ACA News

Apply Now: Mental Health Demonstration Grant Program

Our nation’s schools should be safe and secure settings where children can learn and grow to their full potential. However, over the last few years, violent acts inside and outside our schools—as well as a growing rate of student ...

Heather Trepal Begins Term as 68th President of the American Counseling Association

Heather Trepal, Licensed Professional Counselor and Board-Approved Supervisor (LPC-S, Texas), is the 68th president of the American Counseling Association.

LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS

TIME IS RUNNING OUT: LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS Application Process Announced: New SUD Student-Loan-Forgiveness Program for Rural Opioid Response Workers The Health Resources and Services Administration ...

DEMAND A SEAT AT THE MEDICARE TABLE

If you haven’t taken action, your legislators are waiting to hear your story. Don’t delay! Contact your Members of Congress today and ask them to support the: MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS IMPROVEMENT ACT Tell them YOUR STORY: “140,000 ...

House Bill Would Remedy Mental Health Workforce Shortage

The American Counseling Association needs your help!                                                        ...

Approved Advocacy Statement for Transgender and Nonbinary Issues and Concerns

  The American Counseling Association adopted the following advocacy statement: The American Counseling Association (ACA) is committed to nondiscrimination and prevention of harassment in all forms (verbal, physical, sexual, emotional, and ...

Apply Now: Funding available for SUD training programs

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is offering two types of mental and behavioral health education and training grants to education and training organizations, both with an application deadline of May 7. The grant programs offer a ...

Approved Advocacy Statement for Indigenous People?s Rights and Concerns

  The American Counseling Association (ACA) adopted the following advocacy statement: · The American Counseling Association (ACA) stands in alliance with indigenous communities and recognizes the need for counselors to provide counseling ...

The School-Focused Debate: Safety Technology v. Mental Health

Nearly a quarter of a million students have experienced gun violence at their schools since the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, according to a Washington Post analysis. And 2018 had the highest number of school shootings since at ...

ACA Offers a Helping Hand to Members Affected by the Argosy Closing

The American Counseling Association supports its members in many ways?and is pleased to be able to offer a helping hand to ACA members affected by the recent closing of the 22 Argosy campuses nationwide.

ACA Needs Your Help: You can illustrate the urgent need for Medicare reimbursement for LPCs

Every mental health professional knows that it’s vital that Congress approve Medicare reimbursement for licensed professional counselors (LPCs). All of you know more than one heart-rending story about the difficulties and potential harm facing ...

Congratulations to the 2019 ACA National Award Winners!

The American Counseling Association and the American Counseling Association Foundation are pleased to announce the 72 winners of the annual ACA National Awards for counseling students, counselors in practice and ACA members who have made extraordinary ...

Application Deadlines Extended For Student Loan Forgiveness Programs Benefitting LPCs

February 21st, 2019  The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has extended the deadline for accepting applications for a new student-loan-forgiveness program for behavioral health clinicians working in drug-treatment programs in ...

Help Support the Mental Health Services for Students Act

We need your help! The American Counseling Association (ACA) needs your help to encourage members of Congress to support H.R 1109 the Mental Health for Student Act.  On February 8, 2019 Congressional Mental Health Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Grace F. ...

ACA Announces President-Elect for 2019-2020

Sue Pressman, nationally recognized as one of the country?s leading career management and transition experts, has been named President-Elect of the American Counseling Association (ACA) for 2019-2020. She will begin her term as ACA President-Elect on ...

Suicides in VA parking lots spotlight veterans? mental health care

A total of 19 suicides occurred at Veterans Administration facilities, including seven in VA hospital parking lots, from October 2017 to November 2018. The Washington Post examined the unfolding tragedy in a feature article titled “The Parking ...

Support New Legislation That Would Provide Medicare Reimbursement to Counselors

On Jan. 31, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Representative John Katko (R-NY) introduced the Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2019. This measure would include Licensed ...

Fighting suicide: The importance of hope

In a new CT Online article, American Counseling Association Chief Professional Officer David Kaplan discusses the importance of hope in the fight against suicide?and provides a look at a range of strategies and statistics focused on this devastating ...

More counselors needed for children in U.S. border detention facilities, ACA CEO Says

American Counseling Association Chief Executive Officer Richard Yep recently sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, urging HHS to increase the number of mental health counselors at influx care facilities in the United ...

Application process open: Two student-loan debt-forgiveness programs for LPCs

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications through Feb. 21 for two student-loan repayment-assistance programs for behavioral health clinicians, including licensed professional counselors (LPCs).