Transition Counselor Institute
Registering online
To register online, click here.
Requirements for Institutes (purpose, terminal objectives, attendance, and mastery requirements)
For all institutes, 12 full seat hours are required for institute credit - attendance both full days is required - no partial attendance is accepted. For CEU credit, participants are required to attend 95% of the training institute and fill out an end of course evaluation.
To listen to comments about the institute from three TCI trainers,
Who should attend the TCI?
- The MCEC's Transition Counselor Institute (TCI) is primarily held for elementary, middle and high school guidance professionals. It is a concept for the MCEC series of professional development institutes for counselors.
- School Principals
- Installation representatives: Commanding Officers, School Liaison Officers, Family Support Directors, and Relocation Specialists
Transition Counselor Goal, Objective and Rationale
Transition Counselor Institute Goal:
To improve high school predictability for the mobile military student
TCI Objective:
The critical importance of the professional counselor in supporting and accommodating the military student in transition is without question. Access to school counselors who understand the needs of the mobile military student and also have the skills to bridge the transition from school to school is currently one of random, localized chance rather than intent.
Rationale:
Counselors with the "know-how" to successfully navigate the variety of system requirements and ways of communicating courses, grades, and programs are not consistently available to high school-aged military students.
The TCI is intended to increase availability of specifically trained transition counselors and other participants, who have a shared knowledge of turbulence. These TCI Fellows will be well-versed in strategies and resources designed to appropriately address issues faced by mobile military students and their families. TCI will provide an environment for school counselors and other participants to have access to professional networks, technologies, resources, and support systems to help them stay abreast of the dynamic and diverse 9-12 school experiences. The goals of improved predictability for the transitioning military student and the strengthened partnership between military installations and their supporting school systems will be supported by the development of a cadre of expert transition counselors, ultimately accessible to mobile military students throughout the world.
Concept and Expectations
The Institutes follow a curriculum developed and kept current by MCEC. Trainers are educators with experience in the secondary school arena, high school counselors, transition specialists, military parents, and others identified by MCEC and/or requested by the TCI Fellows. The Institutes are conducted in cooperation with the military community. The purpose of the TCI series is to support the secondary school-age military student through understanding, accommodation, processes/procedures and protocols, networking, technologies, and communication.
The Institutes increase in complexity going from Level One (awareness, processes, and networks); to Level Two (deeper understanding - social/emotional needs and the military life); and, to Level Three (master transition counseling - partnerships with the installation).
The TCI curriculum, content, process, and delivery are correlated with the National Staff Development Council's Standards and the National Standards for School Counseling Programs.
Transition Counselor Institute Phase One: Awareness, Processes, and Networks
Topics for Phase I are:
- Military life
- Challenges for K-12 students in transition
- Critical issues
- Research on military students and the impact of transition
- Understanding the differences in school requirements
- Navigating the differences - requirements. offerings, and "how to" find out
- Sending school responsibilities - the perspective of "from" students, schools, parents
- Receiving school responsibilities - the perspective of "to" students, schools, and parents
- Informing, involving, and supporting military parents
- What works for students, parents, colleagues/teachers
- Resources available - on post/base, technologies, and MCEC
- Exploring proven practices and procedures
- Sharing - building the professional network as a "safety net" for military students
Transition Counselor Institute Phase Two: Deeper Understanding: Social/emotional needs, and Military Culture
Topics for Phase II build on Phase I and incorporates the needs identified by the TCI Fellows as well as other topics that potentially include the following:
- Mobility past, present, and future - life of the military child
- Deployment
- Separation
- School support systems
- Confidence and resiliency - what schools can do
- Ages and stages - impacts of transition
- Resources
- Family support systems
- Teaching and guiding professional colleagues - setting up an inviting school
- Military culture - understand and celebrate
- Post secondary issues and accommodations
- Sharing proven practices
TCI Phase Three: Expert Partnership With the Installation
This level would be enhanced by a team approach with the installation and the school system sending the advanced counseling personnel. Topics for Phase III build on Phases I and II and will incorporate needs identified by the TCI Fellows as well as other advanced topics that potentially include the following:
- Development of resources and procedures
- Requirement changes and "work-arounds"
- Dialogue and discussion from the "experts"
- The handoff - bridges that carry the student to the enrollment at the next location and provide support upon entry
- Advanced networking and use of technology
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Training of trainers - spreading the word
Continuing Education/Graduate Credit
Continuing Education: The MCEC has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education Training (IACET), 8405 Greensboro Drive, Suite 800, McLean, VA 22102. Several states have also given their approval. Furthermore, the MCEC is a National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) and may offer NBCC approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The MCEC solely is responsible for all aspects of the program. To receive the MCEC CEUs, participants will be required to complete the CEU Application during the Institute. CEU credits of 1.2 will be awarded for the successful completion of each institute for the cost of $25.00 payable by check only to the Military Child Education Coalition (no cash or credit cards accepted). Twelve (12) full seat hours required for institute credit, attendance is required for both full days, and no partial attendance will be accepted. For CEU credit, participants are required to attend 95% of the training institute and fill out an end of course evaluation.
Graduate Credit: Upon successful completion of the institute, you have an option to receive one graduate credit hour underwritten by a branch of Texas A&M. The University fee is $175.
Contact us for more information on MCEC's Transition Counselor Institute Series
Important Note: The TCI is proprietary to the Military Child Education Coalition. It is protected by registered copyrights and patent (pending).
Calendar (dates and locations) for Scheduled Institutes - when and where are MCEC's TCIs held?
To check for dates and locations of TCIs in the next few months, click here.
Coordinating/Hosting a TCI
If you have further questions or would like to host a TCI in your community, please contact us:
MCEC's TCI Coordinator: TCI@militarychild.org
or the MCEC® Office: (254) 953-1923
