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ACACI Awards

Every Year at the Fall ICA Conference each division awards fellow colleagues for various awards relevant to the division’s mission and values. We highly value working alongside dedicated colleagues in this field and want to recognize you! Please consider nominating someone for one of our award categories:

  • ACACI Counselor of the Year Award: honors a counselor exhibiting a commitment to serving children and adolescents in Illinois with best practices and exemplary standards.

  • ACACI Counselor Educator of the Year Award: honoring an Illinois counselor educator, supervisor, or trainer who has exhibited an exemplary record of educating counselors to work with children and adolescents.

  • ACACI Advocate of the Year Award: honoring an Illinois resident who has advocated for youth to create sustainable positive change for children, adolescents, and their systems.

  • ACACI Emerging Leader of the Year Award: honoring an ACACI member, new professional, or graduate studentwho has made notable contributions to ACACI and has demonstrated transformative leadership skills,unconditional positive regard, and integrity

  • ACACI Research Award: honoring an Illinois research project which has the potential to enrich the scope ofcounseling practice with youth

  • ACACI Organizational Award: honoring an Illinois organization making a difference through commitment toprograms providing counseling services to youth in Illinois.

  • ACACI Youth Award: honoring an individual youth or group of youths in Illinois who have exhibited passion inadvocacy reflecting the values of the counseling profession.​

2024 ACACI AWARD WINNERS

Kelly Laban is a deserving recipient of ACACI’s Counselor of the Year Award, recognized for her unwavering dedication to the mental health field and her impactful work as both a clinician and supervisor. With extensive experience supporting adolescents and young adults, she utilizes evidence-based practices like DBT and ACT to foster growth and healing. Kelly's selection for this award reflects her commitment to mentoring the next generation of counselors, underscoring her leadership and dedication to advancing the field, and highlighting her exceptional contributions as a counselor.

Jocelyn Puccini’s selection for this award recognizes her instrumental role in developing the Health & Wellness Services program at Youth Outlook. As a key leader, Jocelyn has shaped programs that prioritize the mental and physical well-being of LGBTQ+ youth. Her dedication to fostering safe, inclusive environments has expanded vital services such as sexual health education and wellness workshops. Jocelyn’s passion and innovative approach to supporting vulnerable populations have left a lasting impact on both the program and the community, making her a truly deserving recipient of this award.

2023 ACACI AWARD WINNERS

As the 2023 recipient of the ACACI Advocate of the Year Award, Sharon Gleismann is recognized for her exceptional dedication as a teacher, school administrator, and advocate for children and families. Identifying a greater need, Sharon transitioned into educational consulting to empower parents to become effective advocates for their children’s rights in 504 plans and IEPs. She provides essential support to families who cannot afford child advocates, equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the school system effectively. Sharon also extends her expertise to the community by offering free presentations at local libraries, making her guidance widely accessible. Her unwavering passion has transformed countless lives, making her a truly deserving recipient of this award.

Dr. Goulet is a highly deserving recipient of the 2023 ACACI Research Award for her pioneering work in child advocacy and protection. With over thirty years dedicated to advancing youth well-being, she has founded and led key initiatives, including the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center and the Illinois Chapter of Children’s Advocacy Centers. Her innovative training model for child protection professionals, developed at UIS, integrates experiential learning through a simulation lab and mock courtroom, setting a new standard for child protection training. Her research, published nationally and internationally, emphasizes evidence-based practices to support at-risk youth, with her models gaining interest from multiple states. Dr. Goulet's work not only enhances the skills of counselors but also contributes to the prevention of adverse childhood experiences, making her contributions invaluable to the field.

2020 ACACI AWARD WINNERS

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