MASCA upcoming events

MASCA November 3, 2026 PD Training - Building Connection, Resilience, and Belonging for Boys and Transgender Students (03 Nov 2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

November 3 Professional Development Day - Building Connection, Resilience, and Belonging for Boys and Transgender Students

MASCA will once again host our annual Election Day PD program at Assumption University from 8:00-3:00. The difference in 2026 will be that there are two tracks for participants – one focused on supporting boys, often called the Silent Sufferers because of the lack of support and recognition of the significant needs that many of our boys have, and the second one focused on supporting the needs of our transgender students. You can view the draft agenda here.

November 3, 2026 PD Day - Building Connection, Resilience, and Belonging for Boys and Transgender Students - CE registration only (03 Nov 2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

ANNOUNCING OUR ANNUAL ELECTION DAY PD

Continuing Education Registration

Building Connection, Resilience, and Belonging for Boys and Transgender Students

Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Assumption University, Worcester
8:00-3:00
PDPs and CEs available
$50 for members; $105 for non-members

MASCA will once again host our annual Election Day PD program at Assumption University in Worcester from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM. The difference in 2026 will be that there are two tracks for participants – one focused on supporting boys, often called the Silent Sufferers because of the lack of support and recognition of the significant needs that many of our boys have, and the second one focused on supporting the needs of our transgender students. Note: you can only participate in one track, which you indicate when you register.

The agenda is still being finalized, but this gives you an idea of what we are planning and what to expect.

You can earn 5 CEs for attending this program for the entire day. The cost is $50. You must register for the event separately.

Mental Health Matters: Recognize and Respond Microcredential (05 Nov 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Mental Health Matters: Recognize and Respond- MASCA's newest microcredential

As student mental health needs continue to grow, school counselors play a critical role in identifying concerns, providing support, and fostering student well-being. This micro-credential equips counselors with the knowledge, confidence, and practical intervention strategies needed to effectively support students experiencing social, emotional, and behavioral challenges.

Participants will explore evidence-informed, school-based approaches to identifying and addressing student mental health concerns, delivering appropriate counseling and intervention services, and collaborating with school teams to promote positive outcomes.

Participants will leave with actionable tools, enhanced confidence, and a deeper understanding of how to address student mental health needs within the unique context of schools.

Here are the eight dates, times and topics. Speakers TBA. All sessions will be via zoom and can be recorded to view later if you are not able to attend.

Date	Time	Topic	Speaker(s)
10/8/26	10:30-11:45	Structuring Counseling Services for Predictability and Impact	TBA
11/5/26	10:30-11:45	Case Formulation and Mental Status Assessment	TBA
12/3/26	10:30-11:45	Trauma-Informed Counseling Practices	TBA
1/7/27	10:30-11:45	Supporting Students Experiencing Depression	TBA
2/4/27	10:30-11:45	Supporting Students Experiencing Anxiety	TBA
3/4/27	10:30-11:45	Externalizing Behaviors and De-escalation	TBA
4/1/27	10:30-11:45	Risk Assessment, Harm and Safety	TBA
5/6/27	10:30-11:45	Counselor Wellness and Sustainability	TBA

Cost: $65 for members and $120 for non-members

10 PDPs and/or 10 Continuing Education Hours available

10 CEs registration: $100 and will be done separately

Mental Health Matters: Recognize and Respond Microcredential - CE registration only (05 Nov 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Mental Health Matters: Recognize and Respond- MASCA's newest microcredential

MASCA has partnered with Walker Solutions to offer our very first microcredential focused on mental health. Join us for this exciting series of workshops starting on October 8.

As student mental health needs continue to grow, school counselors play a critical role in identifying concerns, providing support, and fostering student well-being. This microcredential equips counselors with the knowledge, confidence, and practical intervention strategies needed to effectively support students experiencing social, emotional, and behavioral challenges.

Through real-world case studies, collaborative discussions, and guided reflection, counselors will strengthen their clinical decision-making skills and develop a toolkit of practical, ready-to-use strategies for supporting students across a range of needs. Participants will leave with actionable tools, enhanced confidence, and a deeper understanding of how to address student mental health needs within the unique context of schools.

See below for the dates and topics of this 8-part series. All sessions will held on Thursdays from 10:30-11:45 AM, will be held via zoom and will be recorded to view later if you are not able to attend live. Kelsey Taylor, LMHC, Senior Consultant and Trainer, will be facilitating the series. Kelsey is a seasoned child and family therapist, supervisor, trainer, and administrator with 19 years of experience working in child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, and school systems. She is skilled in program development and system implementation for trauma informed care and evidenced-based practices and treatments. Kelsey is passionate about developing the knowledge and skills of paraprofessionals, educators, and clinicians to support youth with a wide range of social, cultural, mental health, and behavioral presentations through training, consultation, and supervision.

Date	Topic
10/8/26	Structuring Counseling Services for Predictability and Impact
11/5/26	Case Formulation and Mental Status Assessment
12/3/26	Trauma-Informed Counseling Practices
1/7/27	Supporting Students Experiencing Depression
2/4/27	Supporting Students Experiencing Anxiety
3/4/27	Externalizing Behaviors and De-escalation
4/1/27	Risk Assessment, Harm and Safety
5/6/26	Counselor Wellness and Sustainability

10 CEs registration: $100.

You must register for the event separately.

