Branch Leadership Reception and Awards

March 24, 2007, 4:00-6:00 pm

Best Consumer/Client Service Project  was given to the Mississippi Counseling Association for their Counselor Care Program.   This program provides an opportunity for credentialed professional counselors to work to promote positive development and adjustment among the children and adults whom they serve.  The mission of this project, touching lives and building community, is reflected in many projects completed statewide by MCA members. 

A variety of service projects were conducted to meet the needs of the population of each region in Mississippi.  Mental health, private practice counselors, state employment counselors, the Military Education Office and School Counselors worked together to administer the services. 

Three main projects were established to reach one goal.  School counselors, through MCA, worked with the mental health and private practitioners to provide crisis counseling to approximately 3,425 teachers and staff and numerous individual students.  These efforts were initiated by Peggy Caldwell, executive director of MCA, Martha Garrett and Gayle Simmons from the MS State Department of Education. 

The second part of the project was Project Relief, where 90 members of the Gulf Coast Counseling Association and Mississippi’s licensed mental health professionals worked to provide professional counseling services to the residents of the three coastal counties that took a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina.  

The third part of the project was Nurturing the Nurturer Retreat, coordinated by Walter Frazier, President of the MS Licensed Professional Counselor Association.  The retreat offered nurturers the opportunity to receive some nurturing themselves, to reconnect and to find new strength.  All branch officers, region, division/interest area presidents, committee chairs, and members were asked to participate in the rebuilding projects.  Plans of action were then established, and those involved were able to reach into the community and provide professional services to those in need. A $500 award accompanies the certificate.

Best Leadership Development Program 

Recognizes creativity in leadership programs that focus on informative,

comprehensive and challenging efforts to create well-rounded leaders.       

Small Branch                          2^nd         South Dakota Counseling Association

1^st        Tennessee Counseling Association

Medium Branch                       1^st        Arkansas and Kentucky Counseling  Associations

Large Branch                          1^st        Texas Counseling Association

Best Membership Service

            Recognizes the branch that provides a service that best promotes the

profession of counseling.

                        Small Branch                          2nd      Delaware Counselors Association

                                                                        1st       European Counseling Association

                        Medium Branch                       2nd      Kentucky Counseling Association

                                                                        1st       Mississippi Counseling Association

                        Large Branch                          1st       Alabama Counseling Association                                                                                                      

Best Membership Recruitment Campaign 

            Recognizes a program that creatively recruited new members to the branch.

            Small Branch                          2nd      Tennessee Counseling Association

                                                            1st       South Dakota Counseling Association

            Medium Branch                       2nd      Mississippi Counseling Association

                                                            1st       Kentucky Counseling Association

            Large Branch                          none

Best Branch Journal

Recognizes the journal that best promotes scholarship and research methodology within the branch and within the counseling profession.

            Small Branch                          1st       New York Counseling Association                                                                             

            Medium Branch                       2nd      none

                                                            1st       Kentucky Counseling Association

            Large Branch                          2nd      Alabama Counseling Association

                                                            1st       Illinois Counseling Association          

Best Branch Newsletter

            Recognizes the newsletter that in a timely fashion best informs, educates and

motivates members to participate actively in branch activities and as a member of the counseling profession.                

            Small Branch                          2nd      South Dakota Counseling Association

                                                            1st       European Counseling Association

            Medium Branch                       2nd      Kentucky Counseling Association                  

                                                            1st       Mississippi Counseling Association

            Large Branch                          2nd      none

                                                            1st       Alabama Counselors Association