ACA President pushes Congress to do more for Counselors
On February 13, ACA President Brad Erford submitted testimony to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, at the committee’s invitation. The hearing focused on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policies and practices for meeting veterans’ mental health needs, and opportunities for improvement.
Erford testified that despite the need for more mental health clinicians in the VA’s workforce, counselors continue to be almost completely shut-out of hiring for these positions, and noted that since Congress and the President authorized the hiring of LPCs in 2006 the VA has done very little to ensure that LPCs are brought into the VA healthcare system. Erford shared several policy recommendations with the committee—which the VA can take on its own, without congressional authorization—to increase participation of LPCs within the VA.
To read President Erford’s full testimony, please click here.