TCA Testifies Before House Committees on Public Health and Public Education
TCA and TSCA were invited by the House Public Education and Public Health Committees to testify on strategies to create safe and secure schools and improve mental health for all Texans
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TSCA President-elect Kimberly Ridgeley spoke Wednesday on the impact access to school counselors has on students’ development and how critical implementing the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs is to the efficiently and effectively reaching large numbers of students.
TCA Past Presidents Eli Zambrano and Cyndi Doyle testified on Thursday on the importance of coordinating mental health services on school campuses, as exemplified through System Support.
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TCA Statement on Immigrant Children
The members of the Texas Counseling Association express concern regarding the harmful effects of separating children from their families which is currently occurring at our borders.
Research indicates that separating parents and children during stressful life events create
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) leading to progressive life-long trauma, chronic fear, and impaired brain development. Cortical structures do not develop properly, which impacts attention, planning, judgment, and emotional control.These impairments have long lasting effects into adulthood.
TCA supports a swift and urgent reunification process for families that have been separated at the U.S. border. TCA also urges the current administration to provide a safe environment and necessary mental health treatment for the trauma inflicted upon all family members impacted.
Read more about the impact:
Akers, K. (2014). Cozolino, Louis. The neuroscience of human relationships: attachment and the developing social brain. CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, (12). 2273.
Tello, A., Castellon, N., Aguilar, A., Sawyer, C., (2017). Unaccompanied refugee minors from Central America:
Understanding their journey and implications for counselors. The Professional Counselor, 7(4), 360-374, doi:10.15241/amt.7.4.36.
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TCA in DC: Call for Virtual Advocacy
TCA President Carrie Proctor and President-Elect Michael Moyer will be at the Capitol in Washington, DC advocating in support of S1879 (Barrasso) to add LPCs and LMFTs as independent providers under the federal Medicare program.
They will also be visiting the offices of Congressmen Will Hurd and John Carter to ask them to support funding for ESSA to increase access to school counselors. If you are represented by these Congressmen, please also contact them.
More than 194 counties in Texas are designated as Mental Health Workforce Shortage areas. Action by Congress is critical to expand access to LPCs under Medicare and to Certified School Counselors across Texas. Please support TCA’s leaders – Carrie and Mike – as they speak out on your behalf.
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#TCAPGC18 Register as an Early Bird and Save!
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Pre-registration for the 62nd Annual TCA Professional Growth Conference is open!
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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DFPS Seeks LARS Suggestions
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The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is working on its Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR). This request outlines the agency’s funding needs for fiscal years 2020 through 2021. It will be considered by the 86th Texas Legislature during its 2019 session.
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The Texas Educator Certification Examination Program will transition to a new vendor, NCS Pearson, Inc., beginning September 1, 2018, for the following tests: TExES, TExMaT, TASC, and TASC-ASL.
ETS will administer the new Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) when it becomes effective in fall 2019.
The attached flyer provides more information about the transition. Ongoing updates will be provided by both vendors and the Texas Education Agency in the coming weeks.
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Funding Opportunity
The Bureau of Justice Assistance STOP School Violence Act is providing a grant opportunity to all states, local governments, and Native American tribes to improve safety and security at schools and grounds, including mental health crises response. Our blog has the
details and helpful resources for applying
. Applications due July 23.
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Don’t forget to protect yourself while having fun in the sun!
The TCA Wellness Committee hopes you are taking a break this summer and doing something fun outdoors.
We want to make sure that when you do you remember take care to protect yourself from skin cancer and other damaging effects of too much sun exposure. Did you know that the sun can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes?
We want to remind you of a few tips when spending time outside in the summer heat:
Cover up – try to cover your skin with clothing that will cover the most skin. Long-sleeved shirts are ideal. Dark clothing offers more protection than light clothing.
- Wear a hat – hats with a wider brim that offer protection to your ears and neck are best. Avoid straw hats that can let sunrays through.
- Don’t forget sunglasses – sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and can help prevent cataracts
- Wear sunscreen – choose at least SPF 15, the higher the SPF the better. Re-apply if you are out longer than two hours or are swimming or sweating.
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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
August
Call for Programs Opens, 14th Annual Professional School Counselor Conference
August 1
Education Endowment Fund Grant Application Deadline
August 20
TCA and Division Leadership Nominations Open
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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TCA Texas Counseling Association | 512-472-3403 | 512-472-3756 |
info@txca.org
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