Lobbying for Iowa's Students

IACAC-ISCA-IASFAA Legislative Visit

“Student-Professional Partnerships for Iowa Students”

Mark Your Calendars!

Numbers Are Limited to 150 Participants!

What: 2008 Visit the Hill

When: February 20, 2008

Where: The State Historical Building in Des Moines

Register today at http://iowaacac.com/VisitTheHill_reg.php

8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast -- State Historical Building Auditorium, 1st Floor

9:00 Welcome and Introductions/ Discussion of Goals for the Day - IACAC Government Relations Chair, Iowa Association of College Admission Counseling
Chris Traetow, IACAC President, Iowa College Access Network

9:15 - 11:00 Issue Discussions

Issue I: The Brain Drain: Keeping Iowa’s Young People in Iowa

Issue II: Talking the DREAM: Providing a Path to Citizenship for Undocumented Students

Issue III: Financial Literacy and Student Debt

10:45 Higher Education Constituent Groups -- Atrium

• Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
• State Board of Regents
• Iowa Association of Community College Trustees

11:15 Advocacy 101, Jos Linn, Domestic Outreach Organizer, RESULTS

12:15 Lunch with Legislators – Atrium Area

1:15-1:30 Depart State Historical Building for the Capitol

1:30 - 3:00 Appointments with Legislators

Why:

1. To learn about state government issues that concern educators working with students in the transition process,
2. To hear from affected students, counseling educators and state legislators about solutions to the decline in qualified guidance counselors,
3. To hear from affected students, financial aid and educational professionals about funding issues students face in paying for postsecondary education – financial aid, funding for higher education institutions,
4. To go to “The Hill” and lobby your legislator for the legislation and resources we need to provide a successful transition to higher education for all of Iowa’s students

How:

1. Register and show up – it’s sponsored by IACAC, IASFAA & ISCA and it’s FREE!

2. High school counselors who want to bring students can apply for an IACAC-sponsored $75 travel scholarship that will reimburse all/or part of transportations costs by completing the attached scholarship application and returning it to Jen Farrell (Farrell@iastate.edu)

3. College professionals who want to bring students can apply for an IASFAA-sponsored $75 travel scholarship by contacting Matt Brown at brown@studentloan.org)
4. Iowa Legislative Process (power point file)

Professional School Counselors Governor’s Award

Without question, the following counselors deserve recognition for their diligent efforts to see Professional School Counselors back in the legislative code. Their beliefs include:Professional school counselors should be available for EVERY student because they are an integral part of a total educational program.

1. School counselors are professionals trained in special skills to help support and guide students teaching them life-long skills.
2. Educators are in charge of safe environments and need to work at all times to communicate this to students and provide it wherever they find themselves with kids.
3. Prevention is the best path.
4. Improvement is a goal one should continually work toward.
5. Teamwork is key.

Working together to provide a three year initiative called the Counselor Summer Academy; they truly are a duo, a force, a team to inspire the rest of us.

Jill Helm is that smile in the dimmest of our days as counselors. She arrives within minutes of her knowledge of a school crisis. Her endless resources in grief and crisis counseling have touched hundreds of students and their parents. She is a leader in the bully and harassment prevention strategies. A member of the state planning team for high school reform and school improvement committees, she makes sure that the counselor’s point of view is stated and valued. She is the Student Support Services Consultant for Northwest Iowa AEA which means she wears many hats, but her love of counseling is definitely her priority. Known as the woman with a “Heart of Gold”, she lives to serve, share and support everyone and anyone.

Our second honoree is Linda Linn. No stranger to Iowa Professional School Counselors this tireless advocate for quality counseling programs has given her soul to the profession. Most of us know her as the Instructional Services Consultant for Prairie Lakes AEA and as our ISCA president, but she is much more. She was on the first task force to develop the Iowa Comprehensive Counseling School Counseling Program Guide and is now again serving on the Iowa Task Force. A member of more than four professional organizations, she leads by example. Her philosophy is “If you have ideas and opinions about the work, it’s time to step up and lead!” She lives her beliefs. At the bottom of her email she quotes:
"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing's going to get better. It's not." (from Dr. Seuss)