Oakland Counseling Association

September 2023 Newsletter

The Oakland Counseling Association is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession.

Mission

The mission of the Oakland Counseling Association is to enhance the quality of life in

Oakland County by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the

counseling profession and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity.

September Highlights

2023 - 24 Membership Renewal
Interested in becoming a Board Member?
Upcoming Professional Learning
Resources from PD Events
Mini-Grants
FAFSA Updates and New Deadlines
Achievement Scholarship

Welcome Back, Counselors!

I am so excited to be serving you as the OCA President! On behalf of the OCA Board, I would like to announce our current board:

Vice President, Amanda Gohl - Birmingham Groves HS
Secretary, Selina Abraham - Southfield University HS
Communications, Sean Dougherty - Oakland Schools
Treasurer - Randy Maddock - OSTC Northeast
Additional Representatives - Oakland Schools: Ben Morin, College and SCECHS: Kelly Messing-Mirabito (Rochester HS), Special Populations: Nicole Bell (OSTC Southeast), Community: Elizabeth Germaine (Orchards Children's Services), Elementary: Albana Metaj (Warren Con)
Open Board Positions: High School Rep, Middle School Rep, Private School Rep, Member at Large

Know that you are valued by your peers in the counseling community and by the counselors serving on the Oakland Counseling Association board. Thank you for being you!

Happy reading!

Pam Wesley, Walled Lake Central

OCA Membership

RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP OR BECOME A MEMBER NOW!

Are you looking for relevant, but inexpensive, professional development options?

Look no further, because becoming a member of the Oakland Counseling Association is the perfect answer. You will be joining a group dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Oakland County by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing in the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity. For a small fee you can become a member, and be eligible to attend a variety of workshops at a discount.

**Please note that we no longer have department memberships. Only Individual Memberships.**

Step 1: Complete the Membership Google Form

Step 2: Pay for Membership through PayPal (credit card accepted) or by Mail

COST

Individual counselor - $25
Graduate school student - $10
Retired counselor - $10

BENEFITS OF OCA MEMBERSHIP

FREE or reduced price professional learning opportunities (min. four in-person events)
All online professional learning events are FREE for members (min. one half day and one full day event)
FREE SCECH processing for all events (approx. 20 SCECHs for 23 -24 school year)
Identify as a professional counselor (solidarity)
Opportunities to network and connect with other mental health professionals
Advocacy and support for counselors
Eligible for mini-grant opportunities
Monthly prize drawings

OTHER NOTES

Membership is valid from September 1 through August 31 each school year
Membership is open to all school and private practice counselors
Membership is welcome for counselors outside of Oakland County

So don’t delay and sign up for your Oakland Counseling Association membership today!

2023 -24 Membership Form

New to OCA?

If you are new to OCA - our membership consists primarily of school counselors in Oakland County and we have begun to expand our membership to other counties in Michigan as well as more community based organizations.

Our goal is to continue to expand our outreach, help connect counselors and provide professional development that is essential for continued growth. SCECHs are provided as well as certificates for LPC required professional learning.

You do not have to live or work in Oakland County to be a member. All Counselors are welcome!!

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING NEEDS ASSESSMENT

OCA Member Giveaways!

Each month the OCA conducts drawings for giveaways for current members as a small token of our appreciation for the important and challenging work you do as counselors. You must be a current OCA member in order to be eligible.

Upcoming Professional Learning Events

2023-2024 Oakland Counseling Association Board: Calendar of Events

OCA Board Members are finalizing the professional development calendar for 2023-2024.

Registration will open SOON for our November event:

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Career Pathways and Connection with Lawrence Tech

SCECH's: 2 College / 2 Career

8:00a-1p

$10 for Members

$20 for Non-Members

REGISTER HERE!!

Friday, December 8, 2023

Virtual College Event - HBCU's

SCECH's: 6 College

$10 for Non-Members

8a - 3p

Friday, December 9, 2022

SCECH's: 3 College

11:30a-3p

Wednesday, March 1, 2024

Virtual General Event : Mandated Reporting

SCECH's: 3 General

11:30m-3:30pm

8a - 3p

Friday, April 26, 2024

SCECH's: 5 General

Topic TBD and End of Year Awards

7:30a - 3:30p

When Available - Register on the OCA Website!

