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St. Cloud State University is offering a Counseling Supervision Course for 3 credits which meets the approved supervisor status academic requirements. The course is offered through continuing studies and is online with 2 Saturday Seminars, one in January and one in April. Contact SCSU Continuing Studies to register. VA to Request New Occupational Category for Counselors ACA and AMHCA are pleased to announce that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) has approved the establishment of a new occupational category, or categories, for licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists working within the VA’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health care system. The move is a step toward implementation of Public Law 109-461, the “Veterans Benefits, Healthcare, and Information Technology Act of 2006,” which established explicit recognition of both mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists within the VHA. Until the VHA’s endorsement of a new occupational category, it was unclear if counselors and marriage and family therapists would be considered merely subcategories of an existing occupational category for a different profession. Establishment of an occupational category for professional counselors has been a key objective for ACA and AMHCA in implementation of the law. Federal occupational categories are developed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), but only at the request of federal agencies such as the VA. Creation of an occupational category will mark a key step in achieving recognition of the profession, although the process is likely to take another year or more. The VHA’s announcement of the new occupational category came after the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee—which has direct jurisdiction over the agency—wrote to Secretary Eric Shinseki urging the VA to “move quickly” to establish regulations enabling counselors and marriage and family therapists to “work to their full potential within the VA.” The letter also stated that federal job classifications for each of the professions should be established, “in order to recognize their status as full-fledged, independent mental health professions.” The House Veterans Affairs Committee letter was developed and promoted jointly by ACA, AMHCA, and the American Association for Marriage and Family (AAMFT). Our three organizations—recently joined by the California Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT)—have been working closely together to push for implementation of P.L. 109-461. Our organizations’ close collaborative working relationship with AAMFT and CAMFT will increase our effectiveness in pushing for new occupational categories for each profession, and for continued progress by the VA and Congress in expanding the role of counselors and marriage and family therapists in serving our nation’s veterans. Peter Atlee Legislative Representative American Counseling Association ph 703-823-9800 x242 | 800-347-6647 x242 www.counseling.org "The voice of Counseling and Development in Minnesota" MnCA is the state branch of the American Counseling Association (ACA) to provide leadership and service to the counseling professionals of Minnesota and the constituents in which they serve. The Minnesota Counseling Association is the recognized statewide leader in the counseling and development professions with active counseling and development workers dedicated to the advancement of the helping professions.
Here is a link to ACA Publications. Click on Public Awareness Ideas and Strategies for Professional Counselors [PDF] in the right column. |
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