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
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
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
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)
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)
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.
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
ORGANIZATIONAL
CONCEPT
 Leadership
 Member
 Annual
(chair, host, past chair)
Organization Representation
Meetings of the Alliance
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
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
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)
Media Outlets for Suicide Study
ABC News
AFP News Briefs List
Asiaone
Associated Press
Boston Herald
Houston Chronicle
Daily India
Daily Times
Daily Toreador
dailycomet.com
detechno.com
e! Science News
eFlux Media
Gulf Times
Health 24 - News
InjuryBoard.com
Inside Higher Ed
itwire.com
Red Orbit News
Ivanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs
Science Centric
KXAN.com
sindhtoday.net
LaStampa.it
Special to the Abilenian
Life & Style in MSN
Austin American Statesman
Los Angeles Times
thaindian.com
Medical News Today
The BostonChannel
Medindia.com
The Chronicle of Higher Education
MSNBC.com
The Daily Texan
San Antonio Express News
The Maneater
NDTV.com
the med guru
New England News
The Straits Times
News.SmasHits.com
The Times of India
Newspost Online
TurkishPress.com
Newstrack India
U.S. News & World Report
newswise.com
USA Today
Physorg.com
wbztv.com
Psych Central
YellowBrix
NEXT STEPS: At the conclusion of the
Philadelphia meeting, Liaisons have the
following responsibilities:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

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.)
How Does APA Support
Us ?
Louise A. Douce, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University
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.
APA Structure
Four Directorates
Practice
Education
Public Interest
Science
Council of Representatives
Boards and Committees
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
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.
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;
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
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.
Biggest Voice on Public Scene

Campus Care Act – Emil Rodolfa
 Senate
Testimony
 FERPA
Consultation
 VA
Law Consultation
How Have We Gained ?
 SAMHSA
 Durbin
 GPE
Grants
Bill
Grants
 Powerful
support for ethical climate issues
Hot Button Issues
 Practice

Assessment
What do we get ?
 Education

Why should we give more ?
 Federal

Trust
Advocacy
Should we be in this game ?
THE VALUE AND ROLE OF THE
COMMISSION FOR COUNSELING &
PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES WITHIN
THE AMERICAN COLLEGE
PERSONNEL ASSOCIATION
Todd Sevig
University of Michigan
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.
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.
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.
OTHER RESOURCES & FUNCTIONS
 Counseling
Center Village
 Job Search Support
 Networking
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
RESULTS: SATISFACTION
 Networking
opportunities/Collegiality/Connection with
profession
 Like the programs offered at convention
 Newsletter/listserve
 Professional ‘home’
 CE credits
RESULTS: DISSATISFACTION








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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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
Mission of AUCCCD and
Relationships with NASPA
Gregory T. Eells, Ph.D.
Cornell University
Who are we as AUCCCD?
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.
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.
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.
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.
NASPA (National Association of
Student Personnel Administrators)
 11,000
members (many if not most of our
bosses)
 1,400 campuses, and representing 29
countries
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.
NASPA Initiatives

Enough is Enough Campaign- Campaign cochaired 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.
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?