ACAeNews is a biweekly electronic newsletter of the American Counseling Association.
In this edition readers will find:
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~ Counselor Salaries for 2006 Reported by US Department of Labor ~
In a survey report issued last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the US Department of Labor presented annual earning data for civilian workers in the United States, including counselors and other helping professions.
Position -- Mean annual earnings
All counselors -- $43,507
Educational, vocational and school counselors -- $48,820
Marriage and family therapists -- $47,664
Mental health counselors -- $43,701
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors -- $36,462
Rehabilitation counselors -- $32,164
By comparison, the mean annual earnings of social workers are reported to be $40,296. To review the full National Compensation Survey, go to: http://www.bls.gov/ncs/home.htm and click on the "New" National Summary under Publications.
~ Louisiana Governor Signs LPC Bill into Law ~
On June 27th Louisiana Governor Blanco signed legislation clarifying that mental health counseling services include psychotherapy. The Governor's swift signature followed unanimous passage of the legislation by both the Louisiana Senate and House, an indication of their view of the importance of mental health services.
This legislation was necessitated because Trispan, a fiscal intermediary of Medicare, had erroneously interpreted the Louisiana LPC law and stated the law did not authorize LPCs to provide psychotherapy. They therefore declared that services of LPCs in mental health outpatient programs could not be reimbursed. This cost the loss of jobs for Louisiana LPC's. Trispan was also ordering repayment for previous reimbursements, which would have caused closure of many of these programs and a devastating loss of mental health services for the citizens of Louisiana.
The Louisiana Counseling Association worked with a tremendous coalition of health care providers to accomplish passage of this law.
~ Relevant Research - Changing Views on Marriage and Parenting ~
Are American attitudes about marriage and parenting changing? Do younger adults view parenting and wedlock differently than their parents? How important are children in the current definition of a "good" marriage? The answers to these and other questions can be found in the results of a Pew Research Center survey released earlier this month.
To examine the complete survey findings, go to: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/526/marriage-parenthood.
~ Federal School Counseling Program Grant Recipients Named ~
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has announced the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP) grant recipients for the 2007-2008 school year. A full list of recipients by state can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/elseccounseling/fy2007awards.html. For the 2007-2008 school year, ED is awarding $11.4 million in new ESSCP grant funding to 35 school districts in 21 states to improve elementary school counseling programs. Due to the program's statutory funding trigger, secondary schools (i.e., middle through high school) cannot benefit from the program unless total funding exceeds $40 million, with that base amount reserved for elementary schools. In addition, ED continues to fund the 62 school districts that were awarded grants in 2005 and 2006.
The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program is the only federal program that helps school districts hire more school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and appropriately trained psychologists or psychiatrists. Although the program is small, it plays a critical and fundamental role in expanding students' access to necessary counseling services. For more information, contact Chris Campbell in ACA's Public Policy and Legislation office at 800-347-6647, ext. 241, or e-mail ccampbell@counseling.org. For questions concerning the ESSCP, contact Loretta McDaniel at the U.S. Department of Education at (202) 260-2661. Also, visit ED's ESSCP web site at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/elseccounseling/index.html.
~ New Edition of ACA Best-Seller on Legal and Ethical Issues Published ~
The Counselor and the Law: A Guide to Legal and Ethical Practice,
Fifth Edition
Anne Marie "Nancy" Wheeler and Burt Bertram
The fifth edition of this classic ACA publication has been completely updated and significantly expanded. Authors Nancy Wheeler, an attorney in private practice who has advised counselors on legal and ethical issues for more than 20 years and who manages the ACA Insurance Trust's Risk Management Helpline, and Burt Bertram, a counselor, consultant, and counselor educator, combine their extensive experience to provide a broad overview of the law and the potential areas of liability that counselors may encounter in their day-to-day practice.
This edition is revised in accordance with the 2005 ACA Code of Ethics and contains information on current federal and state law to guide counselors in making crucial legal and ethical decisions. Not only do the authors answer questions on how the law affects counseling practice, they also provide concrete answers for counselors trying to act in clients' best interests.
