling.org/careercenter). While there, you'll also find a complete list of Career Center activities planned for the convention. This program is a value-added service and a benefit of membership in ACA. If you have questions, contact Amy Connelly at acacareers@counseling.org.
~ NCDA Seeking Participants for Mentoring Program ~
National Career Development Association members with five or more years of service who would like to serve as mentors to new professionals in the field are encouraged to be a part of the NCDA Mentoring Program. For additional details, go to www.ncda.org and click on membership.
~ Events - ACA, Maine and South Dakota Conferences Coming ~
March 21-25, 2007
American Counseling Association Annual Convention
Detroit, Michigan
Information: http://www.counseling.org/Convention/
April 2-3, 2007
Maine Counseling Association
Samoset Resort, Rockport, Maine
Information: http://www.maineca.org/conference/index.php?c1=Conference
April 12-14, 2007
South Dakota Counseling Association
Sheraton Hotel, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Information: http://www.sdcounseling.org/reservation.asp
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.
~ Tell a Professional Colleague about ACAeNews ~
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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.