Spring 2015 CACREP Connection

 

Council for Accreditation and Counseling

About a Leader: CACREP

Dear Colleagues,

On June 30, 2015, my tenure on the CACREP Board comes to an end. These five incredible years have been full of positive changes for the counseling profession and the challenges brought on by these same changes. Landmarks occurring during my tenure on the CACREP Board include:

  • the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation of graduation from a CACREP program as one of the criteria for independent practice in 2010
  • the second CACREP Board Retreat in 2011 which resulted in the current Strategic Initiatives
  • the release in 2012 of the TRICARE regulations which include the IOM’s recommended criteria
  • CACREP’s 2013 adoption of Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Standards and CORE becoming a corporate affiliate
  • Ohio’s 2014 adoption of new regulations requiring future graduation from a CACREP program for students within the state, followed by NBCC’s and Kentucky’s decisions to also require CACREP for future certificants and licensees and ACES’ statement endorsing CACREP
  • the 2015 the adoption of the 2016 CACREP Accreditation Standards

The counseling profession is gaining traction within and outside the profession. It is imperative that CACREP continue to promote professional counselor identity to facilitate parity. CACREP recognition by the federal agencies has brought attention to Clinical Mental Health Counselors. The White House’s College Opportunity initiatives bring focus to the integral role that school counselors play.

CACREP is truly in the position of being a leader in the counseling profession. The following phrases about leaders capture how I see CACREP’s mission and vision being lived out. A leader is one…

…who knows where it is going, why it is going, and how to get there.

CACREP is guided by Strategic Initiatives that frame its goals and activities. In the rapidly changing landscape of the counseling profession, CACREP reviews and adjusts its priorities. CACREP engages in difficult conversations and makes equally difficult decisions, to step out boldly and act, and take defensible stances on issues.

…who knows no discouragement, who presents no alibi.

CACREP tenaciously abides to the principles that guide its work; continuing to promote and hold firm to the significance of having and demonstrating a professional counselor identity. In spite of public challenges and nay-sayers, CACREP is steady and resolute in meeting its mission and vision.

…who knows how to lead without being dictatorial; true leaders are humble.

CACREP’s review process allows programs to maintain their unique characteristics and culture in demonstrating how they meet the Standards. CACREP accepts its responsibility to promote, in multiple venues, high values and best practices, while learning from new ideas and innovation.

…who seeks the best for those it serves.

The standards revision process includes dialog with constituents in multiple venues, opportunities for public comments, and deliberate culling of feedback over an extended period of time to set the standards of counselor preparation relevant for the next eight years.

…who develops leaders while leading.

CACREP has always believed in developing future leaders in the counseling profession. Collaboration with CSI and our own CRIGS program encourages scholarship and research among tomorrow’s leaders. Training doctoral students to serve as initial reviewers of self-studies familiarizes future counselor educators with the CACREP Standards., Lastly, CACREP’s continual training of new team members not only develops leadership and advocacy skills, but requires these skills to be put in action.

…who marches with the group and interprets correctly the signs on the pathway that leads to success.

CACREP is vigilant about changes and trends occurring in academia, counseling practice, and politics in order respond proactively. The corporate affiliation of CORE is a significant example of how CACREP paid heed to the call of the counseling profession to find a single pathway for accreditation in the counseling profession.

…who considers leadership an opportunity for service.

CACREP’s mission and vision is to serve the counseling profession through quality assurance of counselor preparation. Current students and graduates of CACREP-accredited programs are well-prepared to meet the needs of today’s society. CACREP-accredited programs build capacity and ultimately serve to protect the public.

Remember leadership is action not position

It has been a pleasure serving on the CACREP Board and at this point in the counseling profession. For me the bookends to my service as Chair are having the CHEA observer at my first meeting, as part of the recognition re-affirmation process, and the adoption of the 2016 standards at my last meeting. It has been an honor and privilege to serve on the CACREP Board and I wish the Board courage and perseverance. This is a good time in the profession to be counselor and counselor educator.

Warm Regards,

Sylvia Fernandez,

CACREP Chair

Spring 2015

IN THIS ISSUE…

Chair’s Report

Accreditation Decisions

Board Updates

News

Upcoming Events

IRCEP News

ACCREDITATION DECISIONS

The CACREP Board met in January 2015 in Savannah, GA.

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Become a fan of CACREP on Facebook! We can reach a wide audience quickly with important updates on CACREP and other counselor education matters. Recent facebook posts have focused on the TriCare recommendation and notice of training sessions.

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Accreditation Decisions

The CACREP Board met in January 2015 in Savannah, GA. Accreditation Decisions rendered at that meeting>>

BOARD UPDATES

Elections were held and new Board members were selected in January. Officers for the 2015-2016 year will be Chair Jeffrey Parsons, Vice-chair Kelly Coker, and Treasurer Dana Heller Levitt. Beginning their term on July 1, 2015 are new Board members Sejal Parikh Foxx and Chris Hull, who are both are filling Counselor Educator roles. Sejal teaches at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Chris teaches at Denver Seminary.

First Two Programs Obtain Dual Accreditation under CACREP/CORE Affiliation

East Central University in Oklahoma and Louisiana State University are the first two institutions whose counseling programs were granted dual accreditation as Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling under the affiliation agreement between CACREP and CORE. This represents a big step forward in the unification of the counseling profession. Dr. Erin Dugan of Louisiana State University’s Health Sciences Center is excited about the accreditation and says it adds “to the aspects of the program in preparing our students for clinical practice upon graduation.” Several more programs are working their way through the review pipeline with CACREP and CORE, and should have decisions prior to the January 2016 deadline.

2016 Standards Adopted

The CACREP Board adopted the 2016 Standards in February. The final version will be published in late Spring on the website. Timelines for programs meeting the news Standards are as follows:

July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016:

Self-studies can be submitted under either the 2009 or the 2016 Standards. The entire document must address one set or the other.

After July 1, 2016:

All self-studies must address the 2016 Standards. The deadline is a postmark date – so any submissions postmarked on or after July 1, 2016, will be returned if they do not meet the 2016 Standards.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has tentatively scheduled Self-Study workshops on the following dates:

  1. Friday, May 1, 2015 – Multnomah University, Portland, Oregon – 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  2. Tuesday, September 22, 2015 – American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) Conference, Nashville, TN
  3. Wednesday, October 7, 2015 – Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Conference, Philadelphia, PA – 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

See the website for registration information.

Mark Your Calendar for ACES in Fall 2015

These sessions are tentatively scheduled for Thursday, October 8.

  • Team Chair Breakfast (invitation only) 8:00 – 10:30 am
  • Table Talk 11:00 am – noon
  • New Team Member Training 1:30 – 4:20 pm

IRCEP News

The International Registry of Counsellor Education Programs (IRCEP) is excited to announce the launch of a brand new program for international doctoral-level students. The IRCEP Fellowship program is designed to offer opportunities to current international CACREP doctoral students to become an IRCEP Fellow for a one-year term. This fellowship program is designed to provide an in-depth training and exposure of quality assurance in higher education, specifically in counsellor education. The goal of the IRCEP Fellowship is to provide international doctoral students with career-expanding opportunities by enhancing their knowledge of quality assurance as it relates to counsellor education, their leadership skills, and their professional networks. The fellowship will begin Fall 2015. Download the Application Form.