ACA has compiled resources to assist the public and professional counselors dealing with natural disasters.

The long-awaited Institute of Medicine (IOM) TRICARE study was released on Friday, February 12th. ACA is pleased that the study unequivocally recommends independent practice authority for professional counselors.

On January 22, ACA represented the counseling profession at a special National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) small group discussion. Called for by the NIMH Director, Dr. Thomas Insel, the focus of the meeting was on innovative ways for NIMH to disseminate information on mental illness.

ACA expresses our concern for those affected by the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. We are monitoring the need for ACA members who are certified Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Volunteers and will put out a call for deployment if requested to do so by the Red Cross.

Below are grant announcements released today by the U.S. Department of Education, for grants under both the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP) and Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems.

President Lynn Linde, the Governing Council, staff, and volunteers of the American Counseling Association (ACA) would like to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your membership, support, and the trust you have bestowed upon us, your professional partner, through the challenging year of 2009.

The American Counseling Association was invited as representatives of the counseling profession to meet and welcome Pamela Hyde, the new Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), on the evening of December 10 in Washington D.C.

The Senate’s health care reform bill, unveiled November 18th by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, fails to establish Medicare coverage of licensed professional counselors.  This despite the fact that the Senate has twice approved Medicare coverage of counselors, and that Medicare beneficiaries need better access to outpatient mental health service providers.

The House of Representatives took an historic step forward on Saturday, November 7th with the passage of major health insurance reform legislation, H.R.3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. 

With two Grand Prize Awards for $2,500 Scholarship Grants, plus eight $500 runner-up scholarship grants, current graduate students don't want to miss the coming deadline for either the ACA Foundation Graduate Student Essay competition, or the Ross Trust Graduate Student Essay Competition for Future School Counselors. Entry forms and essays are due by midnight, Dec. 14th.