TCA/TSCA Work with Media and Legislators to Advocate for Professional School Counselors
In the weeks after the shooting at Sante Fe High School, TCA/TSCA worked closely with the media, including the following:
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Take time to review
our talking points, and contact your legislators and local school board officials now to share all the good things you are doing at your school and how best to utilize Professional School Counselors.
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#TCAPGC18 Register as an Early Bird and Save!
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Join us in Dallas where you will find innovative programs, exhibitors, and other professional counselors to help you grow!
The conference will be held at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, November 14-17, 2018.
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#TCAPGC18
Key Note Speakers
Alex Sheen:
because I said I would.
A lot of people don’t keep their promises these days. That might just seem like social commentary, but think about how many people promise to quit smoking, graduate, recycle or volunteer… but then don’t. The consequences of broken promises plague the world. Nothing about that is going to change, unless there is something to change it.
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Chad Littlefield and Will Wise:
Ask Powerful Questions: Create Conversations that Matter
Ready for some fresh tools to connect? Chad Littlefield and Will Wise will present a compelling and thoughtful perspective on how to creatively connect and engage both your clients and coworkers.The session will highlight fresh tools on how to create relationships of trust and ask more powerful questions You will walk away from this session with concrete, actionable tools to infuse into your own practice.
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Thank You for Your Calls and Emails: Sunset Update
On May 24, The Sunset Commission voted on the decisions that drive the legislation governing the structure of the mental health licensing boards.
Their actions aligned with the recommendations made by our coalition, TCA, NASW-TX, TAMFT, and TSCSW.
The next step will be drafting legislation to be considered by the Legislature when it convenes in January.
Please know that TCA will be your strong voice throughout this process. We will keep you informed and alerted to the need for next steps.
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From the TCA Wellness Committee: Take Action to Avoid Distracted Driving
June is National Safety Month, and a pervasive safety problem is distracted driving.
We all know that distracted driving is dangerous, yet it can be tough to disconnect from our devices while driving. The University of Utah studied drivers and ranked three tasks on how much mental distraction they caused and found that:
- Listening to the radio ranked as a category 1 level of distraction or a minimal risk.
- Talking on a cell-phone, both handheld and hands-free, resulted in a 2 or a moderate risk
- Listening and responding to in-vehicle, voice-activated text or email features increased mental workload and distraction levels of the drivers to a 3 rating or one of extensive risk.
Another study found that voice-to-texting offers no real safety advantage over manual texting, even though drivers often have the perception that it feels safer. And the consequences of all these distracting tasks are deadly – the CDC reports that about 9 people are killed every day because of distracted driving.
So what can you do? First of all, be aware that any use of a phone or technology is distracted driving and comes with some risk, so try to limit any use of your phone while driving. If you need to use your phone, find a safe place to pull over to make a call or respond to a text. Many phones have features that can help you reduce distractions, such as iPhone’s “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature and Android’s “Android Auto” app.
Distracted Driving Resources:
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HHSC Request for Information
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information and comments regarding managed care services for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) or children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance (SED).
HHSC is looking for ways to improve quality and continuity of care for persons
with SMI and children and adolescents with SED in a cost effective manner for
Texas Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs.
This is only an RFI. HHSC is NOT seeking proposals for services.
More Information
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AMHCA announces thier second virtual action day to support the Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act (S. 1879/HR 3032)!
On Monday, June 18, please join in by tweeting, posting on Facebook, and calling your Senators and Representatives in support of making mental health counselors Medicare-eligible providers!
Find out who represents you
.
Your voice, together with many voices across the country, will amplify the message to Congress!
Download more information
about talking points, target Senators and Representatives from your state, sample Twitter and Facebook posts, and graphics.Get the word out #SeniorsNeedMHCounselors!
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Texas OnCourse Web Site Updated
The re-designed
Texas OnCourse Web site
makes it even easier for you to connect your students to a roadmap for college and career planning. Have confidence students will quickly find quality resources in line with their goals.
Educators will now be able to find any of our Texas OnCourse-designed resources right at the top of our homepage! The location of our Academy login has moved, so
watch this tutorial
to ensure you can find it easily.
Pilot Test a New Module
Texas OnCourse invites you to pilot test a new module for the Texas OnCourse Academy. The module will support educators providing postsecondary and career advising to highly mobile/military-connected students and families.
The pilot testing period will open on June 18 and close on July 5. You do not have to complete the module in one sitting.
This opportunity is limited to the first 380 educators who sign up. If you are interested in participating, please
RSVP at this link
.
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Office of the Governor Grant Opportunities
This is a great opportunity for organizations to increase capacity of mental health services within first responder organizations and create a network of peers throughout Texas, all in line with the mission of the Workgroup on Access to Mental Health Care for First Responders.
The due date for both proposals is
7/3/18
.
More Information
First Responder Mental Health Resiliency Program
The Office of the Governor established the First Responder Mental Health Resiliency Program which provides direct services (e.g. therapy, peer support, referrals) to peace officers and other first responder agencies across the state. This grant funding seeks to address direct and indirect trauma as well as the cumulative effects of occupational stress, which can occur during the course of their normal duties or as a result of the commission of crimes by other persons.
Local Crisis Management Program
In effort to address a need for peer support networks among peace officer on the local level, the Office of the Governor established the Local Crisis Management Program. This program provides services to peace officers who experience critical incidents while performing official duties.
Please note that eligible organizations include DPS, units of local government and educational institutions that operate law enforcement agencies employing peace officers under Article 2.12, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and/or first responders under Sec. 421.095, Texas Government Code, including municipalities, counties, independent school districts, universities, public and private colleges and universities, community colleges, and hospital districts.
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Help Kids Learn about Careers in Engineering
Thoseamazingengineers.com
teaches young people about careers in engineering through real life examples of what engineers do and where they work.
Those Amazing Professions Inc. (TAP) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 whose mission is to educate young people about careers in underserved professions. The engineering website is its first initiative. For more information on the Web site and TAP, contact
Rose Reichman
, 201-816-1211/201-816-8904.
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Competitive Letter of Interest (LOI) for Physical Fitness Character Education Expansion Pilot Grant Program
TEA is preparing to award a second round of
Physical Fitness Character Education Expansion Pilot grants to Texas public schools. These grants are scheduled to be awarded for implementation beginning with the start of the 2018-2019 school year for fiscal years 2019 and 2020. Selected grantees will be awarded up to $50,000 in 2018-2019 and up to $50,000 in 2019-2020. Deadline: June 22, 2018
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The
Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs,
5th Edition
With new organization, competencies, domains, strategies and tools, the 5th Edition of the
Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs
has been updated to reflect best practices and statutory requirements for school counseling programs.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2018
June 30
Early-bird registration
closes, 62nd Annual TCA Professional Growth Conference, Sheraton Dallas Hotel, November 14-17
July 1
Pre-registration opens for 62nd Annual TCA Professional Growth Conference
August
Call for Programs Opens, 14th Annual Professional School Counselor Conference
August 1
Education Endowment Fund Grant Application Deadline
November 14-17
December 1
Education Endowment Fund Grant Application Deadline
2019
February 10-12
14th Annual Professional School Counselor Conference, San Antonio
March 19
TCA Advocacy Day
April 16
TCA Advocacy Day
November 13-16
63rd Annual TCA Professional Growth Conference, Fort Worth
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