FAFSA Updates

FAFSA Application will open sometime in December (this is because there are many changes for 24-25 that should be a benefit to students) It will open in October after this year.

Michigan Achievement Scholarship will still be available

Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) will be replaced with Student Aid Index (SAI)

FSA ID creation should be done now (it will take 2-3 days for it to be approved)

They will provide a “backup code” when you create the FSA ID- save this in case you can not access in the future)

Financial Information will be directly transferred to FAFSA application from IRS making it a more efficient process

Anyone considered a “contributor” must create an FSA ID along with student

Application will be digital only

Refer to this FAQ for information

MI Achievement Scholarship 23-24 Information

Starting with graduates from class of 2023.

Up to $2,000 if they attend a career training program in Michigan, per year, up to two years
Up to $2,750 if they attend a Michigan community college, per year, up to three years
Up to $4,000 if they attend a Michigan private college or university, per year, up to five years
Up to $5,500 if they attend a Michigan public university or are enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at a Michigan community college, per year, for up to five years

Filing the FAFSA is all you need to be eligible-not a “merit-based” scholarship.

For Michigan residents going to a school in-state only.

It is not guaranteed but estimated that 80% of Michigan students would be eligible and 65% would get a tuition-free pathway.

Information: mistudentaid or getmimoney.org

Interested in Becoming a Board Member?

We are accepting applications to become an OCA Board Member. If you're interested, please visit this document for more information:

2023 - 24 Open Positions Overview

High School Counselor Representative
Middle School Counselor Representative
Private School Counselor Representative
Member-at-Large

Resources from Completed OCA Events

Mini-Grants

2023-2024 Mini-Grant Program Application Open!

The OCA mini-grant program is back for 2023-2024 and the application is now open! The priority application process ended in May, 2023, however there are still a few $250 grants that are available.

Check out the 2023-2024 OCA Mini-Grant Application for more detailed information.

2022-2023 Mini-Grant Highlights

Here you will find highlights from a few of our 2022-2023 mini-grant recipients. Apply for a Grant for this year and be able to do great things for your students and school

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Counselor Cafe - Farmington Public Schools

Mini-grant recipient: Jennifer Champagne, Farmington High School

Counselor Café is going very well at Farmington High School.

We surveyed students:

98.4% of students reported they got what they needed from Counselor Café

76.8% of students reported that they attended Counselor Café this school year

The survey also let us know that the Café resources most utilized by students (students

could select all of the resources they used):

Snack or drink – 75%

Fidget toy, inspirational stone, or calming strip – 52.4%

Connecting with others – 41.6%

Question for a counselor – 38%

Resources – anxiety, stress, calming techniques, loneliness, healthy relationships, sleep,

anger management, suicide prevention, etc.– 28.9%

Sign up for counseling appointment – 4.3%

Little Spots - Birmingham Public Schools

Mini-grant recipient: Jennie Bosley, Beverly and Greenfield Elementary

With the addition of the big plushie Little Spots, kids who were introduced to the

Spots last year were so excited that they had a tangible item to hold and help

with expressing emotions when I saw them individually. My youngest learners,

4-5 year old Kindergarteners, were able to connect immediately with the bright

colors and faces on the Little Spots and they were very helpful in tying together

the idea that feelings are attached to emotions, which lead to behaviors.

I measured the impact of teaching with the Little Spots through a survey given

to kids in K, 1 and 2 about their favorite lessons throughout the year during our

last monthly lesson last week. Overwhelmingly students indicated that they With the addition of the big plushie Little Spots, kids who were introduced to the

Spots last year were so excited that they had a tangible item to hold and help

with expressing emotions when I saw them individually. My youngest learners,

4-5 year old Kindergarteners, were able to connect immediately with the bright

colors and faces on the Little Spots and they were very helpful in tying together

the idea that feelings are attached to emotions, which lead to behaviors.