Early-Bird Rate EXTENDED: TCA's 60th Professional Growth Conference
Lowest Offered Rates Close on July 15, 2016

 

TCA is proud to host our 60th Professional Growth Conference in Dallas later this fall. Early-bird rates have been extended so you can save money while joining more than 2,000 mental health colleagues to expand your professional tool-kit and broaden your expert resources. The conference will offer more than 150 CE programs, and right now TCA members pay just $125; students and new-professional members pay even less. While you're at the conference, attend a variety of networking events including the Opening Kick-Off Celebration, luncheons and cocktail receptions, as well as the annual Awards Ceremony and President's Dance. Also, be sure to explore more than 70+ vendors in the conference Exhibit Hall. All programs (excluding Poster Displays) will be eligible for LPC, NBCC, SBEC, LMFT, SW, Psychologist and School Psychologist continuing education credits.

Call for Programs: 1 Month Left! 60th Professional Growth Conference
Submission Deadline is Monday, April 11

 

TCA is accepting program proposals for our largest annual conference, the Professional Growth Conference. Join us as TCA celebrates our 60th year hosting this event! The conference attracts more than 2,000 professional counselors and features a diverse selection of 150+ programs. Practitioners in all areas of the counseling profession are invited to submit a proposal; lengths include 1.5 hour and 3.0 hour programs, Poster Displays, day-long Learning Institutes (6.5 hours), and half-day Post-Conference Workshops (3.5 hours). All presenters must be members of TCA and register for the conference by July 1, 2016 unless they reside outside of Texas or are not mental health professionals. With the exception of Poster Displays, students presenting must have a college professor co-present. Visit www.txca.org/CFP to submit your programs.

Ask Your Senator to Support Full Funding for ESSA
President's FY17 Budget Includes BIG Cuts to Funding

 

TCA and the American Counseling Association (ACA) are concerned that the President's FY17 budget only includes $500 million for the Student Support & Academic Enhancement Grant program (ESSA, Title IV, Part A). The original funding authorized by Congress for ESSA was $1.65 billion. This means that the Student Support & Academic Enhancement Grant Program, which includes school counseling programs, would only receive a third of what Congress thought was appropriate. As I am sure you all know, school-based mental health counseling has significant beneficial effects on student well-being. TCA and ACA strongly urge you to contact Senator Cornyn and Senator Cruz to request full funding for the ESSA (Title IV, Part A) so that all students will have the opportunity to receive a quality education! If you have any questions about ESSA funding or any other school counseling issues please contact Guila Todd, ACA's Legislative Representative, at gtodd@counseling.org.

Survey on NEW Credential: Nationally Certified Peer Specialist (NCPS)
Submit Feedback by March 31

 

Mental Health America (MHA) is working with the Florida Certification Board to develop and implement a national, accredited certification for whole health peer specialists (this credential was peer initiated and conceived). MHA established a national panel of experts to guide the development of the credential, resulting in the "MHA 'Nationally Certified Peer Specialist' Draft Core Competencies" for public comment. Please provide input via the MHA/FCB Survey to help refine and finalize the Nationally Certified Peer Specialist (NCPS) core competencies. The survey deadline is March 31, 2016. For additional details, visit the Nationally Certified Peer Review Specialists webpage.

Request for Grant Proposals: Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Research
Register by April 4, Submit Proposals by April 11  

 

The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health invites eligible higher education institutions in Texas to submit proposals to fund mental health recovery-oriented research projects. The goal of this initiative is twofold: 1) to support research that furthers knowledge of and evidence for recovery-oriented practices, including, but not limited to, research on person-centered care, innovative mental health supports, developing and evaluating recovery outcome measures, and peer specialist workforce issues; and 2) to increase the pool of Texas-based higher education faculty engaged in quality mental health research. The Hogg Foundation plans to award grants up to $22,000. The total award amount includes 10% for overhead expenses. Please read the RFP webpage carefully before submitting your proposal. Complete details are available at www.hogg.utexas.edu.

NEW Guidance: TX Medicaid Provider Re-Enrollments
Re-Enrollment Applications Must Be Received by June 17

 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently extended the Medicaid provider re-enrollment deadline. To avoid potential disruption in your payments, a complete re-enrollment application must be received on or before June 17, 2016 in order to be revalidated by the new September 24, 2016 deadline. Complete applications that are received on or before June 17, 2016, will most likely complete the re-enrollment process by September 24, 2016. In the event that the re-enrollment process is not completed by September 24, and the provider is still working toward addressing identified deficiencies at that time, the provider will continue to remain enrolled in Texas Medicaid as long as the provider responds to the deficiency notifications within the defined time frame for response. Enrollment is contingent upon continuing to meet deficiency correction timelines and receiving final application approval. Providers are encouraged to submit their applications today. For complete details, please visit the HHSC Medicaid Re-Enrollment webpage.

Comment on Behavioral Health Integration in Texas
Meeting on March 23: Health and Human Services Commission

 

Attend the Behavioral Health Integration Advisory Committee's public hearing on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 from 10am to 5pm CT. Discussion will focus on payment mechanisms, outcome measures, and home health pilots as well as tools for Managed Care Organization self-assessment of integration. Public comments will be accepted and the meeting will be webcast for those who are unable to attend in person. For complete details visit the Health and Human Services Commission webpage on the Advisory Committee meeting. To attend in person, go to the Public Hearing Room of the Brown-Heatly Building located at 4900 North Lamar Boulevard in Austin. Direct q uestions regarding agenda items, content, or meeting arrangements to Monica Thyssen, Committee Coordinator, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program, Management Division, 512-462-6217, monica.thyssen@hhsc.state.tx.us.

TEA's FREE: "Texas Gateway" Resource Library
FREE Educational Resources for Educators and Parents 

 

The Texas Gateway is a free online resource library for educators and parents provided by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). It serves as the primary access point for discovering and using TEA-approved instructional resources and professional development courses. Visitors to the Gateway are able to search for resources by grade level, subject, TEKS, and keywords. Educators can fine the content they need, whether looking for "just-in-time" resources to use during a particular lesson, sequenced binders of instruction to assign to students, or self-directed professional development training courses. Visit the Texas Gateway website: www.texasgateway.org. For more information, check out the Getting Started Guide, or contact TEA via email at: txgateway@tea.texas.gov.

FREE Webinar by HRSA: "Telehealth: Delivery, Health Care Education Changes"
Offered Thursday, March 31 from 1:00-2:30 CT

 

Join public health colleagues from across the nation for a free webinar that will address "Telehealth: Changing the Delivery and Education of Today's Health Care." This training is sponsored by the US Health Resources & Service Administration's (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce Division of Nursing and Public Health. Featured presenters include Garret Spargo, Director of the Telehealth Product Development Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Sarah Rhoads, Director of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Center for Distance Health, and Mei Wa Kwong, Senior Policy Associate and Project Director Center for Connected Health Policy National Telehealth Policy Resource Center. The webinar will be moderated by Tanya Uden-Holman, a Principal Investigator for Region 7, Iowa University, Midwestern Public Health Training Center Program. The free training will take place on March 31, 2016 from 1:00 to 2:30pm CT, click here to register.