NATIONAL BOARD FOR CERTIFIED COUNSELORS for NATIONAL BOARD FOR CERTIFIED COUNSELORS

Defense DEF

Lobbying for the creation of an independent credentialing standard for mental health counselors within the DOD.

Contacted: Indian Health Service; SENATE; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Education, Dept of; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Alcohol and Drug Abuse ALC

Lobbying for increased funding for workforce programs that seek to place mental health counselors in underserved areas.

Contacted: SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Indian Health Service; Defense, Dept of (DOD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Education, Dept of; Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Veterans VET

Lobbying to increase hiring of mental health counselors in the VA. Lobbying for the creation of an OPM series for mental health counselors. Lobbying for increase participation of counselors in VA internship, scholarship, and trainee programs

Contacted: Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Education, Dept of; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; Indian Health Service; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

Lobbying for increased funding for specific mental and behavioral health programs, such as SAMHSA's Minority Fellowship Program, HRSA's BHWET Program, and the SUD Provider Loan Repayment Program.

Contacted: Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Education, Dept of; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Indian Health Service

Government Issues GOV

Lobbying for the creation of an OPM Occupational Series for Mental health counselors.

Contacted: SENATE; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Education, Dept of; Indian Health Service; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Indian/Native American Affairs IND

Lobbying for the adoption of the Mental Health Facilitator in the Indian Health Service.

Contacted: SENATE; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Indian Health Service; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Education, Dept of; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS)

Health Issues HCR

Inclusion of mental health counselors in various federal government health programs

Contacted: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); SENATE; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Indian Health Service; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Education, Dept of; Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Medicare/Medicaid MMM

Lobbying on HR 432/S 828, the Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2021. Which would allow mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists to participate in the Medicare Part B program.

Contacted: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Education, Dept of; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; Indian Health Service; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Defense, Dept of (DOD)

Bills named: H.R. 432 (117th)

Education EDU

Lobbying for the inclusion of mental health counselors in Department of Education Programs that fund school counselors.

Contacted: Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Education, Dept of; SENATE; Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Indian Health Service; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Office of Personnel Management (OPM)