As we begin the autumn quarter, we would like to congratulate one of our very own alumnus, Dr. Timothy Franklin, on successfully defending his dissertation yesterday! Dr. Franklin completed both the Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling programs and serves as an adjunct faculty member here at DePaul. Congratulations, Dr. Franklin!
Survey on Belonging, Well-being, and Persistence in Counseling Students
Dr. Sean Newhart, an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University, is conducting a research study alongside two master’s students, Julia Kokatakis and Saloni Karwa. They invite you to participate in the study examining the factors influencing well-being and persistence among counselors-in-training (HIRB00021323). Your participation will contribute to understanding of how program belonging impacts mental health, burnout, flourishing, and institutional commitment.
The survey is estimated to take between 10-15 minutes to complete. As a token of appreciation for your participation, they will be offering the chance to win one of 100 $5 Amazon gift cards or one of 150 $2 Amazon gift cards to the first 250 respondents.
Follow this link to the Survey:
Take the surveyThis survey is confidential, and your participation is completely voluntary. You may choose to exit the survey at any time. Importantly, there will be no penalties for not participating or for not completing the survey. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Dr. Newhart directly at snewhar1@jhu.edu.
2025 Mental Health Impact Summit in Chicago
2025 Mental Health Impact Summit in Chicago
Please join us at the 2025 Mental Health Impact Summit hosted by Sista Afya Community Care and Erikson Institute on November 13-14 in Chicago and virtually.
This transformative summit is designed to empower mental health providers to lead through impactful policy and practice. Students will learn to leverage policy, enhance advocacy efforts, and implement data-informed best practices to bring about lasting change in their community.
Featured Keynote Speaker: Illinois State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, Chair of the Illinois Mental Health & Addiction Committee, will address advancing mental health access for underserved and historically disadvantaged communities.
Why Students Should Attend:
- Network with Illinois policymakers and mental health leaders
- Learn evidence-based advocacy strategies and community organizing
- Earn 10 CEUs (Social Workers & Counselors)
- Connect with potential mentors and employers
Perfect for students in: Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Public Policy, Counseling, and Community Development programs
Special Student Pricing:
- Regular student rate: $75
- With the promo code “student”, students can save $20.
This is an exceptional opportunity for students to bridge academic learning with professional practice while building valuable connections in the mental health field.
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mental-health-impact-summit-tickets-1497673304169?aff=oddtdtcreator
FALL 2025 STUDENT TEACHING AND INTERNSHIPS SCHOLARSHIP OPEN NOW
The College of Education Fall 2025 Student Teaching and Internships Scholarship application is open NOW through Sunday, September 28th.
This award is offered to College of Education students who are currently participating in their capstone clinical experience – student teaching, counseling internship, or another field-based capstone. Counseling interns may only receive this scholarship for one academic quarter of their internship.
You must be a COE student who is student teaching or actively working in your required internship during Fall 2025 in order to qualify.
The maximum award amount is $3,000 and the minimum is $350. Students will be awarded within that range.
Applications are open from 9/10-9/28. Apply online at: depaul.academicworks.com/opportunities/55160
REPOST: Student Employment Opportunity for Fall 2025 – BGF Children’s Therapy
BGF Children’s Therapy is still recruiting!
This therapy practice provides in-home and center-based behavior therapy for children diagnosed with Autism. They are seeking individuals to work one-on-one with the children we serve, starting in Fall 2025. Ideal candidates are working towards their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related field and have some experience working with children. They train their staff in behavior analytic principles and the skills necessary to work with children diagnosed with Autism. They have hired students from DePaul in the past and have been very happy with their work and dedication. Hourly rates range from $20 to $25, depending on experience.
If you are interested, please reach out to the Clinical Director, Nicole Cissell, at nicole@bgftherapy.com or at 312-806-7937
Volunteer Opportunity Available: ASGW 2026 Conference
On behalf of Dr. Priscilla Rose Prasath, President of the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW), we are delighted to extend an invitation to faculty and students to be part of the ASGW 2026 Conference, taking place February 5–7, 2026, at the Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois.
ASGW conferences are known for their close-knit, welcoming community and unparalleled networking opportunities. This is a unique space where faculty, students, and practitioners connect, share ideas, and collaborate on advancing the field of group work.
