News Archive for 2020

The funding is the largest amount mental health and substance use disorders has received in a single spending bill, indicating recognition of the mental health concerns caused by the pandemic.

Included in the comprehensive plan are projects that will look at systemic racism, create resources for counselors who work with law enforcement, develop materials for school counselors and more.

ACA is advocating to have the Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2019 included in a House floor vote or end of the year package.

The package, intended to provide emergency relief from December 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021, includes $908 billion in relief funding, $560 billion of which are funds already appropriated via the CARES Act.

The nomination process for the ACA National Awards has officially begun. The Awards winners will be recognized at the upcoming ACA Virtual Conference Experience.

The American Counseling Association Foundation is seeking proposals from American Counseling Association members for grants of up to $500.

Attendees will receive a broad overview of post-election results and its impact.

ACA offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 in order to allow all ACA staff ample opportunity to exercise their right to vote without distraction or concerns of the workplace.

The American Counseling Association Foundation provides grants twice a year to ACA members who are licensed professional counselors, counselor educators, or graduate students. The grants are awarded to individuals who are expanding their clinical services, reaching out to culturally diverse populations, or creating resources for those in need of counseling support.

S.785, Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, amends a number of V.A. authorities related to helping veterans transition from military to civilian life; suicide prevention; mental health care research and oversight; health care for women and mental health care staffing.

The President signed an executive order that could increase access to mental health services for those suffering from behavioral health issues exacerbated by the global health pandemic.

Congress passed the Commander John Scott Hannon Veteran Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, and now the bill is on the President’s desk for him to sign into law.

The September 22, 2020 executive order seeks to combat "division and inefficiency" in federal contracting by prohibiting contractors from providing employee training on "divisive concepts." ACA is very concerned that the Executive Order would place an outright ban on the important work and results stemming from meaningful training in diversity and inclusion.

Introduced in the House of Representatives on December 17, 2019 by Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), H.R.5469 would provide licensed professional counselors with additional resources to address racial inequities within mental health care.

We have a moral and professional obligation to deconstruct institutions that have historically been designed to benefit white America. These systems must be dismantled in order to level the playing field for Black communities.

The United States House of Representatives passed several bills focused on Suicide Prevention and Awareness. The bills will create programs for self-harm and prevention, as well as establishes a new national suicide prevention hotline number.

Justice Ginsburg’s legacy will continue to inspire generations to come, and may her memory be an inspiration to us all.

Practicing Self-Care | Supporting Counselors of Color

Medicare Reimbursement is on the Move

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar has signed a continuation of the COVID-19 public health emergency, ensuring greater access to mental health services.

Cirecie A. West-Olatunji, Ph. D. serves as full professor and director of the Center for Traumatic Stress Research at Xavier University of Louisiana. She is also a past president of the American Counseling Association (ACA). Nationally, Dr. West-Olatunji has initiated funded research projects that focus on traumatic stress and systemic oppression. Her publications include three co-authored books, several book chapters, and over 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Cirecie West-Olatunji has delivered research papers throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

The American Counseling Association and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision stand in opposition to new regulations issued by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that will withdraw visas from foreign students whose courses move fully online. Following is a joint statement repudiating the modifications to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program:

This virtual issue of the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development (JMCD) is a collection of previously published articles that aims to advance multicultural and social justice counseling efforts during the COVID-19 era. The featured articles cover issues relating to natural disasters, infectious diseases (specifically, HIV), economic disadvantage, and health disparities. These articles are freely available online through August 2020.

July is Minority Mental Health Month, more recently known as #BIPOCMentalHealthMonth. BIPOC are often faced with years - even generations - of trauma, which translates to socioeconomic disparities and, in turn, is linked to mental health concerns today.

Sue Pressman, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), National Certified Career Counselor (NCCC), Master Career Counselor (MCC), Board-Certified Coach (BCC) and Global Career Development Facilitator Instructor (GCDFI), is the 69th president of the American Counseling Association.

After discussion and discernment, the ACA Governing Council has issued the following statement on Anti-racism. The ACA leadership is listening to a cross section of members and volunteers in order to develop an action plan that will give life to this statement.

Every year, Juneteenth takes place on June 19 and is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Black Independence Day, and Cel-Liberation Day. This holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and slavery.

NECA reacts with abhorrence and repugnance regarding the grip that racism has had on this nation and the world. Racism is not only a national problem, but a global issue that concerns every country, culture, and individual who lives and works on this Earth. Our hearts go out to all of those affected by the murder of George Floyd and many others.

The Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC) emphatically condemns racism, systemic oppression of Black people, and police brutality that directly resulted in the brutal killing of George Floyd. We stand united.

AMCD strongly denounces the senseless, brutal killing of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and the countless other instances of brutal killings and abuses of power towards black and brown individuals living within a plethora of systemic inequities that perpetuate injustice.

The American Counseling Association Governing Council, at its Wednesday, February 12, 2020 meeting, endorsed the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities Division (formerly Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Issues in Counseling) Position Statement Regarding Anti-Trans Legislation.

The American Counseling Association releases an official response to Senator Ben Sasse's graduation remarks about the mental health profession.

ACA is committed to promoting counselor competence as it relates to addressing individuals and communities who have been negatively affected by instances of undue police violence and similar racially motivated acts.

Join VA’s Office of Connected Care and the American Counseling Association at 12:00 p.m. on May 7, 2020 for a Facebook Live discussion to introduce you to Annie. VA continues to use virtual tools and technology to bring care closer to home for Veterans and Annie is part of this effort.

The American Counseling Association Foundation provides grants twice a year to ACA members who are licensed professional counselors, counselor educators, or graduate students. The grants are awarded to individuals who are expanding their clinical services, reaching out to culturally diverse populations, or creating resources for those in need of counseling support. Grant applications are available online during each application period.

Currently, the United States Senate is debating the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act – S. 3548).

Thus far, legislative packages have not addressed needs of mental health and substance use providers, patients, advocates, family members, and communities. The letter includes recommended next steps for Congress and the Administration to address these important needs based on the broad effects COVID-19 will have on the mental and behavioral health care communities.