Below are important messages from Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC):

ISAC Supports for the Financial Aid Application & Correction Process

With the end of the school year fast approaching, and with many students still experiencing delays, processing issues, and needing to make corrections to their 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®), the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) has a variety of supports to offer to support student success. These services are available now and will continue to be available throughout the summer. Please share this information with students and families your organization serves and other professionals and stakeholders in your network.

• For students and families needing one-on-one assistance, they can connect with their local ISACorps members by visiting the ISAC Student Portal to find the ISACorps member in their area who can help answer questions and navigate the completion of their financial aid applications.
• ISAC offers a FAFSA Completion DIY Toolkit so you can take advantage of ready to use announcements/flyers and tips to help encourage students to file their financial aid applications.
• Students and families can also get additional information about the financial aid application process on ISAC’s Financial Aid Planning webpage or by calling ISAC at 800-899-ISAC (4722).

 

Loan Repayment Adjustment Webinar

Join ISAC to learn about the one-time Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Account Adjustment. The IDR Account Adjustment will end this month on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. The adjustment is a set of temporary changes that allows federal student loan borrowers to receive credit for certain previously ineligible payments while under an IDR plan and/or pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). We want to make all Federal Direct Loan and Family Federal Education Loan (FEEL) borrowers aware of this opportunity and how to navigate the process. Attend the upcoming webinars listed below. For registration details, visit ISAC’s Professional Development Calendar. For questions, contact isac.borrowersupport@illinois.gov.

 

Illinois PaCE Half-Day Training

There is still time to register for Part Two of the half-day training on the Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework at Lincoln Land Community College on Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Registration is open to school counselors, administrators, college and career staff, and others who support students to be college and career ready. This training is free to attend. Registration will close on May 7, or once full capacity has been reached – which may be before May 7, 2024. This training is perfect for those at any level in the process of implementation, who are looking for ideas on how to build a PaCE culture, collect and use data, and work PaCE into their school day. This training will include time to connect with ISAC and work with your team. For more information and registration details, visit the In-Person PaCE Trainings page. For questions, contact isac.pace@illinois.gov.

 

PaCE Symposium Registration

Don’t forget to register for the third annual PaCE Symposium taking place at Elgin Community College on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Registration will close on Friday, May 3, 2024. Registration for the symposium is $25 and includes continental breakfast and lunch. We encourage folks interested in attending to register in advance. For more information and to register, visit the PaCE Symposium page. For questions, contact isac.pace@illinois.gov.

 

Upcoming FAN Events This Week and Next

ISAC helps sponsor Family Action Network (FAN) events, which are always free and open to the public. FAN curates a high-quality speaker series on a variety of topics relevant to our work. Please visit the FAN website to register for these upcoming events and see the attached flyers for more details:

• We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For – Friday, April 26, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. (CT), in person – registration required – at University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
• The Civil Rights Act at 60: Is Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Dream for Chicago and the Country Attainable? – Monday, April 29, 2024, at 7 p.m. (CT) , in person – no registration required – Evanston Township High School Auditorium
• Radical Respect: How to Work Together Better – Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 7 p.m. – on Zoom

If you’re not able to participate in a live FAN event, all events are recorded. Visit the FAN website’s Past Events page to view the library of past event topics and their recordings.

 

Fostering Partnerships to Cultivate the Next Generation of Health Professionals Community Colleges

Postsecondary educators and students who are preparing for careers in healthcare fields are invited to attend this free workshop being offered by Northern Illinois University and the Northeast Illinois Area Health Education Center. This event will be held on Friday, May 3, 2024, at NIU’s Naperville from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM. The purpose of this event is to strengthen postsecondary paths, including both community colleges and four-year universities, to promote a high-quality healthcare workforce that can meet the needs of our diverse communities. Register here for this event.

 

Flyers to Events:

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I’m reaching out on behalf of Kid Matters Counseling, a provider of mental health counseling for children aged 2-13, with over 150 ★★★★★ Google Reviews. We’re excited to announce an opportunity for a skilled and compassionate Part-Time Child & Adolescent Therapist to join our team as a Fully Licensed Contractor.

We’re looking for dedicated individuals who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and their families. Graduate students in Clinical Mental Health or related fields are encouraged to apply, and while a Master’s degree and full licensure are preferred, we welcome applications from pre-licensed candidates as well.

This position is based in Hinsdale, IL 60521, so reliable commuting or plans to relocate are necessary. Our part-time contractor role offers commission-based pay in a fee-for-service private practice, meaning NO insurance is billed in-house, providing our clinicians with more predictable revenue streams.

We also offer a free Power of Play Program to hired applicants designed to enhance therapeutic interventions for our clients.

If you have questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to potentially welcoming a new member to our Kid Matters Counseling family.

For more information kindly visit:
Indeed
Kid Matters Counseling Careers

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Thank you so much to all of you who have reached out with questions or have already applied to be a part of this study abroad program. Remember, applications are due May 1^st if you have not applied yet and are interested in doing so.

 

Summary

This coming December, in coordination with the office of Global Engagement, the Counseling Program will be offering a study abroad program, Portugal: The Assessment and Treatment of Chemical Dependency. Most DePaul counseling students take CSL 466 (Assessment and Treatment of Chemical Dependency) during the fall of their second year, however students entering their third year are also invited to apply for this experience by taking the study abroad course as a Special Topics Elective (CSL 482).

In 2000, the Portuguese government has taken a distinctive approach toward addressing substance use problems in their country by decriminalizing most drug use and possession. This has led to the development of robust and integrated chemical dependency treatment programs that treat addiction as a health concern rather than a criminal condition. Our partners overseas are very exited to work with DePaul students to share the unique insights that they have gathered over the years.

