October 15-17, 2025
Embassy Suites & Hampton Roads Convention Center
Hampton, VA
We hope to see you next year!
Details to come.
ALL PRO DAD® is the fatherhood program of Family First, a non-profit organization encouraging every parent to be actively involved in the lives of their children. The ALL PRO DAD® School Chapter program is an exciting and impactful monthly experience that builds great relationships and transforms school communities.
For more information, please contact Keith Schumacher, School Engagement Specialist at (678) 859-6139 and keith.schumacher@familyfirst.net.
ALL PRO DAD® is the fatherhood program of Family First, a non-profit organization encouraging every parent to be actively involved in the lives of their children. The ALL PRO DAD® School Chapter program is an exciting and impactful monthly experience that builds great relationships and transforms school communities.
For more information, please contact Keith Schumacher, School Engagement Specialist at (678) 859-6139 and keith.schumacher@familyfirst.net.
Opening Keynote Session
October 16, 2025| 8:30 a.m.
Brett will also be presenting a breakout session.
Closing Keynote Session
October 17, 2025| 12:00 p.m.
Diana will also be presenting a breakout session.
Click the session to title to learn more
Pre-Conference Session
October 15, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Pre-Conference Session
October 15, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Click the session to title to learn more
School counselors are uniquely positioned to be front line responders to students presenting in crisis. This workshop is designed to enhance a school counselor’s knowledge on current suicide statistics, explore strategies to provide effective screening, and demonstrate how to create meaningful safety plans. Special emphasis will be placed on empowering student voice through this process.
Makenzie Perkins, MS, currently serves as the Counseling Specialist for Collierville Schools (TN). In this role she is responsible for coordinating and supervising school counseling, threat assessment, health facility transitions, and crisis response across the district. Previously she served as the Prevention Counselor at Collierville High School, where she helped students and staff navigate mental health concerns and crises at the largest high school in the state.
Makenzie is a National Certified Counselor and earned her Master of Science degree and Clinical Mental Health Specialist degree from the University of Memphis. She is also the author of 30-Minute Groups: Grief. Makenzie is passionate about training professionals in the areas of threat assessment and management, suicidality, school safety, loss and grief, and understanding the everchanging mental health needs of today’s youth.
Did you know new studies estimate 1 in 12 children will lose a parent or sibling before the age of 18? This presentation will allow school counselors to leave with creative ways to help students process their own grief journeys. A variety of expressive counseling techniques will be explored (and practiced!) that can be utilized in both individual and group sessions for all ages. Although we can’t control if a student experiences loss and grief, we can help give their grief a voice.
Makenzie Perkins, MS, currently serves as the Counseling Specialist for Collierville Schools (TN). In this role she is responsible for coordinating and supervising school counseling, threat assessment, health facility transitions, and crisis response across the district. Previously she served as the Prevention Counselor at Collierville High School, where she helped students and staff navigate mental health concerns and crises at the largest high school in the state.
Makenzie is a National Certified Counselor and earned her Master of Science degree and Clinical Mental Health Specialist degree from the University of Memphis. She is also the author of 30-Minute Groups: Grief. Makenzie is passionate about training professionals in the areas of threat assessment and management, suicidality, school safety, loss and grief, and understanding the everchanging mental health needs of today’s youth.
Click the session to title to learn more
Tentative
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration & Information Center Open
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Exhibits Open
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast (available in the Exhibit Area)
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Opening Session with Featured Speaker and Keynote Speaker – Brett Zyromski
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Transition Break
10:15 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Breakout Session 1
11:05 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. Break with Exhibitors
11:35 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. Breakout Session 2
12:25 p.m. – 1:25 p.m. Box Lunch (available in the Exhibit Area)
1:25 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Breakout Session 3
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Grad Student Meet & Greet
2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Break with Exhibitors
2:45 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. Breakout Session 4
3:35 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. Transition Break
3:50 p.m. – 4:40 p.m. Breakout Session 5
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Networking Social (Embassy Suites Manager’s Reception)
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration & Information Center Open
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Exhibits Open
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast (available in the Exhibit Area)
8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. Breakout Session 6
9:20 a.m. – 9:35 a.m. Transition Break
9:35 a.m. – 10:25 a.m. Breakout Session 7
10:25 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Morning Break & Exhibit Area – Last Chance!
11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Breakout Session 8
11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Transition Break
12:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. Awards Luncheon & Closing Keynote Speaker – Diana Virgil
VSCA has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6066. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. VSCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
To receive NBCC hours you MUST complete an evaluation for each session attended via this link: https://tinyurl.com/VSCANBCChours. All session evaluations must be completed by October 31st.
If you would like to print out a Certificate of Attendance for attending this year’s conference please go to https://dashboard.ascaconferences.org. Please note that this certificate may satisfy most division’s continuing education requirements, but does NOT meet the requirements for the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
Do you need help justifying this conference to your Supervisor? Vying for a good funding source can be challenging sometimes. We have created a letter (modeled from ASCA) you can customize to support your efforts to attend the 2024 VSCA Conference!
