Advocacy Resources

GAPP - Additional Resources

• Federal Bills of Interest

  American Counseling Association Federal Bills of Interest

• Seeking Guidance from Attorneys General Related to State Laws on Controversial Issues

  Licensed Professional Counselors may consider reaching out to their attorney general for guidance on working with the LGBTQ+ community if they have questions or concerns about legal issues related to their practice.

  Contacting your State Attorney General regarding LGTBQ+ laws

• Writing Your Legislator a Letter

  Writing Your Legislator a Letter

  Please refer to this template when writing an e-mail or mailing a letter to your legislator. It is highly recommended that you email the legislator. Mailing letters will cause a delay in the appropriate person in the legislator’s office reviewing your request.

  -------- Copy and Paste  -------

  Dear [Legislator's Name],

  I am writing to express my concern about [insert the issue you're concerned with]. As a constituent of [insert your city or state], I believe that it is important for our elected officials to take action to address this issue.

  [Provide some background information about the issue that you're concerned with. Include facts, statistics, or personal experiences that support your position.]

  I believe that this issue requires immediate attention from our legislature. I urge you to take action by [insert action you want the legislature to take].

  Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

  Sincerely,

  [Your Name]

  [Mailing Address]

  [Phone Number]

  [E-Mail Address]

• Legislator Meeting Request – Phone Script

  Please refer to this phone script when requesting a meeting with a legislator. Keep in mind the chances are likely the legislator will not have the availability to meet. In this case, you will meet with the legislative assistant in charge of your issue of concern. This is okay, this person understands the legislator’s needs and if your need supports the needs of the legislator and their constituents, the legislative assistant will become an advocate for your issue to the legislator.

  ------ Phone Script Sample-------

  Hello, may I speak with [the legislative assistant in charge of your issue] please?

  [If you are transferred to their voicemail]: Hi, my name is [your name] and I am calling to request a meeting with [name of legislator]. I believe they would be interested in hearing about an issue that is important to me and my community.

  [If you are speaking directly with the legislature]: Hi, my name is [your name] and I am calling to request a meeting with [name of legislator]. I believe they would be interested in hearing about an issue that is important to me and my community.

  I am hoping to discuss [briefly state the issue or topic you want to discuss – If there is a Bill, provide the name of the bill and the Bill Number]. I believe that [name of legislator] could offer valuable insights on how we can work together to address this issue.

  Would it be possible to schedule a meeting with [name of legislator] at their earliest convenience? I am available [provide a few dates or times that work for you, and please be flexible, if possible, the legislator’s schedule is tight and may only have one time available. Accept the time offered.].

  Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

   

• Medicare Facts by State

  This document highlights the presence of the Medicare population in each state.

• Medicare Issue Brief

  "The Mental Health Access improvement Act Issue Brief: More than 30 years of Mental Health Care Inequity.”

• The Mental Health Access improvement Act Fact Sheet

  The Mental Health Access improvement Act Fact Sheet provides highlights about The Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2021 (S. 828/H.R. 432), which would increase access to care for millions of mental health clients by including licensed professional counselors as Medicare providers.

  The Mental Health Access improvement Act Fact Sheet

• Analyzing the Impact of the Medicare Coverage Gap on Counseling Professionals: Results of a National Study

  6,550 members of the American Counseling Association were surveyed regarding the current impact of Medicare policy on counseling professionals as well as the implications for counselors, counselor educators, and counseling scholarship.

  Analyzing the Impact of the Medicare Coverage Gap on Counseling Professionals: Results of a National Study

• Graduate Students

  Advocating for the Counseling Profession as a Graduate Student