Access & Opportunity: Helping Our Most Vulnerable Students & Families Navigate the Financial Aid System Workshop (17 Nov 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Access & Opportunity: Helping Our Most Vulnerable Students & Families Navigate the Financial Aid System

Join us for this interactive and in-person 3-hour workshop which equips school counselors with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to effectively support students and families navigating today’s complex financial aid landscape—especially those from underserved, immigrant, mixed-status, first-generation, and economically vulnerable communities.

Participants will hear directly from professionals representing Massachusetts public college financial aid offices, the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA), the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA), and a practicing school counseling professional serving an urban and underserved community. Together, presenters will provide practical guidance on FAFSA and MAFSA completion, state and institutional aid opportunities, common barriers faced by vulnerable student populations, and best practices for building trust and increasing access to postsecondary education.

This workshop is designed for middle and high school counselors, college and career readiness staff, and educational professionals committed to expanding access and opportunity for all students. It will also specifically support school counselors with the implementation of the new graduation requirement dealing with MAFSA/FAFSA completion.

Location: Brandeis University | 8:30-12:00 | Tuesday, November 17, 2026

Cost: Only $10 for members; $65 for nonmembers

Breakfast included and optional campus tour at 12:15

You can view the agenda here.

Questions: Contact Bob Bardwell, Executive Director

Navigating the Grey: MASCA’s Legal & Ethical Monthly Symposium Season 3 (17 Nov 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Navigating the Grey: MASCA’s Legal & Ethical Monthly Symposium- Season 3

Transform Your Practice Through Expert-Led Ethical Decision Making

Are you facing increasingly complex ethical situations in your role as a school counselor? Join MASCA's innovative virtual symposium series designed to strengthen your decision-making skills and expand your professional toolkit.

Program Overview

Dive deep into pressing ethical challenges through this dynamic, interactive workshop series. Each monthly session creates a collaborative learning environment where you'll:

Explore real-world case studies relevant to today's school counseling landscape
Engage in facilitated small-group discussions with peers
Learn from experienced presenters on specialized topics
Build a stronger foundation in ethical decision-making

Series Details

Dates & topics listed below
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Format: Virtual via Zoom
Investment: $65 for the complete series (members) and $120 (non-members)

Dates and Topics (TBA)

September 29
October 20
November 17
December 8
January 12
January 26
February 9
March 2
March 16
April 27

*Please note that there will be an additional 2 hours of assigned asynchronous work, to be outlined during the course, in order to earn the 10 PDPs

Earn While You Learn

Qualify for a minimum of 10 Professional Development Points (PDPs)
Receive MASCA's specialized Microcredential in Ethical Practice
Access session recordings for flexible learning
Gain valuable resources through the Counselor's Notebook

Program Leadership

Expertly coordinated by MASCA's Ethics Committee in collaboration with our Executive Director and Professional Development Chair, ensuring high-quality, relevant content aligned with current professional standards.

Why Participate?

Address real ethical challenges you face daily
Build confidence in handling complex situations
Network with colleagues facing similar challenges
Access ongoing resources and support
Contribute to the broader counseling community through shared learning

Registration Includes

Access to all live sessions
Session recordings for flexible viewing
Pre and post-session materials
Small group discussion opportunities
Certificate of completion
Microcredential upon meeting all requirements

I'm interested, but what if I can't make all the sessions?

Not to worry! While live sessions are always more engaging, dynamic, and interactive, the sessions will be recorded and available online for you to view if you need to miss a session. Please note that a check-in (to be described at the first session) will be required to verify completion of a recorded session.

Join us in this transformative professional development opportunity designed specifically for school counselors who seek to elevate their ethical practice.

Space is limited. Register today to secure your spot in this comprehensive professional development series.

Navigating the Grey: MASCA’s Legal & Ethical Monthly Symposium - CE Registration only (17 Nov 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Navigating the Grey: MASCA’s Legal & Ethical Monthly Symposium- Season 3

Transform Your Practice Through Expert-Led Ethical Decision Making

Program Overview

Dive deep into pressing ethical challenges through this dynamic, interactive workshop series. Each monthly session creates a collaborative learning environment where you'll:

Explore real-world case studies relevant to today's school counseling landscape
Engage in facilitated small-group discussions with peers
Learn from experienced presenters on specialized topics
Build a stronger foundation in ethical decision-making

Participants who are interested in earning up to 10 CE's for attending all sessions live is done in addition to the event registration.. Note: you cannot earn CEs for sessions watched at a later time. This is a requirement of the NBCC.

Cost = $100

November 18 SSW/SAC SIG meeting (18 Nov 2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The SAC/SSW (School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker) SIG will meet on Wednesday, November 18 from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM. Our topic will be Refreshing our SAC/SSW Toolkit also known as “A Bag of Tricks”. Please come prepared to share both your questions (i.e. What do you do when…) as well as your favorite fall back ideas. When do you get stumped? What new or old interventions have you tried that have become a staple practice? What conversation openers/facilitators do you use frequently? What preferred activities do you use with positive outcomes? What resources can we share with each other?

