Oakland Counseling Association
2019 - 20 Volume 2
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.
What is Social Emotional Learning and why does it matter?
Submitted by: Lisa Kurowski
Resource: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/GTL-GLCC-MDE_SEL-Guide-FINAL_605612_7.pdf (page 4)
According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, Emotional Learning (CASEL), Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
CASEL identifies five core competencies as part of the framework for SEL. These competencies include:
Self-awareness: Know your strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset.”
Self-management: Effectively manage stress, control impulses, and motivate yourself to set and achieve goals.
Social awareness: Understand the perspectives of others and empathize with them, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Relationship skills: Communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.
Responsible decision-making: Make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety, and social norms.
CASEL also states that SEL can lead to improved Academics and Behaviors within the school and community. These are some of the reasons that SEL is a topic of discussion across the country and an excellent time for Counselors to lead. For more information about SEL and how the State of Michigan has Incorporated SEL into the School Improvement Framework follow the links below.
Early College Programs through Oakland Schools
Oakland Schools offers two early college program opportunities for students in Oakland County. The Oakland Technical Early College is an additional option for students attending certain programs at an Oakland Schools Technical Campus (OSTC). Students attend OSTC, their home high school and take course work at Oakland Community College aligned to their OSTC career technical education program of study. The Oakland ACE enrolls students who split their time between their home high school and Oakland Community College.
Both programs engage students in a seminar component which includes college and career readiness practices. Students in each program who have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, at no cost, while still in high school.
Students apply in their 10th grade year for participation in grades 11, 12, and an additional year as a full time student at Oakland Community College.
Any information, including requirements and updates to the application processes, which will occur during 2nd semester will be included in the links above.
2019 - 2020 OCA Membership
Don’t forget, the new School Counselor Professional Development Law starts this school year. It requires school counselors to complete 25 hours of college preparation and selection, and 25 hours of career consultation, which must include 5 hours of exploring military options. However, if your license, or certificate, expires before February 6, 2020, then you are able to renew under the current rules and law. If your expiration date is in 2020, they are allowing you to renew anytime between January 1 and February 5, 2020 under the current rules and law. If you renew any time after February 6, 2020 you will need to complete the new professional development requirements.
Now, more than ever, is the perfect time to become a member of the Oakland Counseling Association. We offer members low cost, and relevant, professional development options. 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. This year’s professional development opportunities will all count toward the new PD requirement.
For a small fee you can become a member, and be eligible to attend a variety of workshops at a discount. As an added bonus, if you renew by October 10th your name will be entered in a raffle for a FREE MSCA Fall 2019 Conference Registration. In addition, on the first Friday of each month we will draw one name, from our current membership, to receive an Amazon gift card. Simply go to www.oaklandcounselors.org and click on the membership link at the top of the site. Current memberships are available at $20 for individuals, $50 for departments (Agency or School Building), and $10 for graduate students. So don’t hesitate, and sign up for your Oakland Counseling Association membership today!
Award Nominations Open!!
Feel free to forward the nomination links to administrators in your building and we will try to do the same!!
SCECH opportunities through MACAC and MCAN
The Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC), and the College Board have partnered to expand school counselor access to online professional development that meets the new College Advising SCECH requirements of Public Act 151 (House Bill 4181). These programs will be presented by the College Board through to March 17, and cover a wide array of college access topics, including College Readiness, Getting the Most out of CSS Profile, and NCAA Eligibility. In the past two month over 646 hours for 246 individuals has been awarded through this partnership.
The full range of programming that has been approved for SCECHs can be found at:
https://www.macac.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=262200&module_id=290100
Earning credit is as simple as signing up for the course, completing all requirements from the College Board to earn IACET CEUs, and then forwarding your certification of completion that you receive from the College Board to sc...@micollegeaccess.org; MCAN will then log your completion in with MDE. This programming and the SCECH service are both free.
All three organizations are honored to have the opportunity to bring this important knowledge to counselors throughout the state, supporting the professional development requirements of Public Act 151 (House Bill 4181), and look forward to joining in additional partnerships in the future.
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Jamie Jacobs (she/her/hers)
Deputy Director
Michigan College Access Network
jamie@micollegeaccess.org
Phone: 517-316-1713
Counseling Resources
Oakland Counseling Association
Email: oaklandcounselingassociation@gmail.com
Website: www.oaklandcounselors.org
Twitter: @OCACounseling