ACAeNews is a biweekly electronic newsletter of the American Counseling Association.
In this edition readers will find:
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~ Commission on Care of America's Returning Wounded Releases Report ~
The President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors released its final report, "Serve, Support, Simplify," along with its subcommittee reports to the White House, Congress, the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), veterans service organizations and the public on July 31, 2007. Critical of the federal government for "patching" the system in recent times, the recommendations contain numerous references to the need to expand both government and public sector service providers and simplify the access routes to needed medical and mental health services for enlisted personnel and veterans alike.
One specific action step urges DOD and VA to provide families of service members who require long term care with appropriate training and counseling to support them in their new care giving roles. ACAeNews readers can access the full report online at http://www.pccww.gov.
~ School Counselor Legislation Introduced ~
Congress has adjourned for its month-long recess without taking any significant action on the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, which is up for renewal this year. Nevertheless, in a mad dash leading up to the August recess, members from both chambers introduced education-related bills, several of which are highlighted below.
- Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) introduced H.R. 3439, the Put School Counselors Where They're Needed Act. ACA and ASCA, and other groups, worked closely with Rep. Sanchez's office to help write the legislative language that would create a $12 million demonstration project to fund additional secondary school counselors in troubled Title I schools to help reduce dropout rates.
- Rep. David Loebsack (D-IA) has introduced H.R. 3419, the Reducing Barriers to Learning Act of 2007, which would establish an "Office of Specialized Instructional Support Services" in the U.S. Department of Education, provide grants to state educational agencies to reduce barriers to learning, and clarify conflicting terminology, definitions, and roles of specialized instructional support personnel (i.e., pupil and reacted services personnel). This legislation is based on the recommendations made by the National Alliance for Pupil Services Organizations (NAPSO), ACA, and other pupil services groups.
- Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL) introduced H.R. 3407, the Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act, which would allow state and local education agencies and schools to make greater use of early intervening services, particularly school-wide positive behavior supports, to create a school climate that is highly conducive to learning, reduces discipline referrals, and improves academic outcomes. This bill also includes the NAPSO recommendation to establish an Office of Specialized Instructional Support Services in the Department of Education to administer and coordinate support services in schools.
The ACA Office of Professional Policy and Legislation will be tracking this legislation when Congress returns from recess and periodic updates will be issued via the ACA list servs and ACAeNews.
~ New and Revised ACA Releases Focus on Children and Adolescents ~
Three new and revised works from ACA will give ACAeNews readers new and expanded insights into counseling issues with children and adolescents. Each can become a valuable addition to your professional library or a textbook for counselor education classes. Visit http://www.counseling.org/Publications to order these or other titles from ACA.
Critical Incidents in Counseling Children
Edited by Suzanne M. (Hobson) Dugger and Laurie A. Carlson
This new resource provides an extensive array of cases on counseling children under the age of 13 in both school and nonschool settings. Each case offers specific suggestions for working with clients for whom words are not necessarily their primary form of communication. Instead of focusing only on "success stories," the counselors in this book also discuss especially challenging cases and give candid descriptions of their self-doubt and confusion about how to proceed.
2007 | 432 pages | 978-1-55620-257-5 | ISBN1-55620-257-1
Order #72845 | List Price: $55.95
ACA Member Price: $35.95
Tough Kids, Cool Counseling: User-Friendly Approaches With Challenging Youth,
Second Edition. John Sommers-Flanagan and Rita Sommers-Flanagan
Tough Kids, Cool Counseling offers techniques for overcoming resistance, fostering constructive therapy relationships, and generating opportunities for client change and growth. This edition includes a new chapter on resistance busters and updated and fresh ideas for establishing rapport, carrying out informal assessments, improving negative moods, modifying maladaptive behaviors, and educating parents. Suicide assessment, medication referrals, and therapy termination are also discussed.
2007 | 259 pages | ISBN 978-1-55620-274-2 | ISBN 1-55620-274-1
Order #72850 | List Price: $44.95
ACA Member Price: $33.95
Youth at Risk: A Prevention Resource for Counselors, Teachers, and Parents
Fifth Edition. Edited by David Capuzzi and Douglas R. Gross
The latest version of this best-selling text examines the challenges that can arise during the often difficult transition between adolescence and adulthood. Editors David Capuzzi and Douglas Gross and 25 contributing authors provide the most current information and techniques for addressing dysfunctional family dynamics, low self-esteem, mood disorders, stress and trauma, eating disorders, suicidal behavior, teen sexuality, the needs of queer youth, gang membership, school violence, substance abuse, homelessness, and school dropout. A new chapter, "‘I'll Cry Tomorrow': Diverse Youth and the Scars That Don't Show," provides a detailed look at the unique stressors faced by ethnic minority youth. A complimentary test manual and PowerPoint presentation for instructors' use are available by written request on university letterhead.
