Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Help Students Deal With the Aftermath of Natural Disasters


From the American School Counselor Association:

Our hearts go out to all those affected by Hurricane Sandy. As students begin to make their way back to school and routines, school counselors will be called on to help many of them deal with the aftermath of the storm. ASCA has gathered a number of resources to help you work with students during this time.
Perhaps most important to keep in mind, are these tips for helping children in terms of crisis and stress: 

  • Try and keep routines as normal as possible. Kids gain security from the predictability of routine, including attending school.
  • Limit exposure to television and the news.
  • Be honest with kids and share with them as much information as they are developmentally able to handle.
  • Listen to kids' fears and concerns.
  • Reassure kids that the world is a good place to be, but sometimes bad things happen.
  • Parents and adults need to first deal with and assess their own responses to crisis and stress.
  • Rebuild and reaffirm attachments and relationships. 


Click here for resources.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Don't Let Cancer Stop You From Earning a College Education


Don't Let Cancer Stop You From Earning a College Education

October 18, 2012 RSS Feed Print
Scholarships are available for women who are breast cancer survivors or are currently fighting cancer.
Scholarships are available for women who are breast cancer survivors or are currently fighting cancer.
Every October, nonprofit organizations, medical associations, and government agencies band together to raise awareness and share information about breast cancer, which affects nearly 300,000 women each year. Most of us likely know at least one person who has been diagnosed with breast cancer or another form of cancer—and some of us can even assume the title of cancer survivor ourselves.

Easter Seals Positions


2013 Study Abroad Program "Counseling and Education in Honduras: A Cultural Immersion Experience


The Counselor Education program at North Carolina State University is pleased to invite you to participate in our 2013 Study Abroad Program "Counseling and Education in Honduras: A Cultural Immersion Experience." All students and alumni are welcome to participate and earn 3 credits or 45 CEUs. Application is now open for this wonderful 13 days experience!  
For more information visit our website http://ced.ncsu.edu/international-opportunities
 and contact me with any questions or comments at sdsantos@ncsu.edu 
 
For those in the area, our first information session will be held on November 8th from 7:00 - 8:00pm when you will have the opportunity to talk to some of the 2012 participants and two special guests from Honduras!  

Executive Director Position


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Making a Difference: Effective Peer-to-Peer Support Programs

The 2013 National Peer Helpers Conference, “Making a Difference: Effective Peer-to-Peer Support Programs,” will be held February 27 – March 1 at the Marriott Grand Hotel Resort, Golf Club and Spa on Mobile Bay in Point Clear, Alabama. The conference, sponsored by the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation and National Association of Peer Program Professionals (NAPPP), provides a national forum for the adult leaders of youth peer-to-peer support programs – peer helpers, peer listeners, and others – including information, training, best practices, resources and networking. NAPPP certified training will be provided.

Presentation proposals for breakout sessions will be accepted until November 16, 2012. Conference registration will open on December 3, 2012. To submit a presentation proposal, please copy and paste the link below.



Lois Charley, Executive Secretary
National Association of Peer Program Professionals (NAPPP)
PO Box 113
St. Charles, MO 63302
toll free phone/fax: 888-691-1088
www.peerprogramprofessionals.org
facebook.com/PeerProgramProfessionals


Support NAPPP by shopping at more than 800 brand name stores. A portion of each online purchase will be donated to NAPPP

http://www.iGive.com/welcome/warmwelcome.cfm?c=52282&m=632062
AND
http://www.iSearchiGive.com/nappp


Saturday, October 27, 2012

School-wide interventions improve student behavior

[ Back to EurekAlert! ]Public release date: 15-Oct-2012

Contact: Tim Parsons
tmparson@jhsph.edu
410-955-6878
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health 

