ACAeNews is a biweekly electronic newsletter of the American Counseling Association.
In this edition readers will find:
~ ACA Responds to Tragedy at Virginia Tech - Posts Resources on Web Site ~
The American Counseling Association wishes to express our sadness over the tragedy that occurred Monday, April 16th on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. Our thoughts continue to be with the entire Virginia Tech community as students, faculty, staff, family, and friends deal with this trauma and move forward. To help individuals cope in the aftermath of this tragedy, ACA has posted resources for the public and professional counselors. Go to: http://www.counseling.org/PressRoom/NewsReleases.aspx?AGuid=b8890bed-5842-4c52-8719-eeb4fcbbd562
~ Honolulu, Hawaii - Site of 2008 ACA Conference & Exposition ~
Mark the dates March 26-30 on your 2008 calendar and keep a close eye on the www.counseling.org website for discounted travel and lodging information and other emerging details regarding the largest annual conclave of professional counselors in the world. The main conference hotel next year will be the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach which, along with several overflow hotels, will begin accepting reservations on June 1. Continue to visit the ACA website conference link for updated information on hotels and discounted airfares. You can also save by taking advantage of the discount summer registration rate. Watch for it!
~ ACA Conference Call for Proposals for Education Sessions and Learning Institutes ~
Counselors wishing to submit proposals for the 2008 Conference Education Sessions and Learning Institutes must do so by June 4, 2007. Information regarding the proposal process and the link to the online proposal form can be found on the Conference section of the ACA website (www.counseling.org/conference). ACA is actively soliciting proposals for advanced programs that provide in-depth knowledge or skills beyond the introductory or basic level. Specific slots have been reserved for advanced level proposals. Contact Debbie Beales at dbeales@counseling.org if you have any questions.
~ Licensure Legislation Moves Forward in California and Nevada ~
Legislative committees in California and Nevada have recently approved legislation to establish licensure of professional counselors. If enacted, the two laws would complete the adoption of licensure standards for counselors in all fifty states.
In California, the Assembly Business & Professions Committee by a unanimous 10 to 0 vote approved California Assembly Bill 1486 (AB 1486) on Tuesday, April 17th. The bill next goes to the state Assembly Appropriations Committee, which must approve the use of state government monies for carrying out the tasks involved in setting up the profession in the state. The Appropriations Committee is likely to make a decision on the issue within the next two weeks. The California Coalition for Counselor Licensure (CCCL) has worked diligently over the past five years to get to this point, and provides updates and background information on the licensure effort at their website at http://www.caccl.org/.
In Nevada, the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee approved Nevada Senate Bill 543 (SB 543) on Friday, April 13th. The legislation will now be forwarded to the full Senate for its approval, which is expected to occur within the next week. The legislation will then be sent to the Nevada Assembly Commerce & Labor Committee for its consideration. The Assembly Commerce & Labor Committee also approved its own version of a counselor licensure bill last week, demonstrating its support for counselor licensure.
ACA, AMHCA, and NBCC applaud the work of the counselors and counseling organizations that have come together to move these legislative proposals. To keep abreast of the pending California and Nevada licensure bills, visit "Latest News" under the Public Policy link on www.counseling.org
~ Fast Fact - Counselors Number 601,000 in US ~
According to the 2006-2007 edition of the US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 601,000 counselors were at work in America in 2004. Employment in the field of counseling was distributed among the following specialties: Educational, career and school counselors - 248,600; rehabilitation counselors - 131,000; mental health counselors - 96,000; substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors - 76,000; marriage and family therapists - 24,000 and other counselors - 25,000. To read the full counselor profile including employment outlook and salary data, go to: www.bls.gov/oco/pdf/ocos067.pdf
~ ACA Publishes New Book on Counseling International Students! ~
ACA has just published a new book that may be of interest to ACAeNews readers.
