ACAeNews is a biweekly electronic newsletter of the American Counseling Association.
In this edition readers will find:
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~ Albert Ellis - The Passing of a Pioneer ~
David Kaplan, ACA Chief Professional Officer, offers ACAeNews readers the following words on the passing of Albert Ellis on July 24, 2007.
"Albert Ellis was a pioneer in helping us understand how thoughts influence feelings. His theory, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, was probably the most studied and widely utilized approach in all of counseling. His focus on identifying and disputing irrational beliefs was utilized across all settings and modalities. Dr. Ellis truly changed the nature of how counselors work with clients."
~ House to Vote On Children's Health and Medicare Bill, Including Counselor Coverage ~
Before adjourning for the August recess at the end of this week, the House of Representatives will vote on legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The SCHIP program—which provides health insurance coverage to more than six million children across the country—will expire on September 30th unless legislation to reauthorize the program is enacted.
Late last week, the House Ways & Means Committee approved legislation—the "Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act," also known as the CHAMP Act—to reauthorize SCHIP and make improvements in Medicare, including by establishing Medicare coverage of licensed professional counselors. This marks the first time that a House committee has approved legislation to establish Medicare reimbursement of counselors. The legislation adopted by the committee would also reduce Medicare's 50% co-payment requirement for outpatient mental health services down to 20%.
ACA commends the House Ways & Means Committee and Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stark (D-CA) for their leadership in including counselor coverage and other mental health improvement provisions in the legislation, setting the stage for an historic step forward for the counseling profession. Counselors are strongly encouraged to ask their Representative to vote for the CHAMP Act. Medicare beneficiaries need better access to mental health care, and the program should cover licensed professional counselors. It is unconscionable that Congress would not reauthorize and strengthen SCHIP when there are still roughly 8 million children who don't have health insurance at some point during the year.
For more information, contact Scott Barstow with ACA at 800/347-6647, Ext. 234, or by e-mail at sbarstow@counseling.org. You can quickly identify your Representative and generate an e-mail to him or her on this issue by going to ACA's internet action center at http://capwiz.com/counseling.
~ Meet the People Behind Private Practice Pointers ~
Robert (Bob) Walsh and Norman (Norm) Dasenbrook have over 50 years combined experience in mental health with over 40 years experience in private practice. If your professional goals include starting a counseling private practice or expanding a limited private practice you need the information these two veteran practitioners can provide. You can meet Bob and Norm by downloading a short video clip from the 2007 ACA Conference in Detroit and visit their redesigned Private Practice Pointers page at: http://www.counseling.org/Counselors/PrivatePracticePointers.aspx.
~ Just in Time for Back-to-School: Three New ACA Releases on Children and Adolescents ~
Carolyn Baker, ACA Director of Publications, tells ACAeNews readers about three new and revised books that are coming off press to coincide with the beginning of the new school term. These and many other professional books can be ordered at: http://www.counseling.org/Publications/
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: $60.95
ACA Member Price: $44.95
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
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
~ Reliable Resource - Anti-Defamation League Web Site Promotes Diversity ~
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has created a free online resource supporting early childhood counselors, educators, parents, caregivers and family members. The ADL's Miller Early Childhood Initiative of the A World of Difference Institute provides responses to frequently asked questions about anti-bias issues faced in fostering a respect for diversity among young children. The ADL Miller Early Childhood program is unique, building on the research showing that children begin to perceive differences and attach negative or positive values to them before entering school. To access this web site, go to: http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Education_01/4907_01.htm
~ Anti-Bullying Legislation Introduced ~
Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) recently introduced legislation, the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2007, that seeks to increase school safety and improve student achievement by comprehensively addressing the issues of bullying and harassment. A similar bill was introduced in the last Congress by Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL).
H.R. 3132 would amend the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSA) to require schools and districts receiving funds to ensure that their codes of conduct specifically prohibit bullying and harassment, and that states include bullying and harassment data in their state-wide needs assessments reporting just as districts include such data in their plans to address school safety. This bill addresses recommendations contained in a policy statement recently released by the National Safe Schools Partnership, of which ACA is a member. The policy statement,Bridging the Gap in Federal Law: Promoting Safe Schools and Improved Student Achievement by Preventing Bullying and Harassment in Our Schools, reflects consensus based on research and long-standing experience among education, civil rights, health, youth services and law enforcement organizations.