School-wide interventions improve student behavior

An analysis of a school behavior strategy—known as School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS)—found that these types of programs significantly reduced children's aggressive behaviors and office discipline referrals, as well as improved problems with concentration and emotional regulation. The study, conducted by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is the first randomized control trial to examine the impact of SWPBIS programs over multiple school years. The results were published October 15 in the journalPediatrics as an eFirst publication.
SWPBIS is a prevention strategy that aims to alter student behavior by setting universal, positively stated expectations for student behavior that are implemented across the entire school. Policies and decisions related to student behaviors are based on data analysis. SWPBIS programs are used in more than 16,000 schools in the U.S.
"These findings are very exciting, given the wide use of SWPBIS across the country. These results are among the first to document significant impacts of the program on children's problem behaviors, as well as positive behaviors, across multiple years as a result of SWPBIS," said Catherine P. Bradshaw, PhD, MEd, lead author of the study and associate professor in the Bloomberg School's Department of Mental Health.
The randomized trial included a representative sample of 12,344 elementary school children from 37 schools. Approximately half of the students received free or reduced-priced meals, and nearly 13 percent received special education services. The researchers analyzed teachers' ratings of students' behavior and concentration problems, social-emotional functioning, pro-social behavior, office discipline referrals, and suspension over 4 school years.
Overall, the study found significant improvement in children's behavior problems, concentration problems, social-emotional functioning, and pro-social behavior in schools using SWPBIS. Children in SWPBIS schools also were 33 percent less likely to receive an office discipline referral than those in the comparison schools. The effects tended to be strongest among children who were first exposed to SWPBIS in kindergarten.
"A unique feature of the model is the overall structure that is formed in schools to support sustainable services for students across a range of behavioral needs. Using this framework, school staff can identify students at greatest need of services and efficiently target programs and resources to them," said Bradshaw.
###
The author of "Effects of School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports on Child Behavior Problems" include Catherine Bradshaw, PhD, MEd; Tracy E. Waasdorp, PhD, MEd; and Philip J. Leaf, PhD.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ]

Marriage, education can help improve well-being of adults abused as children

[ Back to EurekAlert! ]Public release date: 16-Oct-2012

Contact: Molly McElroy
mollywmc@uw.edu
206-543-2580
University of Washington 

Marriage, education can help improve well-being of adults abused as children

Researchers investigating the long-term consequences of child abuse have identified some protective factors that can improve the health of victims during their adulthood.
Men and women in their 30s who had been abused or neglected as children reported worse mental and physical health than their non-abused peers. But being married or having graduated from high school buffered the severity of their symptoms.
The researchers also found that adults who experienced child abuse reported less happiness and self-esteem, more anger and other psychological damage, indicating child abuse has wider-ranging effects than previously known.
"As we understand more of how individuals overcome early trauma, we can develop programs to support and nurture kids exposed to abuse," said Todd Herrenkohl, professor in the University of Washington's School of Social Work.
Herrenkohl is the lead author of two new studies examining what factors can mitigate the harm of maltreatment during childhood. He used data from the Lehigh Longitudinal Study, which began in the 1970s to evaluate the consequences of experiencing violence at a young age.
Participants became involved in the study if their parents were reported to child welfare agencies for abuse or neglect. Parents were also asked about a range of disciplinary practices that are considered abusive, such as slapping and leaving a bruise, kicking, hitting or biting. Neglect involved depriving children of necessities, such as food, medical attention and hygiene.
The study's participants, an even mix of men and women, are now in their late 30s. Herrenkohl and his collaborators got back in touch with them, and interviewed more than 80 percent of the original participants, about half of whom were earlier abused. The researchers wanted to know how the participants were faring in their adult lives and asked about mental and physical health, use of drugs and alcohol, quality of relationships with family and friends, education, employment and overall well-being and satisfaction in life.
In a study published online Sept. 28 in the Journal of Family Violence, Herrenkohl and his co-authors reported that childhood abuse led to worse mental and physical health and substance abuse in adulthood. For instance, 24 percent of child abuse survivors reported moderate to severe depression – a level that could be debilitating – compared with 7 percent of participants who had not been abused.
About 19 percent of the survivors reported problems with alcohol over their lifetimes, whereas only 10 percent of the non-abused participants reported these problems.
Being married or a high-school graduate partly lowered, but did not eliminate, the risk for depression among those who had been abused. Survivors who graduated high school had a lower risk for lifetime alcohol problems.
Surprisingly, gender and early childhood socioeconomic status had little bearing on the long-term effects of abuse. "The expectation is that growing up in a household with a higher income and higher social status will help kids, but child maltreatment erases those advantages," Herrenkohl said.
In a second study, published in the November issue of Violence and Victims and also based on interviews with the adults from the Lehigh Longitudinal Study, Herrenkohl and his co-authors explored anger proneness, self-esteem, sense of independence, satisfaction in life and other measures of well-being that studies of child abuse typically ignore. Child maltreatment was linked to lower scores on most of these well-being measures when compared with scores from individuals who hadn't been abused.
"The results show that the effects of child maltreatment extend beyond the most common mental health diagnoses," Herrenkohl said. "It shows that adults abused as children experience the emotional consequences of early trauma well into their adult years."
The paper published in the Journal of Family Violence was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse – all part of the National Institutes of Health. Co-authors are Seunghye Hong of the University of Hawaii, Bart Klika of UW, and Roy Herrenkohl (Todd Herrenkohl's father) and M. Jean Russo of Lehigh University.
The paper published in Violence and Victims was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Klika, Roy Herrenkohl, Russo and Tamara Dee, formerly of UW, were co-authors.
###
For more information, contact Todd Herrenkohl at 206-221-7873 or tih@uw.edu.
Links to papers: Journal of Family Violencehttp://www.springerlink.com/content/150662j81550520l/?MUD=MP


