Latest Announcements
COVID-19 Updates
During these uncertain times, we want to stay connected and keep you updated on how we are navigating the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
The COVID-19 pandemic has immediate and long-lasting implications for how people work and participate in associations. Our top priority is to protect the health and safety of our members and staff. The AASECT Board of Directors, staff and committees are working together to make rapid, highly-informed decisions about meetings and programs, and taking immediate actions to ensure that member services continue seamlessly. Please see below for a detailed list of accommodations and updates we are making to help our members navigate this crisis.
Certification Renewal
To ensure that everyone can obtain the necessary credits required for certification renewal, the AASECT Board of Directors has approved an extension of the standard three-month grace period to a six-month grace period for all certification renewal dates that expire between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020. This grace period will be automatically applied to all certification renewals with an expiration date between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020.
In-Person AASECT Approved CE Programs
Though we value the in-person learning experience, we understand this may not be possible during this time. The Board of Directors has approved a plan that is intended to address in-person programs during this time with attention on students' learning, as well as our CE Providers' ability to educate in a safe and healthy environment.
Any AASECT approved in-person educational event that was scheduled from March 1, 2020 through May 31, 2020 can be completed online via synchronous learning. We will continue to monitor the situation and extend that date if necessary.
The definition of synchronous learning in this context is: a live, online experience held with the same learning competencies and learning outcomes as the approved in-person training. Synchronous learning should not be a pre-recorded video of the instructor presenting, but rather it should be a live presentation with real-time interaction. Video supplementation can be used as it would be used in an in-person training, but the instructor must be present with the students for the number of required hours.
Due to the complexity of teaching and learning in a Sexual Attitude Assessment (SAR), the AASECT Board of Directors will be carefully reviewing the in-person SAR requirements over the next few weeks to decide how best to move forward during this period. We need this extra time to be able to carefully review all of the implications of this decision and will be in touch with more information as it becomes available.
If you have any questions about the changes listed above for in-person AASECT approved CE programs, please contact CE@aasect.org.
CE Provider Renewal Extension
All AASECT Approved CE Providers with a May 1, 2020 renewal date have been extended November 1, 2020. The approved provider’s approved status will be extended through the end of the year and an updated CE certificate has been sent out to each of these providers.
We know these are difficult times, and we appreciate the extraordinary challenges you face as educators, counselors and therapists helping to prepare your communities in response to the pandemic. Your work is of vital importance — especially now.
Meanwhile, wash or sanitize your hands frequently, don’t touch your face, eat healthy, sleep well, breathe deeply, and stay safe.
April 13, 2020
AASECT Staff
To minimize disruption and protect employees, the AASECT staff team is leveraging our digital workplace tools and working from home with periodic visits to the physical office. We expect that communications with the office will continue seamlessly.
Digital Communication and Application Submission
As we all settle into our new routine of social distancing and working remotely, we ask that you please use digital/electronic channels of submitting applications and payments to the association whenever possible.
- If you have a certification application or renewal application to submit in the weeks ahead, we encourage you to submit your application packet to the office via email and make your payment online. You can submit your packet to certification@aasect.org and upon receipt, they will send your invoice with instructions on how to pay online.
- Should you need to renew your membership for 2020, you can easily do so online. Click here for instructions.
Certification Renewal
To ensure that everyone can obtain the necessary credits required for certification renewal, the AASECT Board of Directors has approved an extension of the standard three-month grace period to a six-month grace period for all certification renewal dates that expire between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020. This grace period will be automatically applied to all certification renewals with an expiration date between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020.
AASECT Annual Conference Cancellation
The 2020 AASECT Annual Conference in Palm Springs has been cancelled. The Conference Planning Committee is exploring options for hosting a virtual experience and will continue to do so in the weeks ahead. We hope to be able to provide an opportunity for our community to connect, learn from/with one another and be supported during these challenging and uncertain times. Please stay tuned for more details on their plans in the coming weeks.
Those who have already registered for the conference have two options:
- You can apply all registration fees paid for the AASECT 2020 Conference to the AASECT 2021 Conference, taking place on June 10th – 13th at the J.W. Marriott in Tampa, FL. These fees will be considered payment in full for the conference, and registrants will not be expected to pay any fee increase for the 2021 Conference if there should be one next year. If you registered for a full or half day pre-conference workshop, that payment can be applied to a full or half day pre-conference workshop next year. If you select this option, you don’t need to do anything. AASECT staff will be taking care of transferring this for you. You will receive a new registration confirmation in the coming months.
