Public Scrutiny in a Time of Change: What Counseling Centers Need from our Organizations!

1. Public Scrutiny in a Time of Change: What Counseling Centers Need from our Organizations! Tom Seals, Emeritus, University of Illinois Chris Brownson, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin Louise A. Douce, Ph.D.,The Ohio State University Todd Sevig, PhD., University of Michigan Gregory T. Eells, Ph.D., Cornell University

2. Outline • I. Introduction -Tom • II. ACHA, HEMHA, Research Consortium-Chris • III. APA-Louise • IV. CCAPS/ACPA-Todd • V. AUCCCD & NASPA- Greg • VI. Discussion • VII. Conclusion-Tom

3. The Higher Education Mental Health Alliance and the Research Consortium Chris Brownson, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin cbrownson@austin.utexas.edu The University of Texas at Austin The Division of Student Affairs

4. Background and History of Higher Education Mental Health Alliance • Presidential Initiative of Lesley Sacher, president of Am Coll Hlth Assoc • Need for such an alliance • First meeting in February 2008 (Baltimore) (backdrop of counseling center legislation) • Second meeting in September 2008 (Philly)

5. THE ALLIANCE…An Inter-Association Partnership: • The American College Counseling Association (ACCA) • The American College Health Association (ACHA) • The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) • The American Psychiatric Association (APA) • The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) • The American Psychological Association (APA) • The Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD) • The Jed Foundation (JED) • The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)

6. Higher Education Mental Health Alliance (HEMHA) MISSION: To provide leadership through a partnership of organizations to advance college mental health. PURPOSE: The Alliance affirms that the issue of college mental health is central to student success, and therefore is the responsibility of higher education.

7. Accordingly, The Alliance will provide leadership to: • Think about college mental health issues at a strategic level • Identify and share mental health resources • Promote full community engagement in the mental health continuum of care • Define the role of advocacy in college mental health • Support and disseminate evidenced-based practice

9. ORGANIZATIONAL CONCEPT • Leadership (chair, host, past chair) • Member Organization Representation • Annual Meetings of the Alliance

10. Member Organization Representation • Each member organization provides at least one (1), but not more than three (3) “Liaisons” to represent the member organization • Each member organization determines its own internal process on how to appoint Liaison(s), how long they serve, etc. (3 year continuity is desired) • Liaison(s) will: • Contribute their organization’s perspectives to The Alliance • Provide continuity in perspective over time • In cases where there is only one (1) Liaison, ensure alternate/proxy representation from the organization when unable to attend • Secure internal organizational or other support to fund their travel • Secure internal organizational decision-making on issues emanating from The Alliance

11. Annual Meetings of the Alliance • Annual Meetings will rotate between the annual conferences of the professional organization members • The next annual meeting will be May 29, 2009 in San Francisco, hosted by ACHA • The second meeting in 2010 may possibly be in Chicago at NASPA (to be confirmed) • Future annual meetings will not be on a pre-determined rotating basis, but rather determined by the members of The Alliance based on location and calendar spacing of the meetings • Some organizations are not able to host due to size, finances, etc; those organizations can partner and pool resources when it is their turn to host

12. What Does the Research Consortium Give Us ? • A body of research that defines college mental health as a specialty area • Campus level data • National data to help us develop new models, best practices, inform policy, etc.? • Exposure to raise awareness about college mental health issues (we control the message)

13. Media Outlets for Suicide Study

14. NEXT STEPS: At the conclusion of the Philadelphia meeting, Liaisons have the following responsibilities: • Once The Alliance approves the letterhead, logo, mission, purpose, and organizational concept, each organization’s leadership must “sign off” to become a Charter Member of the Higher Education Mental Health Alliance (HEMHA). • The leadership of each organization must also agree to the funding of yearly travel for Liaison(s) and to host an annual meeting at some point. • Each organization must decide who to appoint as liaison(s) and for what term. • Each organization must submit the next four annual meeting locations and dates. • Each organization must provide the total number of members that it represents (for future aggregating purposes so as to determine the potential scope/breadth of The Alliance). • Each organization must get approval from its organizational leadership about whether it supports the Durbin Legislation (S.3311 - Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act). • (All information above to be submitted to the ACHA Executive Office: pjcrone@acha.org; templates to be provided.)

