Government Relations for North Carolina Counselors
Legislative Institute Report
Government Relations and Professional Issues Advocacy Committee
Two members of NCCA's GRaPHIA Committee attended the ACA Legislative Institute in Washington D.C. February 23rd-26th, 2008. The purpose of the institute is to teach counseling professionals and students how federal government functions and the “in's and out's” of how bills are formed and passed. Some of the core issues discussed was federal policy issues, policy making processes, organizing state legislative advocacy initiatives, and a candid discussion regarding the realities of politics on Capitol Hill. Additionally, present day policy issues that are affecting counseling professions were discussed in depth in order to prepare us for lobbying visits with our state Senators and Congressman.
The most important federal issues affecting counseling professions right now consist of Medicare coverage for LPC and MFT licensed individuals, Mental Health Parity, and School Counseling program appropriations. Medicare coverage for LPC’s and MFT’s is important because Medicare beneficiaries lack access to mental health providers, especially those who live in rural areas. Additionally, older adults are at an increased risk for suicide, and many of these individuals are not receiving the mental health treatment they need. Mental Health Parity is supposed to be voted on the week of March 5th, 2008. This legislation is very important because this would allow mental health and substance abuse treatment to be treated equally to medical treatment. With growing acceptance and understanding that mental health and substance abuse treatment is just as necessary as medical treatment, equality of treatment will positively improve and benefit the wellbeing of many individuals.
Another area of great importance that was discussed in depth at the institute was that of the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP). For the last 7 years President Bush’s proposed budget would eliminate this program. Even though President Bush's proposal was to eliminate this program, Congress rejected his proposal and allocated $48.6 million for the ESSCP in the FY 2008 omnibus spending bill, allowing middle and high schools to be able to apply for grant funds for the first time starting this year. The elimination of this program would end services to students in 22 states, meaning these states would not have the funds to support counseling professionals who are currently serving thousands of students.
So what can we do? For all of these issues it is important that we contact our members of Congress and ask for their support on all of these issues. In order to learn more and find out how to contact your representatives, please visit the following ACA webpage:
http://www.counseling.org/PublicPolicy/
PositionPapers.aspx.
Thank you for your support!