Oakland Counseling Association
2018-19 Vol. 4
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.
Career Development Could Be a Solution To Many of the States Presenting Workforce Issues
I am thrilled the state of Michigan and Oakland county are placing a greater educational focus on career development. As the pendulum swings back in this direction both the State and Oakland county have developed and will continue to develop guidelines, resources and opportunities for our students and communities K-12. Below I have included some state and district websites for you to familiarize yourself with. In junction with this career focus the Governor’s office is working on legislation that would support more universal career and postsecondary education/training access as well. I highly recommend you take a look at the legislation documents so you are aware of what is being presented at the state level. Although it seems like one more thing to do, I would recommend you contact your local state representatives and share your thoughts on supporting school counselors and lower caseload ratios. We can be a strong part of the solution for the lack of degree and training completion and the workforce deficit we are currently facing. School counselors have the tools and skills to broadly support students career development, post high school education decisions and their mental health we just need the time and proper resources to do a good job with all of this.
Michigan Career Development Model
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/MI_Career_Development_Model_-_Dec._18_2018_641266_7.pdf
Oakland Schools K-12 Career Readiness System Guide
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lrVcQPlxiLYWKPKQ9lzsN8d4fySeYdQdGE9eBJbQl0A/edit
Oakland Schools Career Focused Education Resources and Links
https://www.oakland.k12.mi.us/educators/student-services/career-focus
Governor Whitmer’s State of the Address
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/whitmer/SOTS19_Fact_Sheet_646128_7.pdf
Take a look at who's on the House Education Committee
http://house.michigan.gov/MHRPublic/CommitteeInfo.aspx?comkey=499
Find your elected official fast
3 Social Media Tips for Your College-Bound Teen
Source: https://www.comstocksmag.com/web-only/3-social-media-tips-your-college-bound-teen
Start networking early by leveraging online tools
Did you know that teens spend an average of nine hours a day using media outlets?
As an educational consultant and college admissions coach, it’s fascinating to watch this trend play out. In an hour-long consulting session, my students check their phones multiple times, reconnecting with the world to make sure nothing unbelievable or incredibly ordinary has taken place. They can’t miss anything. It’s their oxygen.
But as a mentor, a parent or anyone who cares deeply about our youth’s future, we can help teenagers use their social media platforms to better prepare for college. Try these three strategies:
Follow Colleges and Universities on Instagram
Through visually appealing Instagram posts, teens can get a flavor of campus culture. But here’s where Instagram thrives: When you go to the search bar in the Instagram app, you’ll notice a feature called “Places.” This feature allows you to search virtually any location in real time. Immediately, your feed is populated with the most liked and most recent pictures taken at the location you’ve chosen. These photos are often taken by the college students themselves.
Imagine a high sophomore whose dream school is UCLA. With the Instagram “places” feature, she has visual access to real-time activities taking place at Pauley Pavilion through the eyes of Bruin undergraduates. She can grow comfortable with her dream school even before she ever takes a step on campus.
LinkedIn for Teens
You may be surprised to learn LinkedIn is for teens, too. Recently, I met with a high school student applying for a summer visual arts program on University of Southern California’s campus. We hopped on the program’s website and found the names of several professors in the program. We then looked them up on LinkedIn.
I encouraged the student to create his own profile, then follow select professors, read and study the content they share on LinkedIn, and leave an insightful comment below each article over the next several months.
After they’ve shown consistent support and interest, it’s time for teens to follow up. I encourage students to reach out to professors via email, and let them know they’ve been actively following their published content. Lastly, I recommend they request a telephone call or brief email exchange allowing them to ask three to five prepared questions about their field of interest. They may get a few no’s, but they’ll eventually get a yes. Any high school student can use this strategy. It’s online networking 101 and it works.
Student Athletes Get Noticed on Twitter
Year after year, many capable high school student athletes miss out on the opportunity to play collegiate sports due to a lack of visibility. It’s difficult when college coaches don’t know students, no matter how talented they are.
However, college coaches are fully immersed in the world of Twitter, and student athletes who take advantage of this social media outlet can put themselves in a stronger position to play at the next level. Always remember: Visibility creates opportunity. I recommend high school student athletes do the following:
- Create a highlight video of his or her talent via YouTube or hudl.com, and share on it on Twitter.
- Follow 5-10 local writers who cover high school sports. College coaches pay attention to these Twitter accounts. Stay on their radar and “tweet @ them” to share his or her team’s performance and personal highlights.
- Tag college coaches directly when tweeting their highlights. Research which college coaches on the staff recruit for your region.
There’s no exact formula for college recruiting success. But to give teens the best chance of becoming a college athlete, it’s imperative for student athletes to make themselves visible — and social media has leveled the playing field no matter where they live.
If our teens are going to be online several hours a day, let’s teach them how to use social media as a powerful tool to network, planting the seeds for a bright and successful future.
