ACAeNews is a biweekly electronic newsletter of the American Counseling Association.
In this edition readers will find:
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~ ACA Annual Conference & Exposition - ANOTHER HOTEL JUST ADDED!! ~
Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki and Golf Club
100 Holomoana Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Call toll free for reservations 800-321-6248 or you can Email your reservations to: reservations@princehawaii.com
Hawaii Prince is perfectly situated for any activity you desire. It's also the only Waikiki hotel that owns and operates a golf course. The hotel presents spectacular all-oceanfront accommodations and world-class service at one of the most desirable and convenient locations in Waikiki. Twenty-eight floors of oceanfront guest rooms sit atop a five-story base containing restaurants, open-air lounge, shops and guest services with ample parking.
Oceanfront room - $169 single/double
Oceanfront Prime - $189 single/double
One Bedroom Ala Moana Suite - $269 single/double
Two Bedroom Prince Suite - $369 single/double
The hotel is 3 blocks to the Hawaii Convention Center
~ ACA, Others Pushing for Mental Health and Addictive Disorder Parity This Year ~
Only a few legislative days are left in the current session of Congress, and ACA and other mental health advocacy organizations are working to push mental health and addictive disorder parity legislation over the goal line. A very strong parity bill -H.R. 1424, the "Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act" - has been approved by the House committees to which it was referred. A somewhat weaker Senate bill, S. 558, was passed by that chamber in September.
Though the bills are similar, a handful of key differences are proving difficult to resolve. Arguably the most important difference is that the House bill requires plans to cover treatments for the full range of disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), the same coverage enjoyed by members of Congress and other federal employees. The Senate bill would allow health plans to exclude coverage for certain disorders. Both the House and Senate bills allow health plans to continue using standard managed care practices in administering services.
Counselors are encouraged to contact both their Representative and their Senators to ask them to pass a strong mental health and addictive disorder parity bill before the year ends. Health plans should no longer be allowed to discriminate by diagnosis in covering mental health care. For more information, contact Scott Barstow with ACA at sbarstow@counseling.org or by phone at 800/347-6647, Ext. 234.
~ Joint Committee on Testing Practices (JCTP) to Cease Operation ~
Janet Wall, ACA representative to the Joint Committee on Testing Practices (JCTP), reports to ACAeNews that a recent action taken by that group will result in dissolution of the committee effective December 31, 2007. Established in 1985 and comprised of seven national organizations, the JCTP provided a means by which professional organizations and test publishers could work together to improve the use of tests in assessment and appraisal. In addition to ACA, the JCTP members included the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), American Educational Research Association (AERA), National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), American Speech- Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the National Association of Test Directors (NATD).
The work of the JCTP was built around working groups that were responsible for the creation of such products and tools as theCode of Fair Testing Practices in Education, Test User Qualification: A Data-Based Approach to Promoting Good Test Use and the ABCs of School Testing. Additional details about the JCTP dissolution and how ACA and others may fill the void it leaves will be addressed in a forthcoming edition ofCounseling Today.
~ Relevant Research - International Students at US Colleges On the Rise Again ~
Annual research released by the Institute of International Education (IIE) indicates that India, China, South Korea and Japan send the most students to the United States to study at the collegiate level. The "Open Doors 2007" report also indicates that the number of foreign students enrolling in US colleges and universities has rebounded from its depressed level when the country began to make attending school here so much more difficult. The upward trend represents the first significant increase in total international student enrollment since the 2001/02 academic year.
ACAeNews readers can access a fact sheet containing the 2007 findings at:
http://www.opendoors.iienetwork.org/file_depot/0-10000000/0-10000/3390/folder/58653/Fast+Facts+2007+Final.pdf
~ Fast Fact - Americans With STDs and STIs Passes 65 Million ~
More than 65 million people in the United States are living with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). And despite enormous progress achieved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment, we're losing ground. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of the US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that an additional 19 million people will become infected with one or more STDs/STIs this year, some of which are curable.
Among the front-runners are chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. The reasons cited for this increase include lack of access to health care, increased testing in sexually active women under 26 years old and the development of more sensitive tests. A host of STD/STI statistics are included on an information page prepared by the American Social Health Association and available for ACAeNews readers at: http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_statistics.cfm
~ Involving Parents - Career Awareness Campaign Launched by USDL and PTA ~
The US Department of Labor - Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) announced recently the implementation of "PTA Goes to Work," a program designed to engage parents and educators in promoting career awareness and exploration and providing resources to assist all parties. The PTA web site is a gateway for parents and educators to explore the vast career opportunities available in the 21st century, a site that encourages students to navigate their own academic preparation. The web site offers links to resources on career opportunities in the contemporary workforce. Go to: http://www.pta.org/local_leadership_subprogram_1138815939640.html. To access the Career Toolkit, go to: http://www.careervoyages.gov/careeradvisors-main.cfm
~ Advocacy Matters - PBS and ACAF Promotes Work of Counseling Professionals ~
Raise awareness of counseling in your television viewing area! The ACA Foundation (ACAF) is achieving great success with the airing of "Retire Smart, Retire Happy" a 54 minute Public Broadcasting System (PBS) produced program, co-sponsored by the ACAF. The program, developed by ACA member Nancy K. Schlossberg, has already aired on PBS stations in 35 states.
