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Life
Lines September 2017
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| Jim Blundo and Napoleon Harrington |
We Have Your Back!
State and National Public Policy advocacy
on behalf of MMHCA members
By: James Blundo Executive Director and Napoleon Harrington President
National:
In July we attended the American Mental Health Counselors Association National Leadership Summit in Washington DC.
There were two objectives.
- 1. Advocate for Inclusion in Medicare with the US Congress.
- 2. Develop new strategies to advance the quality of services to our members.
We visited with Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peter's offices to promote a bill to include Licensed Professional Counselors as providers under Medicare. We also met with House of Representative Bishop's office to request his support.
In addition, Senator Stabenow spoke in a video presentation to the AMHCA National and State leaders to welcome attendees and update her efforts to introduce Senate Bill (SB1830). See Debbie's video on Facebook and our website.
www.mmhca.org
This fall you will likely be requested to contact both Michigan Senators and your US House Representative (HB3850) to support the two bills including LPC's in Medicare reimbursement.
You can also contact them now to share stories of Medicare clients in Michigan who have been declined services because they are not covered even though you as their therapist have developed rapport with them but were required to transfer or deny services to them. You can locate them by going to Find my Senator or Find your Representative.
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Executive Director Report
Out of My Mind
MMHCA is making great strides on all fronts.
Our Board of Directors recommended Harold Love (a MMHCA member) to the Governor's office to be appointed to the Michigan Board of Counseling. Congratulations to Harold for his successful appointment!
Lobbying efforts are paying great dividends both in Michigan and on the national level with Medicare reimbursement inclusion of LLPC/LPC's. See the article in this newsletter: "We Have Your Back".
State law requiring training workshops on Human Trafficking continue to be offered across Michigan. The 13th workshop was held at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor. We have four more scheduled before the end of the year. Check for dates and locations on our mobile friendly website.
www.mmhca.org
Watch for
2018 MMHCA Human Trafficking Workshop dates. Locations under consideration include: Dearborn, Auburn Hills, Sterling Heights, Ypsilanti, Mount Pleasant, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Marquette, Grand Rapids, Bay City, and Spring Arbor.
Watch for
our other Workshops: Trauma Recovery, Billing/Coding, Ethics training with CEU's for (CAADC's, LLPC/LPC's, Social Workers).
Watch for
the SEPT 15th MMHCA Networking Breakfast at Eat Well Cafe featuring Blue Cross consultants from Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties. You can go directly to sign up at our website.
www.mmhca.org
Watch for
MMHCA's Annual Breakfast and Awards Event. It will be held at Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing on Friday October 20th.
Our Lobbyist Noah Smith is the breakfast keynote speaker. He will be providing the latest information on our public policy initiatives.
Blue Cross Provider Consultants will inform you on best practices for Blue Cross reimbursement access.
All licensed health professionals in Michigan are required by law to take Human Trafficking training renew their license. We are willing & able to provide this training. As an example: We have received requests for this training from doctors, nurses, dental professionals, physical therapy, etc.
Please pass this request on to your contacts for consideration. Have them email me at:
jamesblundo@att.net
for details.
Finally, the suffering and loss in the Houston area is upsetting for all and as mental health professionals, we are called to help!
Thank you for your continued support and participation.
Like us on Facebook!
Remember you can join or renew your membership and sign up for all above events at:
www.mmhca.org
James Blundo, LPC, CCMHC, NCC
MMHCA Executive Director
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UPCOMING EVENTS
September 15 Networking and Breakfast at Eat Well Cafe in Sterling Heights
September 23 Techniques in Billing and Coding Workshop at Baker College of Auburn Hills
September 29 Human Trafficking Workshop at Baker College in Allen Park
October 6 Human Trafficking Workshop at Baker College in Flint
October 20 MMHCA Annual Meeting at Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing
November 17 Human Trafficking Workshop at Bellbrook in Rochester Hills
December 1 Human Trafficking Workshop at Wayne State in Detroit
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New Michigan Law Requires Training In Human Trafficking!
Upcoming Human Trafficking Workshops
September 29, 2017 at Baker College in Allen Park
October 6, 2017 at Baker College in Flint
November 17, 2017 at Bellbrook in Rochester Hills
December 1, 2017 at Wayne State in Detroit
1)
MMHCA
and Allied Health Members: $100.00
2)
Non-Members: $150.00
4)
Students: $75.00
Approved: 6 CREDIT NBCC HOURS
"MMHCA has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider,
ACEP No. 2064. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.
MMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs."
Approved: 6 CREDIT MCBAP HOURS
This course is approved by Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals.
Approved: 6 CREDIT CE SW HOURS
Course approval #121216-07 - If you wish to report a problem with this training,
IF YOU NEED SPECIAL ASSISTANCE YOU MUST CALL THE OFFICE AT LEAST 14 DAYS BEFORE THE WORKSHOP OR WE CANNOT GUARANTEE ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE. 248-930-0644
Human Trafficking Information
There has been much confusion regarding the required training standards by the new Michigan Law regarding Human Trafficking.
It is difficult to determine what you are obligated to take to meet the state requirements. If your only goal is to meet the minimum standards, then our training is probably not for you.
MMHCA decided to offer the best workshop available based on the laws outlined. We created the best possible training available. Here is how we did it.
Dr. Jeremy Norwood who is on the faculty at Spring Arbor University was approached to develop the workshop. He used the stated language from the bill and developed an outline. We then looked at his extensive knowledge of the topic and decided to have him produce a powerful workshop based on his knowledge and experiences.
Go to our website for more information regarding Dr. Norwood and what you will learn in the workshop.
In addition to his extensive work in this arena, every year he takes a group of students to Asia to study Human Trafficking. Dr. Norwood is presently in Cambodia with a group of students studying the sociological impact and its connection to US trafficking.
Those that have taken the workshop describe it as powerful and intense. They walk away with a greater understanding of the major impact and possible strategies for intervention.
Please consider our offering. It will change your life for the better. In addition, it qualifies for 6 hours of CEU's and a certificate to prove your participation.
We encourage health professionals and graduate students to use our workshops for the best quality training in Michigan.
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MMHCA Attends AMHCA 2017
Executive Director, Jim Blundo, and President Napoleon Harrington Attended the 2017 National Conference in Washington, DC. Jim was a keynote co-presenter on Membership issues to the Executive meeting.
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Debbie Stabenow Video
Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow gave introductory remarks at the American Mental Health Counselors Association Annual Conference 2017 in July See the Video on our website or
Click Here.
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Sign up Now for Next MMHCA Sponsored Supervision Training
ATTENTION:
BEGINNING August 7, 2017 THROUGH September 11, 2017 YOU CAN NOW
REGISTER FOR THE NEXT SUPERVISOR TRAINING PROGRAM which will BEGIN IN
September 2017.
Visit www.TheMentoringInst.com for details.
TRAINING SCHEDULE:
August 7, 2017 to September 11, 2017: Registration
September 11, 2017 to October 28, 2017: Complete two Home Study Modules
November 2, 2017: First Training Day
January 20, 2018: Second Training Day
LOCATION OF TRAINING DAYS: 1534 Woodland Dr.
Portage, MI
To register:
GO TO WWW.THEMENTORINGINST.COM
PRINT AND COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION FORM FOR THE 40 HOUR
PROGRAM AND MAIL IT WITH YOUR PAYMENT TO:
THE MENTORING INSTITUTE
1534 WOODLAND DR.
PORTAGE, MI 49024
If you have questions:
TheMentoringInst@aol.com or
269-327-6030
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Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association
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Flip FLops and Bicycles
On an August morning as I watched my 8 year old grandson, Zachary, bike off to camp wearing flip
flops, it took me back to one of my childhood summers. I was probably 8 as well. We lived in a very small Nebraska town. I was free to bicycle all over town as long as I came home for lunch and dinner. As a skinny, little girl, the bike was too big for me, a hand-me-down from my older sister. Like Zachary, I wore flip flops all summer. Watching him, I resisted the very strong urge to tell his mother what a mistake it is for her to let him ride a bike in flip flops. But I am trying to resist my habit of trying to fix everything. Instead, I said to Zachary, "When you get home from camp, I'll tell you a story about what happened to grandma's toes one summer when I was your age." He probably won't want to listen, but I remember there was a lot of blood and tears involved.
Newsletter by:
Cindy S. Goldman, MEd, LPC, NCC
MMHCA Member at Large
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