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The 85th Legislative Session begins today. Although they will only meet for 140 days, don't expect much action for the first 60 days.
Hot topics for professional counselors will include recommendations from the House Select Committee on Mental Health, challenges in the foster care system, Medicaid reimbursement rates, shortfalls in education funding and changes in the structure of the boards that regulate all mental health professionals.
TCA serves as your eyes and ears, but we will need YOUR voice in order to have a positive impact this session. Take a moment now to figure out who represents you, and put their numbers in your cell phone. Schedule time off and plan to attend at least one Advocacy Day, and participate in the other two virtually.
Keep on the lookout and respond quickly when you receive an Action Alert from TCA. YOUR voice is essential to our success this session.
Sunset Commission Update
Kudos to everyone who submitted comments on the Sunset Commission staff report, and special thanks to Jodie Elder and Pam Love-White, who traveled to Austin and testified at the hearing.
The Sunset Commission will meet again on Wednesday, January 11, to approve their "Decision Packet." The great news is that a modification is being proposed to create a new entity, the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, which would house the mental health licensing boards.
It appears that the recommendation to convert those boards to advisory committees at TDLR is off the table. The devil is in the details, and there is much that will be worked out and negotiated as this recommendation is transformed into a bill that must go through the legislative process.Stay tuned!
House Select Committee on Mental Health
Following months of extensive hearings and hours of public and invited testimony, the Select Committee on Mental Health issued its report on the state's approach to behavioral health issues.
Speaker Joe Straus formed the Select Committee in November 2015 in order to take a comprehensive look at the behavioral health system for adults and children in Texas. He appointed Representative Four Price of Amarillo as Chairman of the Select Committee. Speaker Straus named members from a variety of House committees--such as Appropriations, Public Health, Corrections, Insurance and County Affairs--to serve on the Select Committee as well.
Kudos to Sharon Cunningham, Benny Malone and all of the TCA members who took time to attend, speak or submit comments to the Select Committee. The report recommends that the 85th Legislature consider a number of initiatives and ideas, including:
- Early intervention and prevention measures for school-aged children in order to prevent more severe mental health issues
- Strengthening and expanding jail diversion programs
- Using education incentives to address mental health workforce shortages
- Encouraging approaches to health care that integrate both physical and mental care
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The 12th Annual Professional School Counselor Conference
February 12-14, 2017 in Arlington, Texas
The 12th Annual Professional School Counselor Conference is the place to connect, earn CEs
and have fun!
Bring and Administrator for FREE!
When you register for the conference, you will receive an invitation to bring your administrator for FREE! We've developed a special series of programs just for administrators that includes:
- An introduction to the new 5th Edition Texas Model Guide for School Counseling
- A special networking event
- Attendance at our Monday, February 13, General Session
Save money by pre-registering before January 27, 2017.
Make your hotel reservations now! Our headquarters hotel (Sheraton Arlington) is SOLD OUT, but rooms are still available at our overflow hotels. Shuttles will run between all conference hotels and the convention center.
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TACES Mid-Winter Conference
March 2-3, 2017
The Austin Holiday Inn Midtown will once again be the location for the 2017 TACES Mid-Winter Conference, Bridging a Divide: Be
st Practices in Creating Healthy Communities.
Registration is now open.
On Thursday, March 2, 2017, we begin a new tradition with our first Grad Day activity. This focused track will consist of breakout sessions on topics pertinent to graduate students.
Please plan to attend the TACES Mid-Winter panel discussion on Thursday, March 2, 2017, from 7 to 9 p.m. The theme for the panel discussion is
Healing a Troubled World: Promoting Ways to Honoring & Understanding Diverse Experiences
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Mental Health Provider Loan Repayment Program Update
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board announced the first round of awards under the Mental Health Provider Loan Repayment Program established by the 84th Legislature.
Licensed Professional Counselors represent the largest cohort with 33 applicants receiving a total of $103,222 for loan repayments in year one and $154,833 in year two.
TCA is working in partnership with the other provider associations to ensure that funding for this important program is continued in the next biennium.
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Free Parenting Tips Calendar
The 2017 Parenting Tips Calendar is now available for order! This year, the theme for the calendar is "Strong Communities, Strong Families."
Calendars are written for parents or caregivers with children of all ages and are available in both English and Spanish.
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 Texas Counseling Association
1204 San Antonio St., Ste. 201
Austin, TX 78701
512.472.3403
800.580.8144
www.txca.org
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