ACA and the counseling profession are mentioned in the program and viewers are urged to visit http://www.counseling.org. Please contact your local PBS stations by phone or email and request that they run, or re-run, the "Retire Smart, Retire Happy" program. The upcoming, end-of-year pledge season is a high profile viewing time for PBS, and, of course, the holidays are always a time when counseling services are needed. Visit http://www.pbs.org to find the contact information for public television stations in your community. Then, contact the Director of Programming at the station to request they air the program. Help raise public awareness of the work of professional counselors!
~ New ACA Text Focuses on Clinical Skills in Suicide Assessment and Prevention ~
Developing Clinical Skills in Suicide Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment
by Jason M. McGlothlin
In this text, author McGlothlin explains how to conduct assessment interviews and use suicide assessment tools, identify levels of lethality using his SIMPLE STEPS model, create a comprehensive suicide prevention and treatment plan, and work with family members. Case examples, discussion questions, measurable individual and group activities, and skill-building resources throughout the book link theory to practice in a concrete way.
Ideal for beginning mental health clinicians; entry-level counseling courses in practica, crisis counseling, advanced skill-building, diagnosis and assessment, and basic skill-building; undergraduate and graduate students in community mental health, school counseling, rehabilitation counseling, marriage and family counseling, psychology, and social work; community agencies; residential facilities and hospitals; crisis hotlines' staff; and clergy.
2008 | 290 pages | ISBN 978-1-55620-272-8
Order #72861 | List Price: $47.95
ACA Member Price: $29.95
Order Online
~ Reliable Resource - Grant Funding by Topic and Location ~
According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, philanthropic interests in the United States are aligned closely with the issues addressed by professional counseling and the settings where many counselor work. A story on how the nation's 400 largest charities distributed $67.5 billion in 2006 listed the following top six causes: 1. Education - $17.6 (All numbers in billions), 2. Social services ($15.3), 3. International ($9.5), 4. Health ($7.2), 5. Donor advised gift funds ($3.7), and 6. Community foundations ($3.2).
Savvy grant researchers and writers can learn a great deal about who is giving money for counseling related projects by using the Foundation Center web site. At http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/statistics/states02_05.html, ACAeNews readers can access each state and the foundations or charities that have contributed the greatest amount of philanthropic support to various endeavors there. A visit to each specific foundation will reveal much about it's mission, grant eligibility criteria and guidelines for submitting proposals. Happy exploring!
~ Black History Month Just Around the Corner ~
Black History Month has been celebrated in the US since 1926. Counselors wishing to participate in this annual celebration of African American achievements and contributions to American history should get an early start in planning events and activities across the entire month of February, 2008. Two Internet sites that can help you with your planning include: http://www.history.com/minisites/blackhistory/ and http://afroamhistory.about.com/blblackhistorymonth.htm
~ Medicare Initiates NPI Changes in 2008 ~
Beginning January 1, 2008, Medicare will require National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) to identify the primary providers (the Billing and Pay-to Providers) in Medicare electronic and paper institutional claims. Beginning March 1, 2008, Medicare Fee-For-Service 837P and CMS-1500 claims must include an NPI in the primary fields on the claim (i.e., the billing, pay-to, and rendering fields).
To access more information regarding these impending changes, click on: http://www.counseling.org/Counselors/PrivatePracticePointers.aspx and view the Provider Relations Contact List. Note this is members-only access.
~ Combined Federal Campaign Lists ACA Foundation as Potential Pledge Recipient ~
If you are employed by the federal government, the ACA Foundation is on the list of organizations and charities that can receive your year-end gift or pledge. The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the world's largest and one of the most successful annual workplace charity campaigns, with more than 300 campaigns through the country and internationally that help raise millions of dollars each year.
Pledges made by Federal civilian, postal and military employees during the campaign season (September 1st to December 15th) support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits all over the world. Federal employees interested in making a pledge to the ACAF should contact their human resources department for pledge details or visit http://www.cfcnca.org to learn more about the CFC.
~ Events - ACCA, Idaho, South Carolina, North Dakota and California ~
This coming February, the American College Counseling Association, in conjunction with the Georgia College Counseling Association, will host the fourth national conference on college counseling. The conference will be February 6-9, 2008 in Savannah, Georgia. For additional details and registration information, go to: http://www.collegecounseling.org/conferences.html
The new year will also provide a number of professional development and renewal opportunities through the ACA state branches:
January 24-26, 2008
Event: "Back to Basics," Idaho Counseling Association Annual Conference
Location: Owyhee Plaza Hotel, Boise, ID
Information: http://www.idahocounseling.org/default.asp?page_id=362&parent_id=0
February 8-10, 2008
Event: South Carolina Counseling Association 43rd Annual Conference
Location: Marriott Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC
Information: http://www.thepalmettocounselor.org/home.htm
February 10-12, 2008
Event: North Dakota Counseling Association Annual Conference
Location: Best Western - Ramkota, Bismarck, ND
Information: http://www2.edutech.nodak.edu/ndca/conference/
February 15-18, 2008
Event: California Counseling Association
Location: Conference cruise from Long Beach, CA to Ensenada, Mexico
Information: http://www.cacounseling.org/CCA_2008_Cruise_Brochure.pdf
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. Calendar additions 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 or Counseling Student 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: http://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.