Oakland Counseling Association

January 2022

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.

It is with mixed emotions that we greet you in the new year. On one hand, we are inspired by our continued mission to support counselors and excited about the possibilites that exist for 2022. On the other hand, our enthusiam is tempered by grief and concern as our colleagues in Oxford and throughout the county struggle to find a sense of safety and normalcy after another year of unique challenges and one that ended in tragedy.

It is with these competing feelings that we welcome you to 2022. We hope that you are well and we are grateful for your service to the students and families in our communities.

New OCA Website!

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On the new OCA website you will find information on our organization including:

How to contact OCA board members
Upcoming professional learning events
Mini-grant program
Newsletters
End of year awards
Resources
Membership information

End of Year Award Nominations

Each year the Oakland Counseling Association recognizes a few of our members for outstanding work in the field of counseling.

Deadline for nominations is March 1, 2022

The Counselor of the Year award is intended to celebrate one of our exemplary counselors who has made a positive impact in their community.

Counselor of the Year Award - Nomination Google Form
PDF copy of full nomination form to review ahead of submission

The Terry Hood Lifetime Achievement award is intended to celebrate a retiring or recently retired counselor who has contributed to their community and the counseling profession.

Terry Hood Lifetime Achievement Award - Nomination Google Form
PDF copy of full nomination form to review ahead of submission

Professional Learning Event Updates

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Paused Virtual Events

In light of the devastating incident that occurred in our neighboring community of Oxford Schools and the general state of crisis response across the county, OCA decided to pause its professional learning events scheduled for December and January.

We will look to reschedule these events with OCHN and OCC and anticipate that we will resume our regularly scheduled OCA virtual events in February.

Event Information

OCA Virtual Event - Social Justice: Anti-Racist Education

Register

1 General SCECH

Presented by the Oakland Counseling Association: Participants with explore the school counselor's role in promoting social justice through the provision of anti-racist education.

Speaker: Dr. Lorise Grey, Assistant Professor of Counseling at Oakland University

When?

Friday, Feb 4, 2022, 10:00 AM

Mini-Grants

2021-2022 Mini-Grants Awarded!

With the 2021-2022 mini-grant application closed, OCA is excited to announce that all mini-grant applications submitted for the 2021-2022 grant cycle were approved! In total, we will have approved and distributed 8, $250 mini-grants to OCA members!

Funds will be going to support academic seminar activities, return to school activities, SEL groups, mental health awareness activities, school culture development, career and college engagement, and a career field trip. What great work!

Mini-grant recipients will submit a final outcome report by June 1st which will give us even more information on the programs they supported with the OCA funds.

2022-2023 Mini-Grant Program

OCA anticipates offering the mini-grant program again for next school year! We are in the process of planning for the 2022-2023 mini-grant program and hope to make the application available to OCA members before the end of the current school year.

We hope you will consider how a few extra dollars might support your counseling program's activities and goals.

OCA Membership

Please share with any counselor colleagues who are not OCA members yet. OCA membership is free for the 2021-2022 school year!

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2021 -22 Membership Form

OCA Member Giveaways!

Each month the OCA conducts drawings for giveaways for current members as a small token of our appreciation for the important and challenging work you do as counselors. You must be a current OCA member in order to be eligible.