Listen to the Inform & Inspire Podcast latest episode!
5 Easy Ways to Help Reduce Stress
Source: Ditchthelabel.org
1. Watch something funny. Laughter really is the best medicine. It relieves physical tension, reduces stress and increases immunity… so watch your favorite comedy and laugh your way to relaxation.
2. Body Clench. This relaxation exercise may make you look a bit constipated but give it a go! Starting with your toes, go up through your body, gradually clenching each of your muscles right through to the tiny ones in your face, keep your whole body clenched, hold and then release to let go of all the tension. Feels good, right?
3. Try the Naam Yoga Hand Trick. Using your fingertips, apply pressure to the space between the knuckles of your index and middle fingers. This creates a sense of immediate relaxation by activating a nerve that loosens the area around your heart (don’t worry, it’s not as life-threatening as it sounds).
4. Stop multitasking. No wonder we’re all mega-stressed when we’re replying to text messages, whilst watching TV and speaking on the phone simultaneously! Not only is multitasking totally inefficient, but it’s also linked to the increased production of stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) that can send your body into panic mode! So chill out and take things one step at a time.
5. Get a Coloring Book. They’ve exploded in popularity over recent months and for good reason – coloring in helps you chill out because it’s very difficult to focus on other things when you’re doing it.
Upcoming Professional Development
Provider: MACAC
What: MACAC Annual Conference
When: May 2-3, 2019
Where: Firekeepers Casino & Conference Center, Battle Creek
Category: Varies
Registration: https://www.macac.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=262200&module_id=313430
Provider: MASSP
What: EDP's, Internships, and Career Awareness Conference
When: May 10, 2019
Where: Radisson Hotel, Lansing
Category: - Career - 5 SCECHs available
Registration: https://massp.com/EDPconference2
Provider: Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association
What: Human Trafficking Workshop
When: May 10, 2019
Where: Bellbrook (Senior Living), Rochester Hills
Category: - Human Trafficking - LPC Renewal Requirement
Registration: http://mmhca.org/register-for-events/
Provider: U. S. Army, Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion
What: Army Careers and Education Symposium (ACES)-School Counselor Military Options
When: May 17, 2019
Where: Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Lansing
Category: Military - 5 SCECHs available
Registration: https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=447669&k=0665450F7D5E
Provider: Joyce Ivy Foundation
What: College Admissions Symposium (JCAS)
When: May 17-18, 2019
Where: Detroit/Ann Arbor
Category: - College - 4 SCECHs available
Registration: https://www.joyceivyfoundation.org/spring-college-admissions-symposium.html
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS:
MCAN 2019-20 Postsecondary Planning Training Course
For the 2019-2020 course MCAN will be coming to you! In the registration process you will have the opportunity to select your regional preference for two in-person sessions. We are hoping this reduces the time and cost of travel, making the course more accessible.
http://www.micollegeaccess.org/events/school-counselor-training
MCAN Advanced Postsecondary Planning Courses
Options:
College and Career Advising for Special Student Populations, Beginning January 14, 2019
Advanced Skills in Postsecondary Education and Career Advising, Beginning March 25, 2019
Advanced College and Career Readiness through a Comprehensive School Counseling Program, Beginning May 13, 2019
Contact: Domonique Clemons domonique@micollegeaccess.org
Registration: https://goo.gl/forms/ZA0ITodFQonPXNYv2
Michigan Virtual University - Online PD Courses
Do you know of other professional development opportunities we should advertise? Please email: agohl@bloomfield.org
New Requirement to Renew LPC License
Please be aware that there is a new requirement for Licensed Professional Counselors to complete a training to identify victims of human traficking. This affects those who are renewing their LPC during or after the June 2019 renewal cycle. Counselors obtaining their initial license on or after June 1st 2019 will also be required to complete this training.
This is not a continuing education requirement and can be done at no cost. Training may be accomplished through any of the following methods:
- Nationally recognized or state recognized health related organization;
- Training offered by, or in conjunction with, a state or federal agency;
- Educational programs approved by the board for initial licensure, or by a college or university; or
- Reading an article related to the identification of victims of human trafficking that is published in a peer review journal, health care journal, or professional or scientific journal.
The requirement is referenced in number five of the FAQ document from the Bureau of Professional Licensing.
One sourse to complete this requirement online, at your leisure and at no cost is through SOAR at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/training/soar-to-health-and-wellness-training/soar-online. It takes approximately one hour to complete and you can print your certificate at the end.
Reminder of the School Counselor Professional Development and Renewal Requirements
The purpose of this memo (link below) is to remind districts, school counselors, and stakeholders of the upcoming changes to school counselor professional development and license renewals that will take place February 6, 2020 per state law.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/School_Counselor_653385_7.pdf
counseling resources
