ADVOCACY
The Maryland Counseling Association promotes the professionalism of the field of counseling and encourages equality of stature in the mental health arena. Importance of Advocacy:
Save The Date: MCA Advocacy DayThe Maryland Counseling Association will be holding its Annual Advocacy Day in February. Join MCA in Annapolis, Md in advocating for legislative initiatives for the counseling profession. MCA Advocacy Day Our time together will encompass ways to advocate along with understanding the legislative process. This opportunity provides time to discuss pertinent topics with our Senators and Delegates about the professional identity of counselors, the dire need of mental health services, and the impact of counseling for our clients. If you are interested in joining us in Annapolis, first contact your Senators and/or Delegates ASAP by clicking here. Then click the link at the top right: "Who represents me?" This link provides a pop-up box to enter your street address and zip code. The next screen will list your Senators and Delegates based on your District. At the bottom of that screen you will be asked to Create Message. Here is an example message you may submit:
After contacting your Delegate, Contact Advocacy Chair, Janice Toothman (janice.toothman@verizon.net) to confirm your interest and ensure you receive further details for our meeting on Thursday, February 7, 2019 for MCA Advocacy Day. Legislation
Department of Legislative Services Maryland General Assembly 2017 Session
Status of Senate Legislation Introduced 2017 Session As of 5:50 AM on 5/31/2017 http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/Pubs-Current/Current-Senate-Status-Report.pdf SB 1106 Health Care Practitioners - Use of Teletherapy (Enrolled – Revised) http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/fnotes/bil_0006/sb1106.pdf SJ 7 Protection of the Federal Affordable Care Act (Third Reader) http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/fnotes/bil_0007/sj0007.pdf
Status of House Legislation Introduced 2017 Session As of 5:58 AM on 5/31/2017 http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/Pubs-Current/Current-House-Status-Report.pdf HJ 9 The Protection of the Federal Affordable Care Act (Third Reader) http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/fnotes/bil_0009/hj0009.pdf HB 1652 Health Occupations - Certified Supervised Counselors-Alcohol and Drug - Qualifications (Third Reader) http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/fnotes/bil_0002/hb1652.pdf HB 1569 Prince George's County - Juvenile Offender in Need of Supervision Program - Study HB 1521 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Commission to Study Firearm Violence - Establishment (First Reader) http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/fnotes/bil_0001/hb1521.pdf HB 1522 Needs Assessment for Student School-Based Behavioral Health Services (Enrolled – Revised) http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/fnotes/bil_0002/hb1522.pdf HB 909 Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act (Third Reader – Revised) http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/fnotes/bil_0009/hb0909.pdf HB 1202 Human Trafficking Victims - Establishment of Diversionary Docket and Workgroup (First Reader) http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/fnotes/bil_0002/hb1202.pdf HB 298 Health Insurance - Licensed Clinical Professional Art Therapists - Finance Reimbursement (First Reader) http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/fnotes/bil_0008/hb0298.pdf HB 275 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Recommended Courses in Military Culture (Third Reader) http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/fnotes/bil_0005/hb0275.pdf License Portability
The American Counseling Association Government Affairs Blog wrote of the introspect of licensure portability. Staff members from ACA attended the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) briefing on licensure portability. Varied professions were also in attendance offering their approaches. The briefing focus was “Streamlining Licensing Across State Lines: Initiatives to Enhance Occupational License Portability.” Additional information may be read at: http://www.counseling.org/news/aca-blogs/aca-government-affairs-blog/aca-government-affairs-blog/2017/08/01/aca-staff-attend-ftc-briefing-on-licensure-portability School Counseling FundsKnow how the effects of the federal budget process effects school counseling funds. Take a look at the ACA Government Affairs blog at http://www.counseling.org/news/aca-blogs/aca-government-affairs-blog/aca-government-affairs-blog/2017/07/25/aca-webinar-explains-congressional-budget-process-and-school-counseling-funds . Also take the opportunity to view ACA’s budget webinar, with no sign up required at https://digitellinc.sharefile.com/share?#/view/s71da5dd51c74f048 . DACA Dreamers and the Potential of Deportation and SeparationThe Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is an urgent call for counselor awareness of increase for mental health concerns of anxiety and depression. The heightened need of counselor awareness in clients’ mental health exacerbated changes may loom from uncertainty with changes to either amend or eliminate the DACA program resulting in potential deportation and separation from there families. The DACA program was created in 2012 threatens the lives of more than 800,000 individuals and their families. For further information view ACA eNews for September with the Washington Post article depicted “The little-known benefit of DACA: It reduced mental illness in dreamers’ children.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/09/06/the-little-known-benefit-of-daca-it-reduced-mental-illness-in-dreamers-children/?utm_term=.a3138f133f8c . Hurricane Distress Assistance from SAMHSA
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is offering toll-free multilingual confidential crisis support service. The service is available to all United States residents. Spanish speakers can text Hablanos to 66746. English speakers can text TalkWithUs to 1-212-461-4635. For more details visit ACA eNews September’s issue, and the SAMHSA website at: http://acaa.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT02MzY3MjAwJnA9MSZ1PTgyNzA2ODk5NiZsaT00NTY3NDY5Nw/index.html . |