The University of Iowa College of Education has served the state’s helping professionals by offering a summer workshop and continuing education opportunity known as the Annual Summer School for Helping Professionals (ASSHP) for the past 32 years. This year, the college has created a new and improved opportunity—IHELP.

IHELP, which will take place August 1-3, is a series of workshops on topics including suicide intervention, gambling, drug trends, personality disorders, and helping veterans readjust to life after combat. UI faculty and practicing professionals teach the courses. The event aims to enhance the personal and professional development of Iowa’s helping professionals including counselors, nurses, social workers, and psychologists. Participants can also earn continuing education credits.

Dennis R. Maki, a professor of rehabilitation and counselor education, directed ASSHP for 14 years and now directs IHELP. He says workshop attendees provide critical services in the state.

“Over the years, thousands of helping professionals have been trained, which has made a difference to tens of thousands of Iowans,” Maki says. “We are directly impacting the lives of people who are at risk and vulnerable back in their home communities.”

Last year, 219 helping professionals attended the workshop.

The IHELP workshops offer CEU-credit classes for community, agency, and education practitioners in fields such as nursing, counseling, social work, teaching, and corrections. To find out more or to register to attend, visit www.education.uiowa.edu/rce/ihelp/.