The regional family counseling centers of the Graduate Institute of Family Sciences of the Universidad Austral They are already in operation in Córdoba, Misiones, San Juan, Tierra del Fuego, (Argentina), Guayaquil (Ecuador), Chía (Colombia), among other locations.
With the aim of generating professional networks for family counselors throughout the country and between countries, the ICF Graduates Department of the Universidad AustralThe program, chaired by José María Randle, who is also a family counselor and professor at the Institute, established 15 regional centers that hold meetings of ICF graduates from each area, to promote the exchange of knowledge about personal activities and fields of work, action and specialization, as well as to conduct surveys of training needs, with the aim of strengthening and expanding the profession.
The centers are located in: the province of Buenos Aires (includes Montevideo (Uruguay)) and Puerto Madryn (Arg.), City of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Guayaquil (Ecuador, includes Quito), Chía (Colombia), Misiones (includes Corrientes), Mendoza, Río Negro (includes Neuquén), Salta (includes Jujuy), San Juan, San Luis (includes La Pampa), Santa Cruz, Santa Fe (includes Asunción and Entre Ríos), Tierra del Fuego, and in Tucumán (includes Catamarca).
In the coming months, the centers will work to implement a training and exchange plan. Then, depending on local development and needs, agreements can be established with institutions to offer parenting classes, counseling, the creation of family guidance centers, and other initiatives to bring family guidance to the entire country, as well as beyond its borders.
The coordinators of these regional centers of the Institute are: Eugenia Harrington, Eva Macchia, Pamela Bocek, Edvick Febrero, Marcela Zanlungo, Celina Malvasio, José Luis Chacón and Miryam Álvarez de Zupo, Mabel Borda, María Luisa Persoglia and Norma García, Isabel Ferré, Ma Gabriela Ciccarone, Nélida Coronel, María Laura Divi, Mariana Frugoti and María Soledad Lucio.
Each coordinator, in this initial phase, established (or is in the process of establishing) telephone communication networks with family therapy graduates in their area and began maintaining regular contact with them. The centers organize regular meetings with their members to assess training and professional needs. Five meetings have already taken place in Tucumán, and the first meetings have been held in San Juan, Tierra del Fuego, Mendoza, and Santa Cruz.
All of this took place within the framework of the launch of the Graduates department, chaired by family counselor and Master José María Randle, from the Institute of Sciences for the Family of the Universidad AustralThis area was initiated at the beginning of this year, and consolidated at the First Update Conference on Family Guidance, which took place on June 27 and 28.
On that day, José María gave a lecture in which he emphasized the need for "family therapists and graduates who are committed, dedicated, and willing to take the plunge," and who "ignite other fires." He also announced the creation of this network of family counselors who had graduated from the Universidad Austral In Argentina, and together with María Manson, the University's Manager of Graduates and Professional Development, they spoke about the importance of building connections among graduates and about the platform available to them.Austral Graduates It seeks to create a network of contacts for University graduates and provide a space for the development of professional skills, through interaction with companies, institutions, and civil society organizations.
