ACA News

ACA Responds to Senate Finance Request for Information

The American Counseling Association (ACA) submitted a response to the Senate Finance Committee’s request for policy proposals to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services. The response was addressed to Senator Ron ...

American Counseling Association Statement on Publicly Diagnosing the Mental State of an Individual

  The American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics, Section E, requires counselors to take special care in providing the proper diagnosis of mental disorders in the proper manner. The public association of any individual with any term ...

NOW ACCEPTING: 2022 ACA National Awards Nominations

It's ACA Awards season again! Nominations are officially open for the next round of ACA National Awards. The Awards winners will be recognized at the upcoming 2022 ACA Conference & Expo in Atlanta, Georgia and the ACA 2022 Virtual Conference ...

Representatives Newman and Stewart Champion Student Mental Health with New Bill

Congresswoman Marie Newman (D-IL-03) and Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT-2) have sponsored the Student Mental Health Helpline Act of 2021 (HR 5235) to address students? mental health by providing a 24/7 mental health helpline.

?Caring for America: Legislation to Support Patients, Caregivers, and Providers? Health Subcommittee Hearing Features Discussion of Key Bipartisan Bills

This week, Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) provided opening remarks at a Health Subcommittee legislative hearing titled, “Caring for America: Legislation to Support Patients, Caregivers, and Providers.” He highlighted that a legislative ...

Biden Administration Releases Report on Improving Mental Health Access for Children & Students

On October 19, the White House published a fact sheet announcing the release of a new report entitled “Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health,” which will serve as a resource for improving the overall ...

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Gets an Overhaul

The Department of Education just announced an overhaul of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program with the goal of making the program live up to its stated intention: relieving the student loan debt burden of public servants. As part of the ...

SAMHSA announces $825M in grants to community mental health centers

On September 28, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the distribution of $825 million in grants to 231 community mental health centers (CMHC) across the country. A complete list of grant recipients can be ...

President Biden?s COVID-19 Action Plan

On September 9, the Biden administration announced a six-pronged, comprehensive national strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, entitled ?Path out of the Pandemic.?

ACA Tracks Progress of the Resettlement of Refugees; Identifies Resources for Counselors

ACA would like to update counselors on the federal government?s support for the refugees settling in the United States.

Biden Administration Invests in Pediatric Mental Health Access

This announcement is a part of the Biden administration?s larger push to increase the accessibility of mental and behavioral health care services for children.

ACA Urges Congressional Leaders to Support the Tele-Mental Health Improvement Act

The American Counseling Association (ACA) supports and is working to help pass the Tele-Mental Health Improvement Act (HR 2264/S. 660) which directly affects the work of licensed professional counselors and their clients throughout the country. The ...

American Counseling Association CEO Richard Yep to Depart Organization After More Than Three Decades of Service

Alexandria, VA — The American Counseling Association (ACA) CEO Richard Yep, CAE, FASAE has announced that he will leave the association when his current contract expires on June 30, 2022.  Yep informed the ACA Governing Council in early ...

House Appropriations Subcommittee Favorably Reports FY 2022 L-HHS Bill

In her opening remarks, Appropriations Full Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) emphasized the fact that the COVID-19 crisis has exposed critical shortfalls in public health infrastructure, as well as in mental health care. She also reaffirmed ...

Dr. S. Kent Butler Begins Term as 70th President of the American Counseling Association

Dr. Butler will begin serving as the American Counseling Association?s 70th president on July 1, 2021, after serving as ACA President-Elect for the last year.

Joint Statement on Legislative Efforts to Restrict Education about Racism and American History

These legislative efforts seek to substitute political mandates for the considered judgment of professional educators, hindering students? ability to learn and engage in critical thinking across differences and disagreements.

The American Counseling Association Hosts 2021 Virtual Hill Day

ACA?s two-day ?Virtual Hill Day? kicks off today with a comprehensive training on advocating for the counseling profession at the state and federal levels.

Spring 2021 American Counseling Association Foundation Grant Cycle is Now Open

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

Our Responsibility as Counselors to Address Trauma and Grief Caused by Systemic Racism

The American Counseling Association supports and advances the counseling profession through the promotion of human dignity and respect and the pursuit of justice, equity and inclusion for all.

Maryland Becomes Second State to Sign Interstate Counseling Compact into Law

The American Counseling Association and licensed professional counselors nationwide are celebrating the signing of Maryland House Bill 736 in support of the Counseling Compact, which will authorize counselors to practice across state lines once enacted.