- You can opt out of applying your registration fee to next year and instead choose to have your registration and any pre-con fees refunded in full. If you would like a full refund, please complete this refund request. Please note, the refund process is manual for each attendee, and AASECT staff will be working as quickly as possible to issue these refunds.
Please note - all attendees are responsible for canceling their own travel arrangements and confirming cancellation of any hotel accommodations.
We will miss seeing you all in Palm Springs in June, but we look forward to seeing you in person at the AASECT 2021 Annual Conference in Tampa, FL. If you have any specific questions about the Annual Conference, please don’t hesitate to contact conference@aasect.org.
In-Person AASECT Approved CE Programs
Though we value the in-person learning experience, we understand this may not be possible during this time. The Board of Directors has approved a plan that is intended to address in-person programs during this time with attention on students' learning, as well as our CE Providers' ability to educate in a safe and healthy environment.
Any AASECT approved in-person educational event that was scheduled from March 1, 2020 through May 31, 2020 can be completed online via synchronous learning. We will continue to monitor the situation and extend that date if necessary.
The definition of synchronous learning in this context is: a live, online experience held with the same learning competencies and learning outcomes as the approved in-person training. Synchronous learning should not be a pre-recorded video of the instructor presenting, but rather it should be a live presentation with real-time interaction. Video supplementation can be used as it would be used in an in-person training, but the instructor must be present with the students for the number of required hours.
Due to the complexity of teaching and learning in a Sexual Attitude Assessment (SAR), the AASECT Board of Directors will be carefully reviewing the in-person SAR requirements over the next few weeks to decide how best to move forward during this period. We need this extra time to be able to carefully review all of the implications of this decision and will be in touch with more information as it becomes available.
If you have any questions about the changes listed above for in-person AASECT approved CE programs, please contact CE@aasect.org.
CE Provider Renewal Extension
All AASECT Approved CE Providers with a May 1, 2020 renewal date have been extended November 1, 2020. The approved provider’s approved status will be extended through the end of the year and an updated CE certificate has been sent out to each of these providers.
We know these are difficult times, and we appreciate the extraordinary challenges you face as educators, counselors and therapists helping to prepare your communities in response to the pandemic. Your work is of vital importance — especially now.
Meanwhile, wash or sanitize your hands frequently, don’t touch your face, eat healthy, sleep well, breathe deeply, and stay safe.
Warmly,
AASECT Board of Directors and Staff
March 23, 2020
COVID-19: Navigating the Impact - a note from AASECT Executive Director Kellie Braband
During these uncertain times, we want to stay connected and keep you updated on how we are navigating the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
The COVID-19 pandemic has immediate and long-lasting implications for how people work and participate in associations. Our top priority is to protect the health and safety of our members and staff. The AASECT Board of Directors, staff and committees are working together to make rapid, highly-informed decisions about meetings and programs, and taking immediate actions to ensure that member services continue seamlessly.
Staff is in constant communication with AASECT leadership and we are all working together to optimize AASECT's choices going forward. Our recent announcement shared updates on membership and certification renewal, AASECT approved in-person CE events and the AASECT Annual Conference. See it here.
To minimize disruption and protect employees, the AASECT staff team is leveraging our digital workplace tools and working from home with periodic visits to the physical office. We expect that communications with the office will continue seamlessly.
As we all settle into our new routine of social distancing and working remotely, we ask that you please use digital/electronic channels of submitting applications and payments to the association whenever possible.
- If you have a certification application or renewal application to submit in the weeks ahead, we encourage you to submit your application packet to the office via email and make your payment online. You can submit your packet to certification@aasect.org and upon receipt, they will send your invoice with instructions on how to pay online.
- Should you need to renew your membership for 2020, you can easily do so online. Click here for instructions.
Most importantly, please take care of yourselves, your families and each other during this time. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us here in the office if you need anything – we’re here to help in any way we can.
Warmly,
Kellie Braband
AASECT Executive Director
American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists
35 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 850, Chicago, IL 60601
Kbraband@aasect.org
She/her/hers
