ACA News

American Counseling Association Names New Chief Financial Officer

Mahzarine Chinoy, CPA, joins ACA Alexandria, Va. (June 13, 2023) — The American Counseling Association (ACA) is pleased to announce the selection of Mahzarine Chinoy, CPA, as chief financial officer (CFO), effective June 20. Chinoy comes to ACA ...

Mental health counselors train to help communities, not just individuals

Pilot programs for counseling students allow focus on civic engagement and social justice Alexandria, Va. (June 13, 2022) — Many people envision mental health counselors as professionals who sit in an office helping clients work through trauma ...

Counselors need better training to help BIPOC clients, educators say

Alexandria, Va. (June 13, 2022) — Empathy is the cornerstone of the care that therapists provide their clients. But people of color often find white counselors misunderstand them based on biases and assumptions, according to a new journal ...

The Debt Ceiling Bill Passage May Impact Mental Health Care

On June 3, 2023, President Biden signed H.R. 3476, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Most people know this act as the debt ceiling bill. The American Counseling Association previously reported the impact that this compromise bill between ...

Racial justice in counselor training the focus of journal special issue

June 8, 2023 (Alexandria, Virginia)—Many people of color live in areas devoid of mental health services. Those fortunate enough to find a therapist may receive treatments that fit poorly with their cultural values or complicate their racial ...

HHS Publishes National Model Standards for Peer Support

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has published the National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification for substance use, mental ...

Vermont and Iowa Sign Interstate Counseling Compact into Law

The dream of many licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines continued to move forward as forward as Vermont Governor Phil Scott and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law their states’ Counseling Compact ...

U.S. Surgeon General Releases Report: 2023 SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

On Tuesday, May 23, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. “The most common question parents ask me is, ‘Is social media safe for my kids?’ The answer is that we don't ...

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline First Anniversary

Last year, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) rolled out a National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (NMMHH). This Hotline connects pregnant and postpartum mothers and family members ...

HHS Summit Focuses on Greater Mental Health Access

On May 4, 2023, the HHS summit, "Support is Here to Strengthen Mental Health," was held. The summit centered around Mental Health Awareness Month and focused on the three mental health pillars of the Biden ...

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Ends

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended on Thursday, May 11, 2023. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued numerous PHE-related rules, waivers and guidance, many of which were tied ...

Florida SB 1580 Could Affect How Counselors Practice

This past Friday, May 12, 2023, Florida state legislators passed State Bill 1580, an overly broad bill that allows payors and providers—doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, mental health providers, medical transport services, clinical lab ...

Debt Ceiling Negotiations May Impact Counselors and their Clients

Currently in Congress negotiations continue around the nation's debt ceiling. As a professional counselor you may wonder how and if the negotiations in Congress may affect you, as well as what exactly the debt ceiling is. The debt ceiling is a limit ...

Indiana Becomes Twenty-Sixth State to Sign Interstate Counseling Compact into Law

The dream of many licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines took another step forward as Governor Eric Holcomb signed into law his state’s Counseling Compact legislation.This milestone makes Indiana the twenty-sixth state ...

The White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

For Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, the Biden-Harris Administration hosted a White House Forum at George Washington University. This event celebrated the many contributions AANHPI communities have made to ...

Oklahoma Becomes Twenty-Fifth State to Sign Interstate Counseling Compact into Law

The dream of many licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines took another step forward as Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law his state’s Counseling Compact legislation. This milestone makes Oklahoma the twenty-fifth ...

North Dakota Becomes Twenty-Fourth State to Sign Interstate Counseling Compact into Law

The dream of many licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines took another step towards reality as Governor Doug Burgum signed into law his state’s Counseling Compact legislation.This milestone makes North Dakota the ...

Montana Becomes Twenty-Third State to Sign Interstate Counseling Compact into Law

The dream of many licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines took another step towards reality as Governor Greg Gianforte signed into law his state’s Counseling Compact legislation.This milestone makes Montana the ...

White House: Black Maternal Health Week Proclamation

The White House signed a Proclamation for Black Maternal Health Week for April 11-17th. In the document, the Administration highlights the disparities among black mothers including the high mortality rate and decrease in maternal mental ...

Washington Becomes Twenty-Second State to Sign Interstate Counseling Compact into Law

The dream of many licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines took another step towards reality as Governor Jay Inslee signed into law his state’s Counseling Compact legislation.This milestone makes Washington the ...