MEMBER*
Professional/Emeritus
$50
MEMBER*
Retiree
$40
NON-MEMBER
$80
Graduate Student
$40
MEMBER*
Professional/Emeritus
Registration
$170
Registration + Membership
$220
Save $20 if you register by September 15th!***
MEMBER*
Retiree
Registration
$70
Registration + Membership
$95
Save $10 if you register by September 15th!***
NON-MEMBER
Registration
$240
Save $20 if you register by September 15th!***
Graduate Student
Registration
$70
Membership Included!**
Save $10 if you register by September 15th!***
Registration after October 12, 2025 will be onsite and will add $20 to the Regular Registration rate.***
Thursday ONLY
Registration
$130
Registration + Membership
$180
Save $20 if you register by September 15th!***
Friday ONLY
Registration
$130
Registration + Membership
$180
Save $20 if you register by September 15th!***
Registration after October 12, 2025 will be onsite and will add $20 to the Regular Registration rate.***
*Your VSCA membership must be good through October 17, 2025 to qualify for the discounted Member rates.
**All Grad students receive a FREE VSCA Membership. Visit vsca.org to sign up for your free membership!
***To qualify for the Early or Regular Registration discount, your registration form AND payment (copy of your purchase order, check, or credit card) must be received or postmarked by the Early or Regular Registration cutoff date.
The online registration portal is now closed, but we will be accepting on-site registration at the event. Please bring the Registration Form (see below to download) with your method of payment to the conference.
To pay with a check or purchase order please download the registration form and send it in with your check or purchase order. Registrations cannot be processed without payment. Contact us with questions.
Please Note: If we are forced to cancel the VSCA Conference because of a “force majeure” event, such as a government restriction on large gatherings that cover the intended size of the conference, then we will issue full refunds of the registrations. Otherwise, our normal cancellation policy will be upheld: There will be no refunds after September 15 2025. All cancellations before then will be refunded less a $25 handling fee. The association is not responsible for and cannot give refunds due to problems beyond its control, such as weather and school closings.
On social distancing and other health and safety measures, the regulations/guidelines that apply to hotels and conference centers may change. The VSCA Conference will conform to all necessary regulations/guidelines that are in place as of the date of the conference.
The sponsors of the conference receive registrant contact information.
Register online below using a credit card, or download the registration form and send it in with your payment.
To pay with a check or purchase order please download the registration form and send it in with your check or purchase order. Registrations cannot be processed without payment. Contact us with questions.
VENUE & HOST HOTEL
1700 Coliseum Drive
Hampton, VA 23666
Reservation information coming soon.
The Embassy Suites, the Conference’s host hotel, has a conference rate of $149, plus tax. This rate is valid while rooms are available. The price includes full, cook-to-order breakfast and evening Manager’s Reception. This rate is valid through September 16, 2024.
You can also book a room by calling (757) 827-8200 or (800) 362-2779. Be sure to mention the Group Code: VSC.
OVERFLOW HOTEL
1999 Power Plant Pkwy
Hampton, VA 23666
The Hilton Garden Inn has a conference rate of $131 per night, plus tax, which remains valid for reservations made by September 9, 2024, while rooms are available.
You can also book a room by calling (757) 310-6323 or (800) 445-8667. Be sure to mention the group code VSCA24.
OVERFLOW HOTEL
1917 Coliseum Drive
Hampton, VA 23666
The Courtyard Hampton Coliseum Central has a conference rate of $119-$159 per night, plus tax, valid for the nights of Wednesday, October 18th and Thursday, October 19th. This rate remains valid for reservations made by October 4, 2023, while rooms are available.
You can also book a room by calling (800) 304-9288. Be sure to mention that you are with National Center for Youth Issues Virginia School Counselor Association Conference.
In the evening, make sure you take time to relax and enjoy the surrounding area. Visit the Peninsula Town Center, less than a mile from the Embassy Suites! At the Town Center, enjoy shopping at the Loft, Yankee Candle, Sephora, Forever 21, Barnes & Noble, and many more. You can sit back and relax at the many restaurants, such as Abuelo’s, Avenue Blue, Outback and My Pi, along with others. The Peninsula Town Center has a premium movie theater with leather recliners and gourmet food, so you can finally watch that movie you have been wanting to see.
Click here to see all the fun you can have at the Peninsula Town Center.
We hope this conference will educate and equip you to do your job well, and we also hope you will take advantage of the wonderful ways you can relax and be refreshed!
National Center for Youth Issues
ATTN: VSCA
P.O. Box 22185
Chattanooga, TN 37422-2185
Make all checks and purchase orders payable to:
National Center for Youth Issues
The Attendee will receive an email confirmation to the email address provided when their registration is processed. (Make sure to check Junk/Spam folders.) Please allow ample time for processing.
Please contact VSCA directly with all membership questions.
Sponsors receive attendee contact information.