A Handbook for Counseling International Students in the United States
Edited by Hemla Singaravelu and Mark Pope
The Handbook provides a detailed look at the lives of international students and the personal and academic challenges they face before, during, and after their college experience. Thirty-five experts from around the world address a variety of common international student issues including adapting to an unfamiliar culture and educational system, family expectations, isolation and adjustment, U.S. legal system bureaucracy, career decision and management, sexual orientation, disability, financial obligations, and returning home. Special chapters focus on the unique needs of students from eastern and southern Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, New Zealand, and the former USSR nations. 2007 * 350 pages
Order #72849
ISBN 978-1-55620-238-4
List Price: $55.95
ACA Member Price: $39.95
~ Relevant Research - US Job Satisfaction Reaches Lowest Point in Two Decades ~
According to The Conference Board, the percentage of US workers satisfied with their employment status has declined to the lowest point in two decades, a finding with little evidence to suggest any immediate or significant reversal in attitudes. Today, less than half (47 percent) of all Americans say they are satisfied with their jobs, down from 61 percent twenty years ago. The specific findings of the study can be found at: http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?GRAB_ID=78\&EXTRA_ARG=\&HOST_ID=42\&PAGE_ID=14024960&press_ID=3075
~ AARP to Honor Community Service Volunteers ~
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) annually recognizes one person in every state whose community service efforts reflect member priorities. To nominate a counseling volunteer, go to www.aarp.org/volunteer or call 1/888/687- 2277 (toll free) to obtain a nomination form. The deadline for nominations is June 1.
~ Grants, grants, grants - Three Programs Target Children and Youth ~
Three grant programs focusing on children and youth may offer counselors and counseling organizations funding opportunities to address new or expanded initiatives. They include:
Innovation Grants for Individual Educators and Educator Teams
The Jordan Fundamentals Innovation Grants, underwritten by the Nike Corporation, are available to individual teachers, counselors or paraprofessionals in grades K-12 to support the development of more effective approaches of traditional strategies to engage students and foster improved outcomes in classrooms. Similarly, the Jordan Fundamentals Inspiration Grants are designed for teams of educators resulting in projects that promote scalability and replication. At least 50 percent of the school's student population must be eligible for the free or reduced school lunch program. Deadline: May 1, 2007. To obtain additional information, go to:
http://www.nike.com/jumpman23/features/fundamentals/how.html
Low Income Youth Targets for Learning and Enrichment Grants
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is making grants to nonprofit providers of accelerated learning or academic enrichment programs that will impact low- to moderate-income elementary school students possessing exceptional academic promise. The first step in the grant approval process is to submit a letter outlining learning and enrichment project goals. Full applications will be invited following review of those letters. For additional details, go to:
http://jackkentcookefoundation.org/jkcf_web/content.aspx?page=5426435
Grants for Direct Services to Young Children
The Mattel Children's Foundation Grants program makes awards to non-profit organizations that focus on direct service to children from birth to age 12. Organizations or programs must show creative and/or innovative methods to address locally defined needs directly impacting children. Application deadline: June 15, 2007. For additional details, go to:
http://www.mattel.com/about_us/philanthropy/ci_mcf_philanthropy_grantmaking.asp
Editor Note: From time to time, ACAeNews reports grant information with tight application deadlines. Since the majority of these programs provide support and funding on an annual basis, interested applicants should note these grant programs and develop long range application strategies.
~ ACA Speaks Out On Don Imus' Comments ~
Earlier this month, ACA President Wakefield sent a letter about Don Imus' comments to the President of CBS Radio. A copy was also sent to the President of NBC, the parent company of MSNBC, the television cable network that simulcast the Imus radio program. To view the letter in its entirety, go to: www.counseling.org/PressRoom.
~ John Rucker - Dedicated ACA Staff Member Passes ~
Most ACA members never knew John Rucker, but the chances are great that his work touched many in some way. A "behind the scenes" staff member at ACA, John was responsible for the facility, mail room, publication/media fulfillment and countless other duties over his 42 years of service to the association. He performed his duties with a constant smile and always knew how to "step up" to address an operations challenge. John passed away on April 13th and he will be missed by the entire ACA headquarters family.
~ US Department of Education Seeks Peer Reviewers for Safe Schools/Healthy Students Grants ~
The U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice are currently seeking qualified peer reviewers to read and evaluate grant applications that will be submitted under the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative grant competition. In anticipation of this review, the Departments are requesting prospective reviewers to send an e-mail message indicating interest and a copy of their current resume. For instructions and timetable, please visit: http://www.counseling.org/PressRoom/NewsReleases.aspx?AGuid=4e2f7053-0178-4a15-a36b-113970a7f9f0
~ Events - April is Counseling Awareness Month, Connecticut State Conference and National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day ~
ACA Counseling Awareness Month
There is still time to place counseling and counselors in the public spotlight. Visit http://www.counseling.org/Resources/ConsumersMedia.aspx and explore ways you can celebrate the observance in your agency, school or community.
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/
May 8, 2007
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day
Launched by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is an opportunity for the nation to promote positive youth development, resilience, recovery, and the transformation of mental health services delivery for children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families. For additional information, visit http://systemsofcare.samhsa.gov/nationalawareness/materials.aspx.
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 of the information.