Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association
- Solution focused training March 2-3 with Dr Bannink
- Annual Conference April 6-7-8.Dr Garbarino
- Ongoing quarterly Starting a Private Practice workshops, ongoing NCE and NCMHCE test prep workshops
- DSM 5 training
- Clinical Supervision workshops
- App in app stores for Illinois Mental Health Counselors for icensing laws, conferences, trainings, etc
Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association
- Creative Designer to begin developing a new look for the Association, in order to help members of our Strategic Planning Committee build upon, brand, and market our successes over the last five years
- Creating new logos for the Association and the Foundation and develop new marketing material along with our annual report
- Annual Golf Tournament is underway
- Upcoming annual conference in May, where our Conference Committee estimates we will see the largest attendance on record for an IMHCA-sponsored event.
- The Public Policy and Government Relations Committee are discussing the Association’s state policy initiatives and review our recently updated advocacy toolkit.
- On March 5th, with the legislative session in full swing, the Committee hosted our annual Day on the Hill and welcomed nearly 20 mental health advocates and students who showed up in support of our efforts. The day was a huge success, with over ten Senators and Representatives sitting down one-on-one to meet with the group and discuss the state of Iowa’s mental health delivery system, some spending upwards of 15-20 minutes with attendees and committee reps.
- A groundbreaking project in the works is a television series called “Mental Health Matters”. The credit for this project lies with the creator and visionary behind it, a Drake University graduate student who has partnered with the IMHCA Foundation to bring her dream of combining two loves, television and mental health, into one initiative. This student has successfully secured a contract with a local television show, and most recently, with support from our new Resource Development Chair, held a private fundraiser to help secure the funds necessary to begin production. Unlike any other effort we have uncovered yet, the Mental Health Matters series will take an up-close and personal look at the mental health matters that Iowans face every day across the state. The show will serve as a platform for the Association and our mission, and we are very excited to see this project take-off.
North Dakota Mental Health Counselors Association
- 2017 Pre-Conference on Ethics grew a crowd of 74 people! Not only was our training fulfilling a CEU, it was deemed an enormous success in continuing the event each year.
- This year’s conference brought in about 50 people.
- MH division has not only rekindled a Pre-Conference but went out on a limb and decided to do a Raffle sale this year. The raffle was 2 extraordinary seats to a Denver Broncos Football game. We sold enough tickets to pay for the cost of the tickets and made over 1,500 in profit.
Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association
- MMHCA has provided 18 workshops on Human Trafficking in 18 months. Our six hour workshop is approved for 6 CEU's for NBCC, Social Workers, Substance Abuse Counselors (CAADC)
- Offering a Billing and Coding Workshop on Saturday March 17th
- In January we held a Breakfast Networking Event featuring Blue Cross Consultant offering assistance with reimbursement issues in billing BC.
- Our next Breakfast will be March 16th in Kalamazoo.
- We held a Networking at Night Event in January.
- We are introducing an APP in-order to improve communications.
- Our Bridging Initiative designed to smoothly transition students to MMHCA is rolling out next month.
- We are working on final language for updating license legislation (LLPC/LPC)
Oklahoma Mental Health Counselors Association
- OKMHCA holds two conferences each year – one in June and the other in December.
- Our December Conference was a great success with Dr. Laura Bradley presenting once, again. Our participants seemed to enjoy her practical and timely presentation.
- Plans are in full swing for the June 1st conference with AMHCA conference presenter, Dr. Patricia Isis for both the ethics and supervision sessions. Dr. Isis is an art therapist from Miami, Florida and is well-known for using the art of “doodling” with clients. We’re looking forward to the upcoming conferences!
South Dakota Mental Health Counselors Association
- One of the major issues that SDMHCA tackled in the past year was the on going issues of licensure and the shortage of counselors in SD. Contacts continued between SDMHCA and the licensing board executive secretary Jennifer Stalley. The need to work more closely with board to address the difficulties in both licensing and with reciprocity was seen as a significant need by SDMHCA. In the current year these efforts lead to the licensing board introducing a bill to improve reciprocity. This bill passed both houses of the legislature with only one no vote through the entire process and was signed by the Governor. While this bill was not perfect, it is a positive step forward.
- SDMHCA will continue to work with Mrs. Stalley as the licensing board looks to revise the Practice Act Code that SD counselors fall under. As many of you may know this code is more than 20 years old and has many conflicting and unclear parts. The goal from SDMHCA perspective is to make the process of licensure less difficult while maintaining the high standards of our profession. The board is considering a single tier licensure. This could make licensure and reciprocity significantly easier. Issues that SDMHCA and SDCA have raised include a potential School Counselor license and simple processes for those who wish to receive duel licensure. The input of all SDMHCA members is going to be crucial as we move forward to improve licensure for our members.
- SDMHCA needs to continue to be active in advocating for the needs of our profession and the consumers we serve. The national and local dialogues around mental health and gun violence, raises concerns for the rights of individuals with mental health issues. While the safety of society as a whole must be considered, this can not be done at the loss of our client’s rights. Further issues for LGBTQ, refugee and resettlement, and restriction of benefits to some of the most vulnerable clients, require SDMHCA to continue to advocate and speak out for those who are not able to speak for themselves.