Standing Committees
Advancement for Clinical Practice Committee
The primary functions of the committee are to:
- Identify clinical professional issues to enhance the skills and expertise of AMHCA members through webinars, white papers, emerging clinical practice briefs and other communications.
- Identify continuing education workshops and networking opportunities.
- Promote a sense of professional identity among members and the community at large
- Enhance the organization’s involvement with members and provide members with opportunities to give and receive professional development through continuing education, networking, and community development
One of the most serious tasks of AMHCA’s Advancement for Clinical Practice Committee (ACPC) is to update and revise the AMHCA Standards for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Annual Conference Committee
The primary roles of the committee are to:
- Liaise with AMHCA Committees and key entities to develop “hot topics” that need to appear on the Annual Conference program and that reflect the strategic goals and mission of the organization.
- Promote and solicit participation in the Call for Papers from all areas and levels of AMHCA membership.
- Review all Call for Papers submissions to determine the Annual Conference program.
- Boost Conference attendance of AMHCA members from all organizational disciplines and levels.
- Assist AMHCA staff with efforts to grow and enhance value of the Annual Conference and participation.
Awards and Recognition Committee
The primary role of the Awards and Recognition Committee is to administer all AMHCA award activities, such as nominations for local, regional and national AMHCA awards and special awards. The committee
- reviews nomination procedures,
- decides on the type and amount of information needed for nominations,
- and establishes the statute of limitations on previously received nominations.
- The Awards Committee also notifies the Program Committee of Awardee details so that the Awards Banquet and the talk of the Awardee can be planned.
- The committee informs all that submitted nominations of their future nomination status.
- The Committee proposes new awards to the Board and proposes potential sources of funds for such awards.
Chapter Relations Committee
The mission of the AMHCA State Chapter Relations Committee shall be to encourage and facilitate communications between AMHCA and the affiliated Chapters by assessing the needs of members and chapters, fostering communication, developing programs and projects in which the national office of AMHCA and its affiliated chapters work together and assessing Chapters and their programs.
Credentialing Planning Committee
- To promote excellence at all phases of the career of a clinical mental health counselor.
- To promote and recognize excellence at all phases of the career of a clinical mental health counselor training and specialization by establishing relevant and contemporary standards for the AMHCA Diplomate, AMHCA Fellow and AMHCA Specialist, as well as forthcoming credentials approved by the AMHCA Board of Directors.
- To assess the applications and qualifications of Clinical Mental Health Counselors who apply for a credential.
- To assure that each candidate recommended to the AMHCA Board of Directors for credential status meets the requirements in post-graduate professional development, advanced clinical practice, ethical conduct, contributions to the profession, and (if applicable) demonstrates excellence in practice in the designated clinical specialty area.
Council of Committees
Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee functions in an educative and consultive capacity. It is responsible for educating the membership about AMHCA’s ethical standards. The committee periodically reviews and recommends changes in the ethical standards of AMHCA. It receives and processes inquiries regarding ethical standards.
Executive Committee
The AMHCA Executive Committee is composed of the president, president-elect, the immediate past president, Treasurer and the executive director (ex-officio). The Executive Committee is chaired by the president.
Role: The role of the Executive Committee is to act for the board according to its policies during the intervals between Board of Directors meetings.
Function: The functions of the Executive Committee include:
- Implementing activities delegated by the board of directors.
- Conducting the business of the association between board meetings, subject to ratification of actions by the board at its next meeting.
- Evaluate the Executive Director.
Finance Committee
The board of directors of the association is entrusted by the membership to conduct the business of the association in a fiscally responsible manner. Financial decisions will be guided by the AMHCA strategic plan. The Finance Committee shall consist of the president, the president-elect, the past president, the treasurer, the CEO/ED (ex-officio), director of finance & operations and, book-keeper. The treasurer shall serve as chair.
Role: The role of the Finance Committee is to oversee the income and expenditures of the association.
Function: The functions of the Finance Committee include:
- Performing such duties as may be directed by the bylaws, board of directors, or the financial policies.
- Developing the annual AMHCA budget for adoption by the time of the spring board meeting.
- Reviewing monthly expense reports and presenting any necessary revision of the budget and any financial reports for consideration by the board of directors at each of its meetings.
- Monitoring financial policies and operation of the budget.
- Preparing the annual financial report for the membership.
- Reviewing the financial policy statements and making fiscal policy revision recommendations to the board of directors.
- Assisting in meeting strategic planning goals regarding financial planning.
- Assisting state chapters with their financial planning through articles in the Advocate, mailings, and workshops.
Graduate Student and Emerging Professionals Committee
The mission of the AMHCA Graduate Student and Emerging Professionals Committee is to enhance the professional identity of graduate students and recently graduated counselors through advocacy, specialized training, licensure guidance, and collaboration with clinical mental health counselors and the governing body of AMHCA.
Nominations and Elections Committee
The role of the Nominations and Elections Committee is to conduct impartial nomination and election procedures for officers of the national BOD. The committee shall consist of the Immediate Past President (who serves as chair), ED/CEO, President-Elect, President, Secretary, Parliamentarian, and 2 additional members of the BOD, as appointed by the BOD.
Public Awareness Committee
The Public Awareness Committee will seek to heighten the visibility, viability, and functioning of clinical mental health counselors and AMHCA before the public, within the health care and mental health fields, and in the corporate and policymaking arenas. The Committee will serve as the driving force and resource of AMHCA for promoting the awareness of clinical mental health counselors as a critically important primary provider of cost-effective approaches.
Public Policy and Legislative Committee
The Public Policy and Legislative Committee provides oversight for all matters of AMHCA that relate to government, particularly at the federal level. The committee sets priorities on handling issues that uniquely affects AMHCA and recommends broad policy direction to the AMHCA Board.