We will also have time to discuss questions related to the new DESE SISP Rubric for SSW/SACs.

To join the meeting, you must pre-register here.

November 18 Counselors of Color Affinity Group meeting (18 Nov 2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

November 19 Elementary SIG meeting (19 Nov 2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 20:15:00 GMT

November is here! Thank you to everyone who joined us for a fantastic first meeting! It was wonderful connecting with all of you, and we’re excited to keep that momentum going for our second meeting on November 19. During this session, we will:

Check in and share updates from our respective schools.
Discuss support strategies for managing 504 responsibilities (as discussed during our last meeting).
Brainstorm practical ways to stay connected and support one another between our monthly meetings.

You must pre-register here to participate in the November meeting.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Holidays at the Newport Mansions (08 Dec 2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 16:15:00 GMT

Holidays at the Newport Mansions! All MASCA Retirees are welcome to join us on Tuesday, December 8 at 11:30 am for “Holidays at the Newport Mansions”. Join us at the “The Breakers” and experience this Newport Gilded Age mansion transformed into a lavish holiday showcase. After our visit, we will head to a local Newport restaurant for lunch. Attendees will need to buy their ticket to the Breakers and pay for their own lunch. To attend, please do the following:

Go to The Newport Mansions Website. Choose “Buy Admissions Tickets”. Buy your ticket to the Breakers for Tuesday, December 8th at 11:30 am. Tickets are $32 each.
Email Ruth Carrigan (rwcmed@gmail.com) or Chris Soverow (csoverow@gmail.com) to let us know that you will be joining us. We will be meeting at the Breakers, 44 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport RI at 11:15 am on 12/8.

We hope you can join us for this festive and fun event. Please buy your ticket soon as tickets to the Breakers often sell out during the holiday season. Counselors from Western MA interested in carpooling are welcome to reach out to Chris Soverow.

December 9 SAC/SSW SIG meeting (09 Dec 2026)

Wed, 09 Dec 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The SAC/SSW (School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker) SIG will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, December 9th from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM. Spencer Yacino, Ed.S., BCBA, LABA who serves as the Program Director of Emergency Services at Clinical Support Options in Gardner will be joining us on the topic of Mental Health Crisis Assessment. We will share and discuss evidence-based and best practices for the SSW/SAC related to risk assessment, suicide screening, mental status evaluation and more.

This Special Interest Group is geared for members serving as a School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker or in a related clinical role.

To join the meeting, you must pre-register here.

December 9 Governing Board meeting (09 Dec 2026)

Wed, 09 Dec 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Agenda TBA

December 17 Counselors of Color Affinity Group meeting (17 Dec 2026)

Thu, 17 Dec 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

December 17 Elementary SIG meeting (17 Dec 2026)

Thu, 17 Dec 2026 20:15:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

You must pre-register here for the December 17 zoom meeting.

January 13 SSW/SAC SIG meeting (13 Jan 2027)

Wed, 13 Jan 2027 14:00:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

January 20 Counselors of Color Affinity Group meeting (20 Jan 2027)

Wed, 20 Jan 2027 18:00:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

January 21 Elementary SIG meeting (21 Jan 2027)

Thu, 21 Jan 2027 20:15:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

You must pre-register here for the January 21 zoom meeting.

February 10 SSW/SAC SIG meeting (10 Feb 2027)

Wed, 10 Feb 2027 14:00:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

February 11 Governing Board meeting (11 Feb 2027)

Thu, 11 Feb 2027 21:00:00 GMT

Agenda TBA

LEAD Academy: Leading Self, Engaging Others, Advancing Systems, Demonstrating Impact (22 Feb 2027)

Mon, 22 Feb 2027 05:00:00 GMT

Registration starts November 2026

February 25 Counselors of Color Affinity Group meeting (25 Feb 2027)

Thu, 25 Feb 2027 18:00:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

March 10 SSW/SAC SIG meeting (10 Mar 2027)

Wed, 10 Mar 2027 14:00:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

March 18 Elementary SIG meeting (18 Mar 2027)

Thu, 18 Mar 2027 19:15:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

You must pre-register here for the January 21 zoom meeting.

March 24 Counselors of Color Affinity Group meeting (24 Mar 2027)

Wed, 24 Mar 2027 17:00:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

MASCA Annual Spring Conference - Navigating the Waves of Innovation (05 Apr 2027)

Mon, 05 Apr 2027 04:00:00 GMT

Details coming soon.

April 6 Governing Board meeting (06 Apr 2027)

Tue, 06 Apr 2027 20:00:00 GMT

Agenda TBA

May 20 Counselors of Color Affinity Group meeting (20 May 2027)

Thu, 20 May 2027 17:00:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

May 20 Elementary SIG meeting (20 May 2027)

Thu, 20 May 2027 19:15:00 GMT

Agenda - TBA

You must pre-register here for the January 21 zoom meeting.

June 8 Governing Board meeting (08 Jun 2027)

Tue, 08 Jun 2027 20:00:00 GMT

Agenda TBA