15. How Does APA Support Us ? Louise A. Douce, Ph.D. The Ohio State University

16. APA Mission Draft • The mission of the APA is to advance the creation, communication, and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives.

17. APA Structure Four Directorates Practice Education Public Interest Science Council of Representatives Boards and Committees

18. Practice Directorate • The Practice Directorate engages in a broad range of activities on behalf of practicing psychologists and health care consumers • Virtually every Practice Directorate activity is intended to deal with issues, problems and opportunities regarding the fast changing health care delivery system. • four interrelated initiatives—legislative advocacy, legal and regulatory strategies, marketplace activities, and public education

19. Education Directorate • To advance education and training in psychology and the application of psychology to education and training. • Enhancing the quality of teaching and learning outcomes at all levels of education and training, • Meeting the demands of the changing demographics in a multicultural society through education and training, and • Increasing the level and availability of financial and public policy support for education and training.

20. Public Interest Directorate • supports and promotes efforts to apply the science and profession of psychology to the advancement of health, education and human welfare • solutions to the fundamental problems of human justice and equitable and fair treatment of all segments of society • advance equal opportunity and to foster empowerment of those who do not share equitably in society's resources;

21. Society of Counseling Psychology APA Division 17 • founded in 1946 to promote personal, educational, vocational, and group adjustment in a variety of settings. • Twelve Sections including Section on University & College Counseling Centers • Traci Callandrillo, PhD Counseling and Testing American University

22. Section on University and College Counseling Centers • goals address a variety of domains, including counseling center research, training of future psychologists, individual and group treatment of students, assessment in student populations, consulting with faculty and staff, outreach programming to campus communities, and administrative issues.

23. Biggest Voice on Public Scene • Campus Care Act – Emil Rodolfa • Senate Testimony • FERPA Consultation • VA Law Consultation

24. How Have We Gained ? • SAMHSA Grants • Durbin Bill • GPE Grants • Powerful support for ethical climate issues

25. Hot Button Issues • Practice Assessment • What do we get ? • Education Trust • Why should we give more ? • Federal Advocacy • Should we be in this game ?

26. The Value and Role of The Commission for Counseling & Psychological Services within the American College Personnel Association Todd Sevig University of Michigan

27. What is CCAPS? ACPA'S Commission for Counseling and Psychological Services provides a home for professionals and graduate students who are interested and involved in counseling and psychological services in higher education. Membership in ACPA provides a subscription to the Journal of College Student Development, an invitation to participate in annual conventions and placement opportunities, and representation on legislative matters that affect our profession.

28. Mission & Goals of Commission Mission: Our mission is to maintain the voice of helping professionals focused on serving college and university students in a mental health setting. Goals: * Promoting the aims and values of human development in community colleges, colleges, and universities. * Providing a forum and place for the exchange of ideas, innovations, research, and standards. * Increasing the representative voice of those traditionally underserved and ignored in society. * Encouraging interaction, support, and networking among all student affairs professionals . * Providing an opportunity for mental health professionals to become involved in participatory leadership.

29. Mentoring The goal of the mentoring program is to match seasoned professionals in college and university counseling centers with graduate students and new professionals making their way in the field of higher education and counseling. Our aim is to provide ongoing service to members by assisting graduate students and new professionals in their growth and development, and offering a way for veterans to provide service to their profession. One of the primary initiatives is to attract and retain graduate students and new professionals in the field of counseling and psychological services on college and university campuses.