Topics addressed include: civil malpractice liability, licensure board complaints, confidentiality, HIPAA, duty to warn, suicide and threats of harm to self, professional boundaries, records and documentation, and managing your counseling practice.
2008 | 227 pages | ISBN 10: 1-55620-276-8 | ISBN 13: 978-1-55620-276-6
Order #72857 | List Price: $40.95
ACA Member Price: $29.95
~ Reliable Resource - Study Analyzes Graduation Rates of Financial Aid Recipients ~
This study from the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education analyzes the graduation rates of fourteen public four-year institutions which serve large numbers of Pell Grant recipients. The study examines ten institutions with higher-than-expected graduation rates and four with lower-than-expected rates to determine the institutional characteristics, practices, and policies that may contribute to these differences. Specific strategies, such as an emphasis on using data, strong first-year programs, maintaining small introductory courses, and high levels of student engagement, are associated with higher retention rates. Go to: http://www.pellinstitute.org/
~ ACA Foundation announces the winners of the 2007 Graduate Student Essay contest ~
More than 120 graduate students across the country submitted essays on topics designed to explore timely issues facing them as future counseling professionals. Choosing just five from so many quality essays was difficult but after weeks of deliberation, here are the winners of the 2007 Graduate Student Essay contest.
First place winner:
Victoria Casper
Runners up:
Pennie E. Bucilla
Pamela N. Stiles
Amy Freadling
Wendy Eckenrod-Green
The first place winner will receive a check for $500.00. All 5 winners also receive a one year complimentary Student/New Professional membership to ACA.
Congratulations to all our 2007 Graduate Student Essay contest winners.
You can read each of the winning essays in the July 2007 issue of Counseling Today or visit www.counseling.org/foundation
~ FYI - Male Veterans Have Double the Suicide Rate of Civilians ~
According to a new study, male veterans in the general U.S. population are twice as likely as their civilian peers to die by suicide. Results of the research by Mark S. Kaplan and colleagues from Portland State University and Oregon Health & Science University will be published in the July issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. For a news release from the National Institute of Mental Health on the subject, go to:http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/vetsuicide.cfm
~ Grants - Youth Service and Special Needs Support Available ~
"Minnie" Grants for Youth Service from Disney and Youth Service America
Disney and Youth Service America are supporting youth-led service projects that are planned and implemented in communities. Service will take place in the fall of 2007 and projects can address the environment, disaster relief, public health and awareness, community education, hunger, literacy, or any issue that youth identify as a community need. Eligible applicants for the $500 awards include educators, older youth (15-25), youth-leaders, and youth-serving organizations that engage younger youth (5-14) in their efforts. The application deadline is August 30, 2007 and forms can be found at : www.YSA.org/awards
US Airways Grants Address Special Needs Students
The US Airways Education Foundation is accepting applications for its 2007 Community Education Grant Program. Grants will be awarded to educational programs that respond to the special needs of disadvantaged or disabled individuals; teach or enhance social responsibility; facilitate parental and/or community involvement; and enhance academic achievement. Eligible non-profit organizations located in the markets served by the airline can apply for the $5,000 awards. The application deadline is August 1, 2007. For information, go to: http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/aboutus/corporategiving/education.aspx
~ Fast Fact - Half of Disabled Students Earn Standard Diploma ~
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs, only 51 percent of students with disabilities exited school with a standard diploma in the 2001-2002 academic school year. Recommendations for tracking dropout data for all students can be found at the National High School Center web site. Go to: http://www.betterhighschools.org/pubs/
~ Events - AMHCA National Conference Later this Month ~
July 26-28, 2007
American Mental Health Counselors Association
Theme: Growth Out of Adversity
July 26-28, 2007
Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans
Information: http://www.amhca.org/pdf/AMHCAFebPNad-flyer.pdf
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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: 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.