[ Back to EurekAlert! ]

Effective treatment helps Danes with personality disorders

Effective treatment helps Danes with personality disorders: A study conducted by Aarhus University, Business and Social Sciences and the Clinic for Personality Disorders at Aarhus University Hospital shows that modern psychoanalytic therapy has a good effect on patients with severe personality disorders. The treatment enables a number of patients to start working or start an education.

15 Things You Should Give Up to Be Happy


Friday, October 26, 2012

Position: Quality Management Supervisor


Mental Health Counselor: On-call/Relief


Mental Health Counselor: On-call/Relief


Who we are:

For over a century, Fred Finch Youth Center has brought hope and healing to vulnerable youth and their families. Our clients are children, teens, and young adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities or emotional disorders that may be transitioning from foster care or homelessness, recovering from abuse, or underserved by traditional service providers. We provide over 3,000 youth each year with residential care, special education, vocational training, transitional housing, homeless youth programs, school-based counseling, and in-home support on residential campuses in Oakland and San Diego and in homes, schools, and communities in over several counties throughout California. Join us in making a difference in the lives of others.

Position Summary:

The Mental Health Counselor (MHC) is responsible for actively supervising the residential milieu and safety of residents, as well as providing a consistent and nurturing environment to very challenging clients. The MHC is also responsible for modeling appropriate behaviors and interactions, monitoring policy, and crisis intervention when necessary. 

More: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/npo/3362918831.html

The Ph.D. in Counselor Education at SHSU


The CACREP-accredited Ph.D. Program in Counselor Education at Sam Houston State University is accepting applications for the next doctoral Cohort to begin classes in the Summer of 2013.  The application deadline is February 1, 2013.

The Ph.D. in Counselor Education at SHSU requires 69 credit hours and can be completed in a minimum of three years.  Almost all of our courses are offered at night—with a few during the daytime on Saturdays—to accommodate working professionals.  

If any of your students are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in a CACREP accredited Counselor Education program that is in close proximity to the greater Houston area, then please encourage them to look at our doctoral program website(http://www.shsu.edu/~grs_www/CounselorEducation_Ph.D.html
) or contact the director of the doctoral program, Dr. Richard Watts (rew003@shsu.edu).  Thank you.

Richard E. Watts, Ph.D., LPC-S, Distinguished Professor of Counseling
Director, Center for Research and Doctoral Studies in Counselor Education
Department of Educational Leadership & Counseling
Sam Houston State University
1932 Bobby K. Marks Drive
Huntsville, TX 77341-2119
Phone: 936/294-4658
Fax: 936/294-4277
Email: watts@shsu.edu
President, North American Society for Adlerian Psychology (NASAP)
Fellow of the American Counseling Association
Diplomate in Adlerian Psychology, NASAP

Thursday, October 25, 2012

NBCC Foundation Scholarships Available


September 5, 2012

Several $5,000.00 scholarships will be given in each category, and the application deadline is November 1. For details, see the announcement.

Monday, October 22, 2012

New and Noteworthy


New and Noteworthy  
Source: ASCA 

High School/College Partnerships: ASCA, The National Association of College Admissions Counselors, The American Association of School Administrators and the National Association of Secondary School Principals have published guidance on high schools establishing partnerships with institutions of higher education. Learn more.

Free Suicide Prevention Toolkit: The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has developed a free downloadable toolkit, "Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools." Download the kit.

Educate Students About Workplace Discrimination: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released a video and accompanying classroom guide to educate working-age students about employment discrimination. Learn more.

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards: Celebrate your school's student volunteers by encouraging them to apply for the 2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Middle and high school students who have volunteered in the past year are eligible for awards at the local, state and national level. Learn more

Defining Career Ready: A coalition of national education, business and policy groups, including ASCA, has developed a clear, unified and focused vision of what it means to be career-ready. Download the full report.

