Dear Colleagues,
I wanted to give you an update of leadership developments with NYACES.
On Dec. 9th a phone conference took place with the leadership team. I would like to thank those who have stepped up to take leadership roles:
Beverly Burnell - College at Plattsburg
Bob Dobmeier (co-president) - The College at Brockport
Adrianne Johnson (membership secretary) - Oswego College
Laurie Johnson - Hofstra University
Judith Kuppermith (co-president) - College at Staten Island
Travis Schermer - College of St. Rose
Cynthia Walley (recording secretary?) - Hunter College
Issues discussed:
1. The group felt strongly about counselor educators and supervisors being united across the state. It was expressed that this would be particularly important in lobbying for the counseling profession.
2. Problems in need of attention were identified:
*Although having school counselors in high schools and middle schools is required by law in New York State, this is not the case with elementary schools. There is a need for political advocacy for a change in the law to require school counselors in elementary schools.
*In the past couple of years, a number of school districts have laid school counselors off as a result of the slumping economy. There is the need for educating leaders and the public about the unique role of school counselors in school settings. Karen Hall, president of NYSSCA, will be contacted for further consultation in these matters.
*Many mental health counseling students are having difficulty finding internships, getting hired when they graduate, or taking positions for which they are overqualified. Judy Ritterman, executive director of NYMHCA, indicates that there is a plan to submit a proposal to the legislature in the new year to change the language of the law on scope of practice to reflect the ability to diagnose. Counselors, students, and counselor educators will need to work together to advocate on this issue. LMHC resources are available to counselor educators from NYMHCA (requests should be made directly to 1-800-4-NYMHCA).
3. Summer Reiner (ACA-NY) has invited NYACES members to join them at regional meetings on January 21, 2012 in the morning. Look for additional information about these networking/advocacy meetings that will be held in Buffalo, Plattsburg, Syracuse, and Queens.
4. For efficiency of communication, the NYACES leadership team discussed that whereas advocacy for the profession should be done statewide by all counselors, counselor educators, and students, respective leaders in the City and downstate, capital and north, central, and western parts of the state could take the lead in communication about regional concerns. Expect to hear from regional leaders about your concerns and needs as counselor educators and supervisors.
5. The leadership team will hold a phone conference on Jan. 13th. Subsequently, we will provide you more information on opportunities for NYACES members to connect with each other.
I would like to thank Karen Mackie (University of Rochester) and Stewart Chen-Hayes (Lehman College) for their assistance in the transition of NYACES leadership over the past semester. Thank you all for your patience and feel free to contact me or one of the other leaders if you have questions or concerns about the direction we are heading in. We are still working to update the NYACES membership email list. Please let us know if we are missing members of your faculty or practice.
Thank you
Wishing you all warm and restful holidays,
Bob Dobmeier, co-president
Robert A. Dobmeier, PhD, LMHC, CRC
Assistant Professor, Coordinator Mental Health Program
Department of Counselor Education
The College at Brockport
State University of New York
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport, New York 14420
(585) 395-5090
rdobmeie@brockport.edu
