Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling of Illinois
ALGBTIC-IL
c/o Dr. Dennis Frank, Roosevelt University, College of Education, 18 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
October 19, 2010
Yonah Klem, President
Illinois Counseling Association
PO Box 367
Dekalb, IL 60115
Dear Dr. Klem,
I am writing on behalf of the Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling of Illinois (ALGBTIC-IL). In accordance with the Illinois Counseling Association’s By-Laws (Article IX, Section 1) we are petitioning the ICA Governing Council to be recognized as an ICA Interest Group.
The mission of ALGBTIC-IL is to enhance the quality of life in society for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people by promoting greater awareness and understanding of LGBT issues among members of the IL counseling profession and related helping occupations. ALGBTIC-IL also promotes advancing the counseling profession and the practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity, diversity, and social justice.
Through the recognition of both individual and social contexts that represent the confluence of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual and/or affectional orientation, ability, age, spiritual and/or religious belief, and indigenous heritage, it is the purpose of ALGBTIC-IL to:
1. Facilitate professional development and training opportunities for counseling practitioners, students, and educators thus improving the standards and delivery of counseling services provided to LGBT clients and communities in the State of Illinois.
2. Provide a centralized location for mental health counselors, school counselors, counseling professionals, and other helping professionals in the State of Illinois to access resources, referrals, and consultation on issues related to LGBT populations.
3. Promote greater awareness and understanding of persons of various sexual and/or affectional identities not fully represented by the terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
4. Identify conditions that create barriers to the human growth and development of LGBT clients and communities; advocate for the elimination of these conditions; and utilize counseling skills, programs, and efforts to preserve, protect, and promote the development of LGBT individuals and families in the State of Illinois.
5. Secure equality of treatment, advancement, qualification and status of LGBT members of the counseling profession and related helping occupations in the State of Illinois.
Our goal as an ICA Interest Group is to provide us with official recognition while we pursue ICA Division status. Over the next year, we will develop by-laws, policies, and governing instruments in accordance with ICA and national ALGBTIC policies, increase membership, and elect the members of the initial ALGBTIC-IL governing board. At this time, in addition to the five founding members of ALGBTIC-IL, we have received requests for membership information from more than seventy-five (75) counseling practitioners, students, and educators in Illinois. Our first organizational meeting will be held on November 13, 2010 at the ICA annual conference.
I and the other ALGBTIC-IL leadership committee members will be in attendance at the ICA Governing Council meeting on November 11, 2010 and will be available to discuss our proposal and answer any questions. If you or any member of the ICA governing council has any questions or concerns in advance of the board meeting I would be happy to respond to them.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. If there is any other material or information that I can provide to assist in this process please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Dennis A. Frank, II Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Counseling Program
Roosevelt University
Gage 837
18 South Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60603
773-420-8987 (cellular)
ALGBTIC-IL Leadership Committee
Dennis A. Frank, II Ph.D. Roosevelt University
Lee C. Rush, Ph.D. Northern Illinois University
Joel M. Filmore, M.A. Northern Illinois University
Daniel Sullivan, B.A. Argosy University
John Popik, B.A. Roosevelt University