Be a Part of National Drug Facts Week: To help teens shatter the myths about drugs, the National Institute on Drug Abuse developed National Drug Facts Week, Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2013. Get involved and register for National Drug Facts Week to help raise awareness. Learn more.

Nominate a PE Teacher: NFL Network is accepting nominations for the NFL Network PE Teacher of the Year. As part of the Keep Gym in School Program, the network seeks to increase access to in-school physical activity. Nominations are open until Dec. 31, 2012. Learn more.

Help Students Learn About Financing College: The National College Finance Center is a free, first-stop, unbiased resource to help educate students and their parents about options for financing a college education. Learn more.

Win a $1 Million Technology Grant: Share how STEM education can help your community, and you could win a $1 million technology grant. Deadline is Oct. 31, 2012. Learn more

New ASCAway Podcast


Looking to beef up your knowledge of legal and ethical issues in school counseling? Listen to the latest ASCAway podcast, featuring Carolyn Stone, Ed.D., chair of ASCA's Ethics Committee. She discusses what to do when an administrator asks for confidential information, what to do if subpoenaed and how to practice as an ethical school counselor every day. Listen now.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Position: New Mexico Junior College Counselor


Position Description: The Counselor is responsible to the Dean of Enrollment Management. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Provide students with academic, personal, career, transfer and other appropriate counseling; (2) Be currently informed on transfer and curriculum requirements for students desiring a degree; (3) Work with students with visible, hidden, physical, emotional and learning disabilities to provide access to classes at NMJC; (4) Assemble records documenting disabilities and maintain records of services rendered, reevaluate and/or formulate educational plans for students with disabilities; (5) Recommend the administration of tests and assist in the interpretation of results to the counselees when applicable; (6) Make referral recommendations to students who indicate need for additional services provided by community agencies when deemed appropriate; (7) Accept other duties as assigned by the Dean of Enrollment Management; and (8) Participate in a process of continual personal and professional improvement; (9) Actively participate in the institutional goals and objectives designed to support the mission of the college; (10) Serve on college committees as assigned; (11) Nothing contained herein shall limit the president in assigning the employee to any of the various college activities for which he/she would be qualified in order to meet the needs of New Mexico Junior College.

Masters Level Mental Health Counselor (Pittsburgh, Pa.)


Educational & Mental Health Firm is seeking Masters Level Mental Health Counselor/Masters Level LCSW to provide therapeutic services for community transitional drug abuse treatment, and mental health services to federal inmates in the custody of the bureau of prisons residing in a residential re-entry center or placed on home detention/confinement.

Position: Mental Health Counselor (Quincy)


A prestigious health care company in the Greater Boston area is currently seeking a bright and compassionate Health Care Counselor. This is a full-time position. The Mental Health Counselor will work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental health. They may help individuals deal with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; suicide; stress management; problems with self-esteem; and issues associated with aging and mental and emotional health.
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/hea/3345368496.html

Competencies for addressing Spiritual and Religious Issues in Counseling


Competencies for addressing Spiritual and Religious Issues in Counseling
http://www.aservic.org/resources/teaching-modules/#


FSCA eNews Update -- October 20th, 2012

eNews Update -- October 20th, 2012


FSCA 2012 Member Survey

FSCA conducts a member survey from time to time in order to add to available data to help us make important decisions about how to best serve school counselors. Please take a few moments to complete the survey by clicking here


Governing Board Elections

At this time of year, the Florida School Counselor Association (FSCA) solicits candidates for its Governing Board. Please help us identify the next generation of Florida’s school counseling leadership by seeking an elected office or by encouraging those you believe to be talented leaders in your area to become candidates for one of the following FSCA offices:
  • President Elect (President-Elect, President, Past-President) 2013-2016
  • Elementary School Level Vice President, 2013-2015
  • Middle Level Vice President, 2013-2015
  • District Supervisor Level Vice President, 2013-2015
  • Region 2 Vice President (Crown) 2013-2015 (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Putnam St. Johns, Union)
  • Region 4 Vice President (West Central) 2013-2015 (Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Glades, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas Polk, Sarasota)
Elections will be held in early December and terms of office begin on July 1 and end on June 30. For more information and to download a nomination packet, visit http://www.fla-schoolcounselor.org/elections


FSCA 2012 CONVENTION
IS DAYS AWAY!