We would be thrilled to see your program represented—not only in attendance but also through presentations that showcase the innovative and impactful group work happening at your institution. Submitting a proposal offers a meaningful way to:
- Strengthen professional identity for both faculty and students
- Share best practices and research with a national audience
- Build lasting professional relationships within the ASGW community
Proposal Submission Link: Submit Your Proposal Here
Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues and students in your program. If you have questions about the submission process or conference details, we are happy to assist. We also invite you to register and join us at the ASGW 2026 Conference to experience the engaging sessions, collaborative spirit, and warm community that make ASGW events so special.
We look forward to welcoming you and your students to Chicago for what promises to be an engaging, inspiring, and collaborative conference experience.
Warm regards,
Krissy Treviranus, PhD
Brenna Breshears, PhD
2026 Conference Committee Co-Chairs
ISCA Graduate Student Committee is Recruiting!
A Virtual Interest Meeting for the ISCA 2025-2026 Graduate Student Committee
Please join us on Sunday, September 7 at 5:00pm for a virtual interest meeting about the ISCA 2025-2026 Graduate Student Committee!
Requirements:
- Be a current graduate student in one of Illinois’s 15 graduate-level school counseling programs.
- Have a desire to communicate and contribute to furthering connections and training between Illinois school counseling graduate students.
- Attend one 1-hour virtual meeting per month from September until May.
- Depending on the given projects and initiatives of various sub-committees and events taking place at various times in the school year, contribute 3-5 hours of additional work each month as needed by the committee.
The Illinois School Counseling Association (ISCA) is dedicated to advancing school counseling excellence in Illinois. Much of the work of ISCA is carried out through a variety of committees. As the future generation of school counselors, graduate students are a critical component of the association’s mission.
The Graduate Student Committee gathers graduate students from all over the state of Illinois (primarily virtually) and carries out projects that cover advocacy, professional development, social connections, and more! The commitments of membership are light: attendance at a monthly virtual meeting and participation in one project sub-committee (Education & Professional Development or Social & Professional Networking).
Our initial interest meeting will be held virtually on Sunday, September 7 at 5pm. To receive a meeting link (Google Meet), please fill out the RSVP form here.
DePaul Graduate Ambassadors Program is Recruiting!
We’re excited to officially launch the DePaul Graduate Ambassadors Program — and we’re looking for passionate students like you to join us.
If you’re currently enrolled in a graduate program in the College of Communication (CMN) or College of Education (COE) and want to connect with others, share your student experience, and get more involved, this is a great opportunity.
Apply now by scanning the QR code below or visiting our Google Form link.
Have questions? Reach out to us at gradcom@depaul.edu and edgradadmission@depaul – we’re happy to help.
#DePaulGradAmbassadors
ACA Advocacy in Action – Federal and State Updates
Federal Update: Impact of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ on Counselors and Mental Health Care
On July 4, President Trump signed H.R. 1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” into law. The law cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid, and more than 11 million Americans are expected to lose access to healthcare by 2034.
It will take time to fully feel the impact of this law, as elements of it will be phased in over the next few years. However, these coverage cuts will be devastating to mental health care, especially given Medicaid’s disproportionate role in covering mental health care. Learn more about the legislation and how you can continue to advocate for mental health care access.
State Update: States Take Action to Stop Funding Cuts
Sixteen state attorneys general filed a federal lawsuit opposing the Department of Education’s cancellation of nearly $1 billion in school mental health funding. The lawsuit argues that the department unlawfully rescinded grants authorized under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, including funding to support counselor professional development and recruitment. Learn more about the lawsuit.
We are currently meeting with policymakers to advocate on your behalf and urge legislators to maintain funding and counselors’ access to these critical grant programs. Take action now and urge members of Congress to push for full restoration of and access to this funding.
More information regarding federal, state, and advocacy updates can be found at the following link: CLICK HERE
Student Employment Opportunity for Fall 2025 – BGF Children’s Therapy
BGF Children’s Therapy provides in-home and center-based behavior therapy for children diagnosed with Autism. They are seeking individuals to work one-on-one with the children we serve, starting in Fall 2025. Ideal candidates are working towards their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related field and have some experience working with children. They train their staff in behavior analytic principles and the skills necessary to work with children diagnosed with Autism. They have hired students from DePaul in the past and have been very happy with their work and dedication. Hourly rates range from $20 to $25, depending on experience.
If you are interested, please reach out to the Clinical Director, Nicole Cissell, at nicole@bgftherapy.com or at 312-806-7937