If you have questions or would like to know more about the program, we are hosting a virtual information session this Thursday (4/18) at 12pm. Please register to attend by using the link below.

https://depaul.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMuc-2uqT4tHtdpinQ1YQ7_DWQ6qBTVvGQt

 

If you are interested in participating in the program, you can apply at the DePaul Study Abroad website listed below. In the coming weeks, I will be visiting classrooms to talk more about the program and answer questions. I hope to see you soon. https://programsabroad.depaul.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10377 

 

I hope to see you there, and maybe in Portugal as well!

 

Okenna Egwu – oegwu@depaul.edu

Rebecca Michel – rebecca.michel@depaul.edu

Scott Ozaroski, Associate Director of Program Management – s.ozaroski@depaul.edu

BGF Children’s Therapy  provides in-home and center-based behavior therapy for children diagnosed with Autism. They are currently searching for individuals to work one on one with the children they serve during this summer and into Fall 2024. Ideal candidates are working on their Bachelor’s or Master’s in a related field and have some experience 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-$25, depending on experience.

Interested applicants can email Nicole Cissell (nicole@bgftherapy.com) or call (312-806-7937)

Rochelle Township High School in Rochelle, IL is actively seeking a Spanish-speaking school counselor for the 2025-2026. Given our substantial Spanish-speaking population, fluency in Spanish is crucial for this role within our district.  While the position is primarily for the 2025-2026 school year, they are open to hiring ahead of schedule for this upcoming school year for the right candidate (2024-2025). They welcome interest from individuals who are currently pursuing counseling programs, as they can benefit from shadowing opportunities or internships while completing their degree while working with us at RTHS.

Please contact Dr. Christopher R. Lewis for more information (clewis@rthsd212.org)

Hello all,

Welcome back from spring break! I hope that your spring quarter is off to a wonderful start!

This coming December, in coordination with the office of Global Engagement, the Counseling Program will be offering a study abroad program, Portugal: The Assessment and Treatment of Chemical Dependency. Most DePaul counseling students take CSL 466 (Assessment and Treatment of Chemical Dependency) during the fall of their second year, however students entering their third year are also invited to apply for this experience by taking the study abroad course as a Special Topics Elective (CSL 482).

 

COE Portugal, December 2024

In 2000, the Portuguese government has taken a distinctive approach toward addressing substance use problems in their country by decriminalizing most drug use and possession. This has led to the development of robust and integrated chemical dependency treatment programs that treat addiction as a health concern rather than a criminal condition. Our partners overseas are very exited to work with DePaul students to share the unique insights that they have gathered over the years.

This study abroad program is open to DePaul graduate students and will run through the December 2024 intersession (two weeks). We will be hosting a virtual information session on Thursday, April 18th to answer any questions you might have about this study abroad opportunity. Feel free to invite other DePaul graduate students who might be interested. The link for that Zoom information session is listed below:

https://depaul.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMuc-2uqT4tHtdpinQ1YQ7_DWQ6qBTVvGQt 

 

If you are interested in participating in the program, you can apply at the DePaul Study Abroad website listed below. In the coming weeks, I will be visiting classrooms to talk more about the program and answer questions. I hope to see you soon.

https://programsabroad.depaul.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10377 

 

Applications for study abroad are due May 1st. If you have questions about this opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact myself, or one of the people listed below, and we will be happy to assist you.

Okenna Egwu – oegwu@depaul.edu

Rebecca Michel – rebecca.michel@depaul.edu

Scott Ozaroski, Associate Director of Program Management – s.ozaroski@depaul.edu

 

We hope that you will join us during the info session on April 18th and consider being a part of this wonderful program.

Warm regards,

Okenna Egwu

Day On The Hill: Counselor Advocacy Day (See Flyer Below)

Date: April 17th, 2024

Counselor Advocacy Day (8.5 x 13 in)

 

Sign Up by Monday April 8th!

Chicago Counseling Services currently has an opening for their 2024-2025 internship program.

Interested students can reach out to Amelia Harper at aharper@chicagocounselingservices.com or (773) 345-8330 ext. 231

URGENT!! — Thursday (3/21) – Complete a Witness Slip

We need your support to address shortages in crucial support personnel roles in our schools! Please take a moment to complete a witness slip for HB5492, also known as the School Support Personnel Shortage Prevention Act. This bill provides provisions to combat shortages in fields such as social work, counseling, psychology, speech pathology, and nursing.

By supporting HB5492, we can ensure that our schools have the necessary resources to support the holistic needs of our students. Let’s work together to make a difference!

Link to Sign

College of Education Student Teaching and Internships Scholarship

The Spring Quarter 2024 Student Teaching and Internships Scholarship application is opening this upcoming Sunday, March 24th and closes Sunday, April 14th. Any counseling student who is completing internship during spring quarter 2024 is eligible for this scholarship. However, this scholarship cannot be awarded for more than one quarter of the year-long internship. Counseling students who have already been awarded the College of Education Student Teaching and Internships Scholarship during the Fall or Winter quarter of their internship are not eligible to receive this award a second time.

Attached is a graphic with the application info and here is a link to the application: https://depaul.academicworks.com/opportunities/47109.

See additional details below:

College of Education Student Teaching and Internships Scholarship

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. The maximum award amount is $3,000. To be considered, you must submit your application by Sunday, April 14, 2024 11:59 PM.

We will prioritize the awards based on demonstrated financial need. To be eligible for the award, students must have a current FAFSA completed with the Financial Aid Office.