Events
- Annual Convention
- Great Teaching Round-up
- Leading from the middle
- fall conference for faculty leaders
- Webinars
"I think there is something more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren't enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision."
Events: 2010 Counseling and Student Services Schedule
Counseling and Student Services Summary
Friday, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
"Crime Victims Rights: Faculty's Role as Knowledgeable and Compassionate Advisors"
Speaker: Andy Kahan, Crime Victims Director, City of Houston, Texas
Saturday, 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
"Will You Still Love Me When I'm 65? What Baby Boomers Have to Look Forward To"
Speaker: Andy Achenbaum, Professor of History and Social Work, University of Houston
Friday, March 5th, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
"Crime Victims Rights: Faculty's Role as Knowledgeable and Compassionate Advisors"
Speaker: Andy Kahan, Crime Victims Director, City of Houston, Texas
Attendees will learn about the rights of crime victims and resources that are available for them. Discussion will include real life situations involving crime victim cases and how their victimization became a catalyst for enacting laws to enhance public safety. The lecture will showcase how local and national media assisted to effect changes in legislation and promotion of victims rights.
First-hand examples of media utilization resulting in changing laws to enhance victims rights will be features. Attendees will learn about the myriad of victims groups in Harris County and how they assist crime victims.
Biography:
Andy Kahan currently serves as the Mayor’s Crime Victims Director for the city of Houston, Texas. This one-man office acts as an ombudsman for victims of crime and has been instrumental in enacting victim-related legislation in addition to serving as a resource for victims of crime.
Andy Kahan received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 1983 from the University of Houston and came to work in 1992 as the Director of the Mayor’s Crime Victims Office for the City of Houston. His responsibilities include working with local crime victim’s rights organizations to facilitate the pooling of resources and the exchange of information. In addition, the office monitors parole and crime statistics, represents victims before the Parole Board, puts crime victims in touch with local crime victims support and advocacy groups and represents the Mayor before various inter-agency crime groups.
Since it’s inception, the Director has had great success in working with the Legislature in support of Victims Rights. The following listed below are legislation enacted and supported by the office:
- 1993 Creating a Capitol offense for those who murder a child six year’s and younger.
- 1993 Reduction in the amount of Parolees released in Harris County.
- 1995 Abolishment of Mandatory Release of convicted felons.
- 1995 Promotion of gun safety by making adults criminally responsible for failure to properly store firearms.
- 1996 Enacted a policy change to allow victims families to witness executions.
- 1997 “Lori’s Law” Allowing juveniles to be criminally charged with Failure to Stop and Render Aid.
- 1997 Mandating the Parole Board meet with either the victims or family members before a vote takes place.
- 1997 Allowing Governmental Agencies the option of providing public information to convicted felons who are incarcerated.
- 1999 Creation of an enhanced sex offender’s notification to include names, specific numeric address and photographs free of charge. Direct mailing of the above provided to residents within three blocks of a high- risk offender.
- 1999 Extended Crime Victims compensation benefits for relocation expenses to victims of domestic violence.
- 2000 Instrumental in bringing Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) to Harris County.
- 2001 Spearheaded National Campaign to prevent convicted criminals and their agents from profiting from the sale of “Murderabilia”. Several states as a result enacted the Notoriety for Profit Law.
- 2001 Extension of Statute of Limitations on Hit-And-Run fatalities from three years to unlimited, as in other cases of homicide.
- 2003 Extended Parole Set-offs from a maximum of three years to five years for violent offenders.
- 2005 Changed the cause of death from “Homicide” to Judicial Order on a death certificate of an executed inmate.
- 2005 Allows for victim notification on cases found not guilty by reason of insanity.
- 2006 Initiated policy change within the Texas Department of Public Safety to include deported sex offenders on their public database.
- 2006 Initiated policy change within MySpace to screen death row inmate web pages.
- 2008 Enhanced Conspiracy to Solicit Capitol Murder to a 1st Degree Felony
- 2008 Added Conspiracy to Solicit Capitol Murder to the list of offenses eligible for Termination of Parental Rights
- 2008 Pre-1980 Homicide Cases will now be eligible to receive Crime Victim Compensation Benefits.
Saturday, March 6th, 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
"Will You Still Love Me When I'm 65? What Baby Boomers Have to Look Forward To"
Speaker: Andy Achenbaum, Professor of History and Social Work, University of Houston
Biography:
Andrew Achenbaum, professor of history and social work at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, is the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Donald P. Kent award. The honor is given by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) each year to a person who exemplifies the highest standards for professional leadership in gerontology through teaching, service and interpretation of gerontology to the larger society.
“I am thrilled and humbled to be recognized by colleagues who have my respect and admiration,” Achenbaum said. “As baby boomers like me come of age, we need researchers to dispel stereotypes of late life, and practitioners to create opportunities for a rising generation to enjoy bold new opportunities.”
The award was created in 1973 in memory of Donald P. Kent for his outstanding leadership in translating research findings into practical use.
Achenbaum’s lifelong interest in gerontology ranges from spirituality to policy-making. He teaches courses on the history of social welfare and policy in the United States and spirituality and aging. His publications on the topic include Shades of Gray (1983), Social Security (1986), Crossing Frontiers (1995) and Older Americans, Vital Communities (2005).
“The AARP tells us that 60 is the new 30. I don’t believe them, but I do think that what is 60 today is unprecedented,” he said.
Achenbaum is a former delegate to the White House Conference on Aging (1981, 1995) and a winner of the Geneva Mathiasen Award in 2003 from the National Council on Aging, where he also has served as board chairman.
“We are proud of our friend and colleague. This is a well-deserved award and honor,” said Ira Colby, professor and dean of the College of Social Work. “Andy possesses a perspective about gerontology that is scholarly and accessible, and conveys a tremendous insight.”
The winner of the Kent Award presents a lecture at the GSA’s Annual Scientific Meeting the following year. “To say that I am honored to know Andy is an understatement, knowing as I do that only the most accomplished receive this prestigious award from the Gerontological Society of America,” said Steven Applewhite, UH professor of social work. “Andy is a gifted scholar, a true gentleman, a historian and gerontologist of the highest tradition. We have all benefited from his lifetime of contributions to the field of gerontology.”
Counseling and Student Personnel Services Section Chair:
Marge Lapham, Houston Community College-Southwest