2008 | 515 pages | ISBN 1-55620-275-X | ISBN 978-1-55620-275-9
Order #72856 | List Price: $62.95
ACA Member Price: $44.95
~ Fast Fact - US Life Expectancy Slips in Global Standings ~
A baby born in the United States in 2004 will have a life expectancy of 77.9 years. While American are living longer, the Census Bureau and National Center for Health Statistics report that our world position in life expectancy has slipped from 11th to 42nd position in the past two decades. The Japanese and French live to 82 and 80.4 years respectively. Some of the factors contributing to the US decline include the large number of Americans without health insurance, a high obesity level among adults and a relatively high infant mortality rate, compared to other industrialized nations. Improvements in international health care have also contributed to the U.S. slippage.
What nation ranks first? The tiny European country of Andorra where people live to 83.5 years of age.
~ Reliable Resource - Mixed Findings in Alcohol and Stimulant Admissions Statistics ~
A report from the Office of Applied Studies (OAS) at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMSHA) indicates that alcohol as a primary source of substance accounted for 39% of Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) admissions in 2005, down from 51% in 1995. The proportion of admission for abuse of stimulants, however, increased from 4% in 1995 to 9% in 2005. In 2005, 99% of all stimulant admissions were from methamphetamine or amphetamine abuse. Counselors working in various treatment settings can access the full report at:
http://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/teds05/TEDSAd2k5Index.htm. Other OAS studies on treatment may be found at: http://oas.samhsa.gov/tx.htm
~ ACA Student Ethics Competition Resumes in Fall ~
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 next year. Watch the www.counseling.org web site for information about the student competition, as well as registration and participation instructions. Details can also be obtained from Larry Freeman at lfreeman@counseling.org or 703/823-9800, Ext. 314.
~ Grants and Gifts - Community Development Supported by My Hometown Helper ~
Got a little project that will help your school, organization or agency and impact the community where your reside? General Mills, the Hamburger Helper people, has created the My Hometown Helper program to help neighborhoods nationwide. Individuals from communities and organizations across America can submit a written essay of 250 words or less describing how a "My Hometown Helper" grant might impact their citizens. Maximum Award: $15,000. Eligibility: Requests for funding must be sponsored by a municipal or civic organization or public school. Deadline: September 30, 2007. For additional details and a list of past recipients, go to: http://www.myhometownhelper.com/
~ Relevant Research - Grades in Challenging Subjects Best College Success Predictor ~
A study by the Center for Studies in Higher Education at the University of California - Berkeley and supported by the Koret Foundation concludes that high school grades in challenging college preparatory courses are the best predictor of first-year college grades, four-year graduation and cumulative college GPA. The authors also found that admission test scores added a small, but statistically significant, value in predicting achievement at the collegiate level. To access the report, go to: http://cshe.berkeley.edu/news/index.php?id=31
~ Advocacy Matters - National Family Caregivers Month ~
ACA is proud to join the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) in naming November as National Family Caregivers month. NCFA speaks for more than 50 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age. The organization reaches across the boundaries of diagnoses, relationships and life stages to address the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers.
The 2007 observance will focus on family caregivers speaking up for their rights. To learn how counselors can participate in this public awareness program, visit: www.thefamilycaregiver.org or call 800/896-3650.
~ Worth Repeating - A Quote from Representative George Miller ~
"A dollar spent on a child's future is a dollar invested, not a dollar consumed. "
Representative George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, May 22, 2007
~ Events - ACES National and State Counseling Conferences in NM, CO, NE and TX ~
The month of September will provide professional development opportunities for counselors in the following states:
September 14-25, 2007
Event: New Mexico Counseling Association Annual Conference and New Mexico Art Therapy Association, 9th Joint Conference
Location: Albuquerque Marriott, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Information: nmcalinda@yahoo.com
September 14-15, 2007
Event: Colorado Counseling Association Fall Conference
Location: Longmont, Colorado
Information: lavernejordan@denverseminary.edu
September 23-25, 2007
Event: Nebraska Counseling Association Annual Conference
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Information: kschink@inebraska.com
September 30 - October 1, 2007
Event: Texas Counseling Association Directors of Guidance Conference
Location: Austin, Texas
Information: Jennifer@txca.org
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/
Special Note: Sylvia Shortt, American College Counseling Association Conference Coordinator, tells ACAeNews that information and registration instructions about ACCA's February 6-9, 2008 conference in Savannah, Georgia can now be accessed at www.collegecounseling.org.
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. 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.
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.