30. Other Resources & Functions Counseling Center Village Job Search Support Networking

31. Strategic Task Force Report At the end of the 2004 National Convention, Commission Chair Stacey Pearson charged a taskforce to help the Commission move forward and to think about recommendations to help the Commission move forward. This charge involved the following goals: To increase stability To develop a long term vision To increase presence and voice To understand better the growth edges To develop recommendations to address the growth edges

32. Results: Satisfaction Networking opportunities/Collegiality/Connection with profession Like the programs offered at convention Newsletter/listserve Professional ‘home’ CE credits

33. Results: Dissatisfaction Commission has not represented counseling centers at a national level Attendance is dwindling Programming is largely “this is what we do at our center” vs. empirically based programs Feel I have outgrown commission Lack of diversity At times, it feels there is an “inner circle” Inconsistent visibility within ACPA Other groups are more relevant to my worklife Would like to see more time devoted to discuss pertinent counseling center issues

34. Results: Barriers to Membership Cost of being member of several organizations Don’t know how to join Not aware of this organization Don’t know much about it Unsure what the benefits are of being a member Member of other national organizations due to my role in counseling center

35. Results: Activities Desired Venue in which research, publications could be presented More programs within ACPA convention Regional workshops; with specific focus Monographs on timely issues Increased frequency of newsletter Better malpractice insurance policy

36. Results: Overlap lack of clarity when comparing with other national organizations -- not sure why it's a good thing compared to other organizations competition from other national organizations – not enough time/energy/money to attend all establishing a clear identity (or niche) within the array of professional organizations

37. Recommendations from Report Increase our efforts at linking with other national organizations. Increase efforts at establishing a national presence regarding college student mental health and counseling center professional issues. Establish more of a research presence, both within the ACPA convention (poster sessions; symposium), and throughout the year via publications. Identify the uniqueness of commission strengths and implement a massive “PR” campaign. Many respondents communicated they didn’t really know what the commission is all about. These efforts will also help “situate” the commission in relation to other counseling center professional organizations.

38. Challenges/“Hot Button” issues ACPA/Commission has a reputation of largely being for young professionals The Commission changed when placement dropped off The Commission continues to refine what its’ unique role is within higher education The Commission continues to refine what its’ unique role is within college student mental health

39. Strengths ACPA/Commission is very diverse and focuses on diversity intentionally ACPA is a strong voice within higher education Commission is a strong partner in the counseling center profession and has renewed emphasis on establishing strategic partnerships Commission provides a venue for exposure to the wide range of student affairs work/functions

40. Mission of AUCCCD and Relationships with NASPA Gregory T. Eells, Ph.D. Cornell University

41. Who are we as AUCCCD?

42. Who are we as AUCCCD? • We are the only professional organization focused solely on four year college and university student mental health and counseling services. • All other organizations are larger, have other emphases and various focuses.

43. Mission • Assist directors of counseling services in providing effective leadership and management of their centers, in accord with the professional principles and standards. • Promotes the awareness of college student mental health through research, treatment, education, and training. • Special attention to issues of diversity and multiculturalism.

44. Mission • Approximately 650 member institutions • Member staff size ranges from 1 to 45 mental health professionals • Member institutions provide counseling to approximately 10% of students at respective institutions. • Provided over one million therapy sessions last year.

45. Tensions • To continue to grow as a dynamic international organization while not losing our core mission. • To continue to meet members needs while asking for more involvement and participation from members. • To be an organization with connections to other organizations with similar interests while continuing to provide a sacred space for directors. • Appointed Board liaisons to many of these groups.

46. NASPA(National Association of Student Personnel Administrators) • 11,000 members (many if not most of our bosses) • 1,400 campuses, and representing 29 countries

47. NASPA Initiatives • All AUCCCD members were sent a copy of the September Issue Leadership Exchange. • AUCCCD members telling their stories. Articles on outreach, working with difficult students, the AUCCCD survey, college students and technology etc.. • Joint Mental Health Conference-5th annual conference. • AUCCCD is a co-sponsor involved in planning and program selection. Our membership has been well-represented at this conference.

48. NASPA Initiatives • Enough is Enough Campaign- Campaign co-chaired by VPs at NIU and Va. Tech to reduce violence on campus and in our society. Just participated in October 1st. • AUCCCD Board Presentations at NASPA in March- One presentation will discuss legal and ethical issues with a focus on the importance of confidentiality. The other will summarize highlights from the recent AUCCCD survey.

49. Conclusion • We are at the table • We have been represented on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, before Congress and about every print media you can think of. • How do we want to proceed and use this time to meet our needs as an organization?