AT THE 
HILTON ST. PETERSBURG BAYFRONT HOTELNOVEMBER 1 - 3, 2012
 
Pre-Convention Workshops & Opening Reception: 
Thursday, November 1, 2012

Breakout Session & Awards Banquet: 
Friday, November 2, 2012

Breakout Sessions & Delegate Assembly: 
Saturday, November 3, 2012
 
FSCA's has it all ready to go ...
Only days left until the convention. Take a couple of minutes and register today.


RAMP Up your School Counseling Program

Drive your school counseling program to the next level. Show your administrators, school board and the community at large that you're committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program. Apply for the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation from the American School Counselor Association. If your program successfully answers the question, "How are students different because of what school counselors do?" then you're ready to show the world that your program is "ramped up." Apply for the RAMP designation today.
Visit the FSCA RAMP support page here.
Hope to see you in St. Pete!Sincerely,
Russell A. Sabella, Ph.D.
FSCA President
Florida School Counselor Association
P.O. Box 752
Safety Harbor, Fl 34695-0752
Phone or Fax: (888) 785-8611
Email: fsca@fla-schoolcounselor.org

Saturday, October 20, 2012

The FSCA Convention is DAYS away!


FGCU's 2nd Annual Children's Mental Health Conference



FGCU's 2nd Annual Children's Mental Health Conference
Saturday, November 17, 20128:00AM - 4:00PM
  
"Action-Focused, Solution-Based, & Goal-Oriented"

We know that mental illnesses are treatable and recovery is possible. However, the process can be very challenging. Our focus this year is on building stronger linkages, networks, and resources within our community. You'll hear from successful professionals about new research and what has worked for them - participate in breakout sessions - hear "real life" stories during a panel discussion - visit a wide variety of non profit and for profit vendor booths available all day to help expand options and opportunities. Let's continue our community conversation to find solutions, create alliances, and help meet the needs of our children.
  
Learn More About... 
  • Dr. Papolos's research and treatment
  • Working cooperatively with schools
  • Managing behavior at home
  • Holistic treatment options
  • Helpful communication tools
  • Classroom management techniques
  • "Ask the Doctor" session
    
Collaboration - Treatment - Knowledge - Awareness - Community Conversation

Children and youth have many of the same mental health issues as adults, but there is less funding, fewer services, and a lack of understanding to meet their needs. Without help and support, resulting problems can include things such as misbehavior, school failure, school dropout, substance abuse, suicide, and more. Research shows that between 10% - 20% of youth ages 8 to 15 will experience mental health issues. Join us for this year's 2nd Annual Children's Mental Health Conference to discuss how we can all become part of the solution for our community...
  
FEATURED SPEAKER:

Dr. Demitri Papolos is the Director of Research, Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation, and recipient of NIMH's Physician/Scientist Award. He has authored The Bipolar ChildOvercoming Depression, and Genetic Studies in Affective Disorders. In addition to his private practice, he speaks nationally to physicians, health leaders, and the media about depression and The Bipolar Child. For more information please visitwww.bipolarchild.com and www.jbrf.org.
Contact Hours Pending Approval:
 
Florida Boards of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling;
and Nursing (ARNPs, Clinical Nurse Specialists, RN, LPN, CNA), will be provided 6.0 contact hours through Florida Gulf Coast University, Continuing Education & Off-Campus Programs, Provider #50-10604.
Please note, partial credit will not be given for any professionals; you must stay for the entire program.
 
 
In This Issue
Learn More About
Mental Health
Keynote Speaker
Contact Hours
Your Help

With the help of the community, we can make a difference in the lives of children.
Quick Links




 ________________________________

Sponsors


coe   
____________________________ 

 iog   
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 community foundation   
Save the Date!

Date: Saturday, November 17, 2012

Time:8:00AM Registration; 8:30AM- 4:00PM Conference

Location: FGCU Campus, Cohen Hall, 2nd Floor Ballroom
10501 FGCU Blvd, South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

Cost: $49 ($25 for Students)
        $69 with Contact Hours ($20 for Disciplines Noted Above)
   (Financial Assistance Available) call 239-425-3279

Includes: Light Breakfast & Lunch




How to Register!


  • Login/Create New account 
  • Add to Cart

Click Here to Download and Fill Out the Financial Assistance Application.
Click Here to Email the Application.

Contact Information

For information call:
FGCU's Institute of Government
Joanne Hartke
239-425-3279
College of Education
Diane Kratt
239-590-7780


FGCU Office of Continuing Education | 8695 College Parkway, Ste 1181 | Fort Myers | FL | 33919