H.R. 3132 would allow funds under SDFSA to be used to train school counselors (among others) in "strategies to prevent bullying and harassment and to effectively intervene when such incidents occur." The bill would not authorize any new funds to carry out bullying and harassment prevention programs, as it is meant to operate within the existing SDFSA state/local grant program. For more information, contact Chris Campbell in ACA's public policy office at 800/347-6647, Ext. 241, or by e-mail at ccampbell@counseling.org.
~ Register for Hawaii Conference by August 31 for Summer Rate; New Travel Service Announced! ~
August 31 is the deadline for taking advantage of the low summer rate, so register now at www.counseling.org/conference. Once you have registered, click on the Travel & Lodging link to make your hotel reservations and book your airline travel. You can now make your airline reservations and purchase your tickets through ACA's new travel service which offers special conference discounts of up to 15%. Visit ACA Travel Services online at www.acatvl.com or call 866-825-4797 (7 a.m. - 6 p.m., CT Monday-Friday). Questions? Call 800-347-6647, x222.
~ FYI - List of Admission Test-Optional Colleges Continues to Grow ~
Each passing week seems to mark the addition of another college or two (or three) who are making admission tests an optional aspect of their admission requirements. A list maintained by the National Center for Fair and Open Testing (Fairtest) identifies approximately 740 accredited, bachelor-degree granting schools that do not require substantial portions of their applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores before admissions decisions are made. To access the list, go to: http://www.fairtest.org/optinit.htm.
~ Fast Fact - Part-Time Undergraduates Lag in Persistence and Degree Attainment ~
A study from the National Center for Education Statistics and presented by Pathways to College profiles the approximately 40 percent of all undergraduate students that attend college part-time. The findings indicate that not only are part-time undergraduates more economically disadvantaged relative to full-time students, they are also older and less likely to persist in college to the attainment of a degree. To read the full study abstract, go to: http://www.pathwaystocollege.net/PCNLibrary/ViewBiblio.aspx?aid=2505
~ Grants and Gifts - Service-Learning, Parents Involvement and Smaller Communities ~
ACAeNews readers may wish to visit the following web sites and learn about grant and gift opportunities in projects that promote service-learn and parent involvement in schools, as well as make books available to smaller communities.
Service-Learning Initiatives
Youth Service America (YSA) and the State Farm Companies Foundation would like to identify lead agencies for Global Youth Service Day in April of 2008. Specifically, YSA wants to find projects that involve youth in community development and address needs through service-learning. Maximum award - $2,000. Application deadline: September 17, 2007. For additional information, go to:http://ysa.org/GYSD/LeadAgency/tabid/177/Default.aspx
Parents Engaged in Schools
Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant program funds school improvement projects initiated by parents in recognition of the importance of parent involvement in education. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: K-12 schools (including charter, parochial, private, etc.,) or parent groups (associated with a non-profit K-12 school). Application deadline: October 12, 2007. For additional information, go to: http://toolboxforeducation.com
Books for Smaller, Low-Income Communities
The Pathways Within Roads to Reading Initiative donates books to literacy programs in smaller, low-income communities. Maximum award: 200 books appropriate for child, youth and young adult readers. Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations that run school, after-school, summer, community, day-care, and library reading and literacy programs. Application deadline: October 15, 2007. To access application criteria, go to: http://pwirtr.org/biannual.html
~ SAMHSA Offers Preview of 2008 Grant Activities ~
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the US Department of Health and Humans Services is offering an early look at its 2008 grant opportunities in a new funding forecast, and help developing applications in an updated manual. Go to: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/070719grants4509.aspx
~ CACREP Releases Final Public Draft of 2009 Standards ~
The last public draft of the proposed 2009 Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) Standards is now available for review and comment by the counseling community and others. Copies of Draft #3 can be downloaded at www.cacrep.org. In addition, the web site includes a document entitled "A Guide to Reviewing Draft #3 of the 2009 CACREP Standards." The guide describes the revision process to date and outlines major changes being proposed in each section of the draft. Draft #3 will remain open for public comment until November 30, 2007. Feedback forms are located on the web page where the draft is posted. Information on how to submit the feedback forms either electronically or in hard copy is also provided.
~ Relevant Research - Indicator Briefs Look at Child Well-Being ~
The "Kids Count" Indicator Brief series, produced by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, summarizes research on each of the indicators used in the Kids Count annual Data Book to measure overall child well-being and present strategies to address the underlying causes of these outcomes. Included are briefs that will be of interest to counselors in varied settings. Go to: http://www.kidscount.org/sld/auxiliary07.jsp#briefs. The full Kids Count Data Book can be found at: http://www.kidscount.org/sld/databook.jsp
~ Events - Counseling Conferences in New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska and Texas ~
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
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.
~ 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.
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.